Flushing gas tank

[Lawson Cox]

Just damn. It looks like I'm just gonna have to drop the tank on my pickup and flush it out after all.

Once I get it out, what's the best way to flush it out, just run water in it, through it, rolling tank around good in the process, then drain it good through the neck and set it out in the sun for a few hours and let it dry out?

Other ideas? Can it be done by just running water through it for a couple of hours, bouncing it around a few times during the process, then out into the sun to dry out good? I hate to pull the tank at my tender age, but then I could walk my grandson through it I guess. He's big and strong and takes directions pretty well. LOL

EDIT:

It is dirt and trash from getting alcohol free gas from a little fly by night station a little closer to home than where I usually get it. Tee-nincy stuff. "New" Drake tank, just a few years old. Charlie NY has cleaned out fuel pump and carb twice. No more. Sorry I wasn't more specific about what I need to get out of the tank. Thanks.

[jimTN]

Lawson, depends on whats in it. Rust will not be helped by flushing. Sticky black tar will not be helped by flushing. Dirt and trash can be helped. If its rust and tar, swimming pool acid will be required to clean it and then a flush with water and baking soda and some sort of tank coating.

[Lawson Cox]

See EDIT above. Don't know how to delete post.

[deuce lover]

Originally Posted by Lawson Cox

See EDIT above. Don't know how to delete post.

You can't delete posts,only edit like delete what you wrote and rewrite it

[Newc]

Local V8er uses oven cleaner for an hr or so the hot flush. Harbor freight bore scope will help look at inside. Newc

[Lawson Cox]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Originally Posted by Newc

Local V8er uses oven cleaner for an hr or so the hot flush. Harbor freight bore scope will help look at inside. Newc

Local V8er uses oven cleaner for an hr or so the hot flush.

Please clarify "the hot flush". Thanks

I'll go by HF and "scope out the scope".

[Yoyodyne]

My 36PU tank was all crudded up with varnish from 30 years of storage. I got the worst out with sessions of carb cleaner and Simple Green Crystal etc.

The final flush was alcohol, methanol I think. It's cheap, volatile so it dries fast and it absorbs water. I did the alcohol twice, the second flush came out real clean so I aired it out to dry and reinstalled, been fine since.


Now if it's rusty, that's another project, and I can expand on that if needed.

[Ggmac]

If your sending unit is out , I use purple stuff industrial cleaner , just about a 4 oz cupful and a small piece of chain , if no rust a light dog chain works . Let stand after the chain rotation, oh definately leave a section of chain out so you can hold or wire it to a part on the tanks exterior , for about 15 to 30 minutes . Rinse with water a couple of times . If the tank is coated or tinned , dilute the purple stuff abot 50-50 with water . I get my purple stuff from home depot , it is the strongest , ive tried them all . Wear gloves and goggles and dont get any on any painted surface .
Good luck

[jimTN]

Lawson, I suspect washing it with a good detergent, sun drying and then maybe a vacuum cleaner down the gauge hole and filler neck while rolling around might work. You may need to use a chamois skin to filter your gas in the future.....

[Lawson Cox]

Yeah, that's what I'm gonna do. Now I find I have a main wiring harness that has gotten hot and is gonna have to be replaced. I'll just have to get someone to do that because I'm just not physically able.