Easy way to clean out the gas tank - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Youngbuck7072 · 11-08-2010, 09:13 PM

Is there an easy way to clean it out. i am going too take it out and drain all the fuel, but is there some kind of solution i can put it there to clean it? i dont want to order anything off line either. any other tips, tricks? i was thinkin about sticking one of those course bristle brushes that you use to clean your toilets on a streched out wire hanger and scrubbin real good

Hubscrub · 11-08-2010, 10:05 PM

when i had mine out i was going to get it cleaned at the radiator shop but it wouldn't fit in the vat and he told me my best bet was to got to the car wash and power wash the inside so i did that haven't had anymore "dirt" problems

i didn't use soap though lol

Slick67 · 11-08-2010, 10:18 PM

Eastwood makes some good products, or naval jelly with some clean stones and slosh it around really good. Dump rubbing alcohol in it and slosh it to dry out the water. Let it sit in the sun and dry, install the tank and you're done!

ol_skool_chevy · 11-08-2010, 10:48 PM

I drain my tank. Took it out of the truck and dumped in a bag of rock salt in the tank and set in on my compation plate.....it scrubed the bottom...

Longhorn Man · 11-08-2010, 10:58 PM

any rad shop that was going to boil it out should lose there buisness to begin with.
If you are trying to do it on the cheap, go to the coin op with 10 bucks in quarters and blast it out. Let it dry, then rinse with rubbing alcohol.
I *HIGHLY* recomend coating it, otherwise, you'll just be doing it again in a year or two.

coloradosean2009 · 11-09-2010, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

any rad shop that was going to boil it out should lose there buisness to begin with.

Can you clarify what you mean with this statement? I have had numerous people recommend a boil.

Thanks

Youngbuck7072 · 11-08-2010, 11:42 PM

what do you coat it with?

**Boog** · 11-09-2010, 12:08 AM

Once you drain and remove the tank put a length of chain inside it and shake, turn and rock the tank. The chain will scrape buildup loose to then be flushed out. I know you said you don't want to buy online but I believe Eastwood's and others sell a gas tank sealer kit that once clean it coats the inside of the tank to prevent further buildup.

Youngbuck7072 · 11-09-2010, 12:13 AM

ok. is it pointless to clean it out in the first place? i have already drained most of it out and replaced it with new gas, but i think i need to do it. keep in mind, it did sit for seven years before i got to it

wzuke · 11-09-2010, 12:22 AM

Drop a length of chain in the tank and "swoosh" it around. I've seen enough of the coatings in the carburetor to make me not want to use them!

71meangreenc10 · 11-09-2010, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Youngbuck7072

ok. is it pointless to clean it out in the first place? i have already drained most of it out and replaced it with new gas, but i think i need to do it. keep in mind, it did sit for seven years before i got to it

If it were me, i would just get a new one, they are on the cheap side and also check the lines, nothing can put a cost on piece of mind.

I just went through this with the 68 I picked back up, the tank was trashed and my brother did all the hard work and replaced the tank but didnt do the lines, well the rust was still getting into the carb. 60 bucks later and two new custom lines with a new fuel pump and the truck runs perfect. I also rebuilt the carb to clean out the garbage in there to.

Smitty

Longhorn Man · 11-09-2010, 07:04 AM

wzuke,
what coatings are you "seeing the the carb"? Who is putting it in, are they doing it right?

The truck shop I have has a varge industrial rad shop in the back, and they coat fuel tanks just about every day. If it is done right (all in the prep work) then it won't end up in the carb.
If you clean the tank, you will remove a lot of, if not all of the factory coating. Once that is gone, the tank WILL rust.
If you are getting rust already... then it is NOT a good idea to just ignore it.

aintmisbehavinn · 11-09-2010, 07:43 AM

For a 149.00 clams, I'd just replace it....

Longhorn Man · 11-09-2010, 10:10 AM

the new tanks don't fit quite right, and the metal is thin enough that it distorts when you fill it up.
However that is an option

cdowns · 11-09-2010, 12:24 PM

all sorts of advise but nobody asks the question

what is the problem rust? or sludge and varnish buildup?

two differnt ways to approach those problems to get a finished product

*72lb4x4* · 11-09-2010, 12:59 PM

You can build a rectangular frame from 2x4s and a stand. Get 2 12" nipples and 2 floor plates.

Note the short 2x4 at the top (left--sorry I didn't rotate the image) with a slot cut in it. Its screwed to the frame allowing the tank to rotate.

Now you can put cleaner in the tank along with chain or whatever to clean it. Stand there with a beer and spin the tank on the nipple axles. Rotate the tank in the frame once in a while.

You can jam rags in the chain to wipe the inside of the tank as well.

You can also put phosphoric acid in there and spin/rotate as above to treat rust temporarily.

search for gas tank sealer to get an idea of what products are out there...

Longhorn Man · 11-09-2010, 02:23 PM

easy, you don't boil out tanks.
people will tell you to boil out alluminum too... if you put an alluminum rad in a boil out tank, it'll eat the alluminum and all you'll have left is 2 plastic tanks.
People will also tell you you have a 4 core rad, when no passenger car has ever had a 4 core, but many of them get a 4 row unit.

*Fitz* · 11-09-2010, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Youngbuck7072

Is there an easy way to clean it out. i am going too take it out and drain all the fuel, but is there some kind of solution i can put it there to clean it? i dont want to order anything off line either. any other tips, tricks? i was thinkin about sticking one of those course bristle brushes that you use to clean your toilets on a streched out wire hanger and scrubbin real good

go to home depot and buy a jug of swimming pool acid...Muriatic acid.
mix one 1 part muriatic acid to three parts water. Pour it in your tank, cap the tank lay it on it's side for 20 min, flop it over to the other side and do it again. Stand the tank up with the filler up and let it sit some more. If you want to see what it really does use 3 cups of water to one cup acid in a plastic bucket and toss in any old rusty piece of steel you have laying around. 20 minutes and it looks like it's been sandblasted...no rust but it won't hurt the metal.

Youngbuck7072 · 11-09-2010, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fitz

go to home depot and buy a jug of swimming pool acid...Muriatic acid.
mix one 1 part muriatic acid to three parts water. Pour it in your tank, cap the tank lay it on it's side for 20 min, flop it over to the other side and do it again. Stand the tank up with the filler up and let it sit some more. If you want to see what it really does use 3 cups of water to one cup acid in a plastic bucket and toss in any old rusty piece of steel you have laying around. 20 minutes and it looks like it's been sandblasted...no rust but it won't hurt the metal.

what is the brand name of the acid? is it powder or liquid?

cdowns · 11-09-2010, 07:43 PM

muriatic acid is called muriatic acid just like he wrote down fer ya

Youngbuck7072 · 11-09-2010, 07:55 PM

oh yah, thanks man

lts70 · 11-09-2010, 09:04 PM

I second the Muriatic acid, it works great! Rinse with water. Flush with alcohol or acetone. Follow up with a coat of "red-Cote" tank sealer.

Dark Knight · 11-09-2010, 10:30 PM

Just be extremely careful not to get any of the muriatic acid on yourself. It'll eat you alive if not handled correctly. Twice as bad as battery (sulfuric) acid.

nyncompute · 11-09-2010, 11:13 PM

I had the same issue. I mulled over the options and went to the junk yard and was lucky enough to find a clean 72 tank. I popped the sender off 3 trucks to find a good one. $50 bucks later .. problem solved.
Below you see some of the horrors that awaited me all though the fuel system(that wasn't even half of it). If I hadn't found the good replacement I would have bought a new unit. If you can scrounge up the Benjamins it might be a good time for a rear tank conversion

That gas tank turner thingy is slick and ingenious, but way over the $149.00 hassle factor price for me.

*72lb4x4* · 11-10-2010, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nyncompute

I had the same issue. I mulled over the options and went to the junk yard and was lucky enough to find a clean 72 tank. I popped the sender off 3 trucks to find a good one. $50 bucks later .. problem solved.
Below you see some of the horrors that awaited me all though the fuel system(that wasn't even half of it). If I hadn't found the good replacement I would have bought a new unit. If you can scrounge up the Benjamins it might be a good time for a rear tank conversion

That gas tank turner thingy is slick and ingenious, but way over the $149.00 hassle factor price for me.

Even if you get a tank from the scrapyard, it needs to be cleaned. If cleaning it, you might as well coat it.

A 3 step kit from KBS costs $50 or so. There are vids out there demonstrating its use.

There are cleaners such as purple power that will take off the gas based residue in the tanks, and phosphoric acid seems less caustic than muriatic acid.

11-08-2010, 09:13 PM	#1
Youngbuck7072 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Eugene, Or. Posts: 322	Easy way to clean out the gas tank Is there an easy way to clean it out. i am going too take it out and drain all the fuel, but is there some kind of solution i can put it there to clean it? i dont want to order anything off line either. any other tips, tricks? i was thinkin about sticking one of those course bristle brushes that you use to clean your toilets on a streched out wire hanger and scrubbin real good __________________ ........................ __ ............._______\|__\____ ............\|_({})______({})] ................(O)..........(O) Last edited by Youngbuck7072; 11-08-2010 at 09:14 PM.

11-08-2010, 10:05 PM	#2
Hubscrub Cruzin Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: on the road Posts: 2,835	Re: Easy way to clean out the gas tank when i had mine out i was going to get it cleaned at the radiator shop but it wouldn't fit in the vat and he told me my best bet was to got to the car wash and power wash the inside so i did that haven't had anymore "dirt" problems i didn't use soap though lol __________________ Lime Wife's 67https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...wZEMODaS2d94u8 Back to the Fifties 59 https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...NAeStpydfrcj_U Proverbs 3:5,6 "Thanks to the Interstate Highway System, it is now possible to travel across the country from coast to coast without seeing anything."Charles Kuralt In memory of our first baby daughter, daddy and mommy love you. Danica Grace 6/26/14 Last edited by Hubscrub; 11-08-2010 at 10:06 PM.

11-08-2010, 10:18 PM	#3
Slick67 Sofa King Crazy!! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 3,090	Re: Easy way to clean out the gas tank Eastwood makes some good products, or naval jelly with some clean stones and slosh it around really good. Dump rubbing alcohol in it and slosh it to dry out the water. Let it sit in the sun and dry, install the tank and you're done! __________________ You found the Tater. *My Blazer Build (New)* - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=654650 *My 67 Build* - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=335650 67 Chevy LWB big window a/c AKA TOTALLED BY A JACKASS. 1972 2wd Blazer "Porterbuilt and Sloshed" Last edited by Slick67; 11-08-2010 at 10:25 PM.

11-08-2010, 10:48 PM	#4
ol_skool_chevy Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Location: Hillsboro, Oregon 97123 Posts: 1,300	Re: Easy way to clean out the gas tank I drain my tank. Took it out of the truck and dumped in a bag of rock salt in the tank and set in on my compation plate.....it scrubed the bottom... __________________ Measure with a yard stick Mark with Chalk Cut with a torch Built it yourself, don't count on others to to do it for you or with you. It will never get done

11-08-2010, 10:58 PM	#5
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	Re: Easy way to clean out the gas tank any rad shop that was going to boil it out should lose there buisness to begin with. If you are trying to do it on the cheap, go to the coin op with 10 bucks in quarters and blast it out. Let it dry, then rinse with rubbing alcohol. I HIGHLY recomend coating it, otherwise, you'll just be doing it again in a year or two.

11-08-2010, 11:42 PM	#7
Youngbuck7072 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Eugene, Or. Posts: 322	Re: Easy way to clean out the gas tank what do you coat it with? __________________ ........................ __ ............._______\|__\____ ............\|_({})______({})] ................(O)..........(O)

11-09-2010, 12:08 AM	#8
Boog laying low Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Searcy, Ark. USA Posts: 13,536	Re: Easy way to clean out the gas tank Once you drain and remove the tank put a length of chain inside it and shake, turn and rock the tank. The chain will scrape buildup loose to then be flushed out. I know you said you don't want to buy online but I believe Eastwood's and others sell a gas tank sealer kit that once clean it coats the inside of the tank to prevent further buildup. __________________ Boog 69 Chevy stepside, 358/T350, 4.11 posi, 4.5/4 drop, rallys, poboy driver primer is finer 91 Chevy sportside, Tahoe, Yukon & GMC Crewcab All GM..'nuff said. I stand for the flag and kneel at the cross

11-09-2010, 12:13 AM	#9
Youngbuck7072 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Eugene, Or. Posts: 322	Re: Easy way to clean out the gas tank ok. is it pointless to clean it out in the first place? i have already drained most of it out and replaced it with new gas, but i think i need to do it. keep in mind, it did sit for seven years before i got to it __________________ ........................ __ ............._______\|__\____ ............\|_({})______({})] ................(O)..........(O)

11-09-2010, 12:22 AM	#10
wzuke Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Marion, IL Posts: 112	Re: Easy way to clean out the gas tank Drop a length of chain in the tank and "swoosh" it around. I've seen enough of the coatings in the carburetor to make me not want to use them!

11-09-2010, 07:04 AM	#12
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	Re: Easy way to clean out the gas tank wzuke, what coatings are you "seeing the the carb"? Who is putting it in, are they doing it right? The truck shop I have has a varge industrial rad shop in the back, and they coat fuel tanks just about every day. If it is done right (all in the prep work) then it won't end up in the carb. If you clean the tank, you will remove a lot of, if not all of the factory coating. Once that is gone, the tank WILL rust. If you are getting rust already... then it is NOT a good idea to just ignore it.

11-09-2010, 07:43 AM	#13
aintmisbehavinn Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Lawrenceville GA Posts: 64	Re: Easy way to clean out the gas tank For a 149.00 clams, I'd just replace it....

11-09-2010, 10:10 AM	#14
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	Re: Easy way to clean out the gas tank the new tanks don't fit quite right, and the metal is thin enough that it distorts when you fill it up. However that is an option

11-09-2010, 12:24 PM	#15
cdowns Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: daytonabeach Posts: 22,956	Re: Easy way to clean out the gas tank all sorts of advise but nobody asks the question what is the problem rust? or sludge and varnish buildup? two differnt ways to approach those problems to get a finished product __________________ 71c-10 350/2004r/4:11 lowered3/4 longbed/dead by hurricane MEANING OF DEATH::::: SOMEBODY ELSE GETS YOUR STUFF DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK TAKE MY ADVISE;I DON'T USE IT ANYWAY

11-09-2010, 12:59 PM	#16
72lb4x4 Account Suspended Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: DFW Posts: 1,427	Re: Easy way to clean out the gas tank You can build a rectangular frame from 2x4s and a stand. Get 2 12" nipples and 2 floor plates. Note the short 2x4 at the top (left--sorry I didn't rotate the image) with a slot cut in it. Its screwed to the frame allowing the tank to rotate. Now you can put cleaner in the tank along with chain or whatever to clean it. Stand there with a beer and spin the tank on the nipple axles. Rotate the tank in the frame once in a while. You can jam rags in the chain to wipe the inside of the tank as well. You can also put phosphoric acid in there and spin/rotate as above to treat rust temporarily. search for gas tank sealer to get an idea of what products are out there... Attached Images Last edited by 72lb4x4; 11-09-2010 at 01:30 PM.

11-09-2010, 02:23 PM	#17
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	Re: Easy way to clean out the gas tank easy, you don't boil out tanks. people will tell you to boil out alluminum too... if you put an alluminum rad in a boil out tank, it'll eat the alluminum and all you'll have left is 2 plastic tanks. People will also tell you you have a 4 core rad, when no passenger car has ever had a 4 core, but many of them get a 4 row unit.



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11-09-2010, 07:43 PM	#20
cdowns Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: daytonabeach Posts: 22,956	Re: Easy way to clean out the gas tank muriatic acid is called muriatic acid just like he wrote down fer ya __________________ 71c-10 350/2004r/4:11 lowered3/4 longbed/dead by hurricane MEANING OF DEATH::::: SOMEBODY ELSE GETS YOUR STUFF DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK TAKE MY ADVISE;I DON'T USE IT ANYWAY

11-09-2010, 07:55 PM	#21
Youngbuck7072 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Eugene, Or. Posts: 322	Re: Easy way to clean out the gas tank oh yah, thanks man __________________ ........................ __ ............._______\|__\____ ............\|_({})______({})] ................(O)..........(O)

11-09-2010, 09:04 PM	#22
lts70 1970 Daily Driver Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Glenns Ferry IDAHO Posts: 1,038	Re: Easy way to clean out the gas tank I second the Muriatic acid, it works great! Rinse with water. Flush with alcohol or acetone. Follow up with a coat of "red-Cote" tank sealer. __________________ It's not truly yours if you didn't build it yourself or if you don't do your own maintenance.

11-09-2010, 10:30 PM	#23
Dark Knight Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pleak, Texas Posts: 420	Re: Easy way to clean out the gas tank Just be extremely careful not to get any of the muriatic acid on yourself. It'll eat you alive if not handled correctly. Twice as bad as battery (sulfuric) acid. __________________ -1967 Chevrolet Fleetside LWB- 350 V8 w/thumpr cam, NV3500, 3.08 gears, A/C, PS -1983 Chevy Silverado C1500- 383 stroker, TH400 -1989 Chevy Silverado K1500 SWB- 5.3L swap, 700R4, 3.42 gears -And a '66 Ford Mustang- 200 I6, C4 trans, rust bucket "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." -FDR (and maybe rust too) You've gotta be able to stop and steer before you can go fast!

11-09-2010, 11:13 PM	#24
nyncompute Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Southern Nevada Posts: 532	Re: Easy way to clean out the gas tank I had the same issue. I mulled over the options and went to the junk yard and was lucky enough to find a clean 72 tank. I popped the sender off 3 trucks to find a good one. $50 bucks later .. problem solved. Below you see some of the horrors that awaited me all though the fuel system(that wasn't even half of it). If I hadn't found the good replacement I would have bought a new unit. If you can scrounge up the Benjamins it might be a good time for a rear tank conversion That gas tank turner thingy is slick and ingenious, but way over the $149.00 hassle factor price for me. __________________ 1972 K-10 SWB Cheyenne Last edited by nyncompute; 11-09-2010 at 11:17 PM.

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