Gas tank cleaning

[Vic in E-TN]

A few weeks ago I posted a question about cleaning out a gas tank. I put some paint thinner in the tank and nothing came out. This is a late 31 tank with an indented firewall. One very good answer that I followed up on my question was from "psimet", He suggested using acetone. It dissolved the residue at the bottom of the tank and I was able to pour acetone into the tank and leave it in overnight. Eventually it came out after absorbing a lot of the red stuff. I bought another gallon of acetone and am using most of that gallon in the same way. The first half gallon displaced almost another half gallon that came out and almost filled up my plastic tea bottles.


My history with the car. I bought it probably 12-15 years ago and drove it a few miles. Previous owner had it for a long tome and he said that he drove it around before he took it to Florida where it sat in a garage for years. He said that he drove it into the garage. I traillered it home. It was amazing that it ran when the rotor did not turn and the shaft was missing. I replaced that and it started up. Only drove it a few miles before I put it aside.


I put a bore scope into the tank filler. It shows a lot of red residue all over the baffles and sides. I don't know what the red is. Is that something the previous owner put in? Will gasoline displace it? No gasoline in yet.


I am not spending an unlimited amount of money on $20/gallon acetone that is dangerous and hazzardous waste. I purchased a batch of inline filters and will fire up the engine to see what happens.



Any thoughts from you are welcome.


Vic