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Login to post Forums » Sprockets » SO MUCH junk in my gas tank. Help!

Nov. 13, 2011 4:59 p.m. alex SuperDork

My TL has been laid up for way too long, which (in addition to being 13 years old) has seen the gas in the tank go bad, and rust/sediment to accumulate. It's nasty in there.

When I worked at the shop, we had good success just using water and granulated dish soap and lots and lots of manual shaking, emptying, rinsing and repeating. I'm just concerned that the crud is too pervasive and tenacious to remove with that method.

For the record, I'm planning to paint this tank, so if this is the time for something drastic like electromagnetic stripping majik, you'll have to hold my hand through it, but I'm receptive to the idea. So, what's your method for cleaning up really cruddy fuel tanks?
Nov. 13, 2011 5:05 p.m. Grtechguy SuperDork

Yank tank.. handfull of stainless balls or nuts and atf. shake hard
Nov. 13, 2011 5:16 p.m. alex SuperDork

ATF, eh? Does that have any detergent effect, or should I still wash it before or after with soap and water?
Nov. 13, 2011 6:17 p.m. foxtrapper SuperDork

FIll with vinegar, let sit 2-3 day, flush and rinse with water, admire sparkly clean tank.
Nov. 13, 2011 6:33 p.m. Grtechguy SuperDork

alex wrote:

ATF, eh? Does that have any detergent effect, or should I still wash it before or after with soap and water?

atf / seafoam....seems to strip about anything out
Nov. 13, 2011 6:37 p.m. alex SuperDork

foxtrapper wrote:

FIll with vinegar, let sit 2-3 day, flush and rinse with water, admire sparkly clean tank.

O rly? Like straight white vinegar, undiluted?

I like 'fill and sit' versus 'fill, shake like hell, empty, repeat until you can't lift your arms.'
Nov. 13, 2011 6:58 p.m. stuart in mn SuperDork

Yes, vinegar will work. I would still go ahead and clean out the big chunks first by putting in some hardware (nuts will work, or anything with some sharp edges like shingle nails) and shaking them around with hot water and soap.

There are plenty of discussions out there about using vinegar for rust removal, with a google search you can find out the particulars.
Nov. 13, 2011 7:21 p.m. Grtechguy SuperDork

or this way if you like playing with electricity.

http://www.altelco.net/~jacil/clay/motorcycle/KElecSetup.html
Nov. 13, 2011 7:43 p.m. mike Reader

Grtechguy wrote:

or this way if you like playing with electricity.

http://www.altelco.net/~jacil/clay/motorcycle/KElecSetup.html

Now that's interesting. I may have to try that over a weekend on some junk parts.
Nov. 13, 2011 7:45 p.m. 93EXCivic SuperDork

I have also heard milkstone solution will work. I am going to try it soon.
Nov. 14, 2011 5:39 a.m. 914Driver SuperDork

I've had really good luck with Eastwood's Metal Wash. It preps the metal for paint or powderdcoating. Doesn't leave a residue behind and removes schmegma.

The little can for $10 will clean a boat load of cycle gas tanks.

Dan
Nov. 15, 2011 5:15 a.m. foxtrapper SuperDork

alex wrote:

foxtrapper wrote:

FIll with vinegar, let sit 2-3 day, flush and rinse with water, admire sparkly clean tank.

O rly? Like straight white vinegar, undiluted?

I like 'fill and sit' versus 'fill, shake like hell, empty, repeat until you can't lift your arms.'

Mmhm. Cheapest variant you can find. No point in fru-fru types. Not only is it less physically exerting, but it simply works better too.
Dec. 29, 2011 5:13 a.m. porschenut New Reader

I just bought a yamaha 250 with similar tank issues. Once cleaned what is the most foolproof coating if there is rust inside? Or do I just clean it and fill with fresh gas? Lucked out on this bike, the tank was left half full but they did run the carbs dry. Pulled one side and it is spotless!
Dec. 29, 2011 5:34 a.m. foxtrapper SuperDork

Not a fan of coating gas tanks, I've seen a whole lot of them fail. A tank with gasoline in it doesn't rust, empty tanks do.
Dec. 29, 2011 10:35 a.m. 93EXCivic SuperDork

foxtrapper wrote:

Not a fan of coating gas tanks, I've seen a whole lot of them fail. A tank with gasoline in it doesn't rust, empty tanks do.

This. I am having the problem of getting rid of pealing coating in my tank.
Dec. 29, 2011 1:33 p.m. 44Dwarf Dork

Todays p4 gas sucks very few coating seem to last and just like paint its all in the prep work but if you got it that clean theres no need to coat it to begin with...

Star washers and nuts work great for scraping rust out.
Dec. 29, 2011 6:22 p.m. mguar Reader

alex wrote:

My TL has been laid up for way too long, which (in addition to being 13 years old) has seen the gas in the tank go bad, and rust/sediment to accumulate. It's nasty in there.

When I worked at the shop, we had good success just using water and granulated dish soap and lots and lots of manual shaking, emptying, rinsing and repeating. I'm just concerned that the crud is too pervasive and tenacious to remove with that method.

For the record, I'm planning to paint this tank, so if this is the time for something drastic like electromagnetic stripping majik, you'll have to hold my hand through it, but I'm receptive to the idea. So, what's your method for cleaning up really cruddy fuel tanks?

Alcohol is your friend! it will soften everything. Buy a gallon of denatured alcohol at a hardware store or Home Depot etc..
Dec. 30, 2011 12:46 a.m. SlickDizzy SuperDork

mguar wrote: Alcohol is your friend! it will soften everything.
Dec. 30, 2011 4:23 p.m. alex SuperDork

^^Yep.

Good thinking on the alcohol. I like that.

And I, too, am not a fan of coatings for the reasons stated above. Just one more thing to cause problems. Get the tank clean by whatever means and keep it full of gas when possible. Once it's clean it will flash rust, but when it's in service it won't rust enough to cause any problems.

But learn from my mistake: don't let it sit too long.
Dec. 31, 2011 11:06 a.m. The_Jed Reader

When I was a kid we always used ATF, BBs and vigorous shaking. Then we dumped the mixture into a rag, shuffled it around to remove ATF and sludge, then shot stuff.

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