Easy way to clean out the gas tank

[chopnchaneled]

Who all has used the 149.00 new tank and who has them?
Thanks

[kcsa75]

Originally Posted by swamp rat

OK, so ya buy that much Muratic acid what will ya do with it when your done? what do ya do with the alchohol ect?? Hopefully take it to a place that disposes of toxic waste?? would hate to see that much just dumped on the ground.

I vote for a new tank.

I'll second everything Swamp Rat says!

[Mxracer202]

Originally Posted by Fitz

Phosphoric acid converts iron oxide into ferric phosphate, a hard black crystalline substance. It does not dissolve it so, while I use phosphoric acid to treat bolts...gives them that hard black coating, it does not work well in a tank as those crystals of ferric phosphate can still dislodge and end up in your carb! If you want to use it Caswell Plating sells a gel kit of it. The muriatic acid takes iron oxide into aqueous solution so when you pour the muriatic acid out of your tank you are removing everything from the inside. The residue can be diluted with water and poured out. Muriatic acid is the commercial name for hydrochloric acid---the acid in your stomach! If you dilute it greater than 5 to 1 it's no more toxic or dangerous than your own puke.

Acetone will dissolve the the hydrocarbon coating left from the gasoline and it's additives making either phosphoric acid or muriatic acid more effective but I'll stay with the muriatic as it leaves behind clean bare metal; just as your tank was when it left the factory. If you feel the need to coat it, use Caswell Tank sealer...a 20 gallon tank kit costs 69.00 but this is the only tank sealer that will not detach from the surface like Kreem will and you can put it right over the rust! It's a binary phenol novolac epoxy which will actually deaden the sounds from your tank as well. Available here:

http://www.caswellplating.com/aids/epoxygas.html

Thanks this just answered a few different questions that I had, ok so im thinking instead of buying a new tank, cleaning the old, etc, why just not buy an old keg and make a gas tank!! empty kegs go for around $40 or so...but who wants to buy an empty keg lol

[eagleuh1]

So buy the full keg and have a work party. I'm sure you'll get lots of help pulling the old tank, patching the hole, anything else that needs done, by then the new tank will be empty and ready for "tapping" the new fuel lines in. Where you going to put it thought?

[72swbcamo]

Hay Fitz, your just what this site needed: a rocket scientist!

[into69z]

I have aftermarket saddle tanks that need cleaning. These look like they are made from steel. Would these be a good canidate for the radiator shop clean-out or what have you done to clean/seal them?

[rbagley]

Originally Posted by swamp rat

OK, so ya buy that much Muratic acid what will ya do with it when your done? what do ya do with the alchohol ect?? Hopefully take it to a place that disposes of toxic waste?? would hate to see that much just dumped on the ground.

I vote for a new tank.

Acid can be neutralized pretty easily with a little baking soda and you could evaporate or burn the alcohol. Hey, you could just filter it out and put it back in the tank for fuel

[73737373]

I did my tank this weekend. The rotisserie would've come in handy!! Went to carwash and washed inside of tank 5 times until all that was coming out was soapy water. The first couple of times I emptied it, it was disgusting.

Went home and stuck a 20 foot length of chain in it, propped it on the raised tailgate and played see saw w/it for about 90 minutes, sliding the chain back and forth. I'd rinse periodically w/fresh water washing out the rusty water. Did that till it was pretty clear. Mixed 5 gals (4 to 1 solution of muriatic acid) and dumped that in the tank and let sit for about 2 hours on each side. Before I dumped it out, I added a 5 gals of water that that I dissolved a box of baking soda in to neutralize the acid. I did that 2 more times. Rinsed a couple more times w/water and let dry. Installing in truck tonite and I'll let ya know tomorrow how it went. Note: My sending unit was pretty rusty, but I let it soak in vinegar for 24 hours and it is now clean as a whistle. All in all, I've saved at least $200, but still don't have peace of mind as opposed to buying a new tank.

[Fitz]

Originally Posted by swamp rat

OK, so ya buy that much Muratic acid what will ya do with it when your done? what do ya do with the alchohol ect?? Hopefully take it to a place that disposes of toxic waste?? would hate to see that much just dumped on the ground.

I vote for a new tank.

Muriatic acid is hydrochloric acid. That's the same stuff your stomach uses to digest food. When was the last time you had to call a hazmat team because some drunk puked in the mens room at your favorite bar? If the stuff were toxic all of you would already be DEAD!

[motorcritter]

I'll second the Caswell sealer for fuel tanks. It survives motorcycle tank usage- with vibration, heat and the usual unseen rust inside. A guy at a bike shop told me 'This is the stuff you use to cover all the other sealants that get used!' It works! I use it on old British motorcycle restorations- solves all the problems, however, I've never used it on a Fiberglas tank, those are best replaced with steel.

[slyhog22056]

I cleaned mine out with formic acid, it totally dissolves rust into a very fine powder when dry. Just put in 2 gallons and fill the entire tank up and let it sit for about 24 hours. Drain, (can be disposed in city sewer systems) rinse really good a few times and empty the tank. Let it air dry for a day then reinstall. There will be a surface rust formed but when you fill it with gas the next time it will dissolve completely. I have used fomic acid for cleaning everything from rusty tools to entire fenders and engine blocks and never had any problems.

[michael bustamante]

X3 on the muratic acid. Also use a small langth of chain. Like from an old transfercase.
I got my acid at lowes.

[scrapmetalart]

if its rusty vinegar works great. takes a few days but is easy & cheap. its a mild acid...

[In The Ten Ring]

It wasn't cheap but this is what I did, on advice from VW Nate.

I pumped out my (siphoned) out my old gasoline and then removed the tank. I took the tank over to a radiator shop and had them clean and "renew" it. They boiled it then cut holes into the sides to sandblast out the rust. Then they welded up the cuts and coated the insides with a material.

I then painted the outside with primer and then paint. I like it. I got to keep my original tank too.

[73737373]

Originally Posted by 73737373

I did my tank this weekend. The rotisserie would've come in handy!! Went to carwash and washed inside of tank 5 times until all that was coming out was soapy water. The first couple of times I emptied it, it was disgusting.

Went home and stuck a 20 foot length of chain in it, propped it on the raised tailgate and played see saw w/it for about 90 minutes, sliding the chain back and forth. I'd rinse periodically w/fresh water washing out the rusty water. Did that till it was pretty clear. Mixed 5 gals (4 to 1 solution of muriatic acid) and dumped that in the tank and let sit for about 2 hours on each side. Before I dumped it out, I added a 5 gals of water that that I dissolved a box of baking soda in to neutralize the acid. I did that 2 more times. Rinsed a couple more times w/water and let dry. Installing in truck tonite and I'll let ya know tomorrow how it went. Note: My sending unit was pretty rusty, but I let it soak in vinegar for 24 hours and it is now clean as a whistle. All in all, I've saved at least $200, but still don't have peace of mind as opposed to buying a new tank.

SUCCESS!!! Installed tank along w/new fuel lines, new filter, new pump and new gas. Before I installed, dropped a weak magnet in it (tied to a string) and shook it around as best as I could hoping it would pick up and loose rust. Primed carb and turned the key. She sputtered a couple times, but then fired right up. No smoke, no leaks, great oil pressure. Still no test drive until I get the master cylinder put on which will be tonite. Then I can get the sound deadener, carpet and seat installed. And for those who didn't bother to read carefully and/or failed to pay attention in their high school chemistry class, once you ad the alkaline (baking soda solution) to the acid, you neutralize the acid.