Best way / product to clean out nasty nasty gas tank?

[Docwheelhorse 2,740]

Hello All,

I want to start working on the barn find 953 I picked up... problem number one---the gas tank is full of the worst smelling syrupy green disaster of what once was gasoline... taking gas tank out isn't an option as it is a serious P.I.T.A.

So---is there anything chemical wise that I could fill the tank with that would cut this crud? Do I drain it best I can... slosh around some fresh gas to get the rest of it out then fill tank with 2 or 3 gallons of this stuff? Or 2 or 3 gallons of Acetone or should I just rinse it out best I can with gas then jam a pressure washer in the opening with a large amount of Dawn dishwashing soap?

 

Help...….

 

Tony

 

 

 

Edited October 24, 2022 by Docwheelhorse
Fixed Picture

[stevebo-(Moderator) 8,527]

Tony,

fill it with the insurtial strength purple power stuff and let it sit. That works well on the old outboard gas tanks 

[Pullstart 66,595]

It wouldn’t hurt to drag it around if you can put a @Sparky on it for an hour or so.  I BELIEVE the 953 tanks are baffled.  Make sure you flush it real good with pressurized water and then an air hose… maybe even heat gun.

[wallfish 18,054]

9 hours ago, Docwheelhorse said:

jam a pressure washer in the opening with a large amount of Dawn dishwashing soap?

You will be stink'n of that old gas for months when it splashes on you.

I'll be able to tell at the spring Zag show if you did that ! LoL

 

Lacquer thinner to soak and pour it out should get quite a bit. Problem is getting rid of it afterwards

[Docwheelhorse 2,740]

56 minutes ago, wallfish said:

You will be stink'n of that old gas for months when it splashes on you.

I'll be able to tell at the spring Zag show if you did that ! LoL

 

Lacquer thinner to soak and pour it out should get quite a bit. Problem is getting rid of it afterwards

I'll pour it into your van at Spring Zags when your not looking!

[Lee1977 7,185]

I have done two with Oxi Clean was around July and the hot sun helped. Did a 80 Toyota tank it did a good job. the tanl was rusty and even after cleaning it I couldn't get all the loose rust rinced out.

Dont remember how mant time I changed fuel filters. one time i had to take it off in the walmarts parking lot and shake the rust out.  The out one was a 1959 JD 430 tank, it was galvinized and came out clean.

 

[Jeff-C175 7,206]

31 minutes ago, Lee1977 said:

Oxi Clean

 

I know the tank is steel, but Oxi Clean reference buzzed me on something I discovered over the weekend.  Yes, off topic, I know... but good point of info I think.  In case someone were to use it on an aluminum tank.

 

Oxi Clean will turn Aluminum dark gray !  I believe it oxidizes and etches the Aluminum.  I had a carburetor all nice and clean and wanted to do a final wash so I mixed up some Oxi and let the carb soak for about 15 minutes and the pretty shine it had was now dull gray.

 

As such, it would probably be a good prep for painting aluminum.

 

Some of the industrial cleaners also carry a warning not to use on Aluminum if you are concerned about appearance afterward.

 

 

Edited October 25, 2022 by Jeff-C175

[Lee1977 7,185]

1 hour ago, Jeff-C175 said:

 

I know the tank is steel, but Oxi Clean reference buzzed me on something I discovered over the weekend.  Yes, off topic, I know... but good point of info I think.  In case someone were to use it on an aluminum tank.

 

Oxi Clean will turn Aluminum dark gray !  I believe it oxidizes and etches the Aluminum.  I had a carburetor all nice and clean and wanted to do a final wash so I mixed up some Oxi and let the carb soak for about 15 minutes and the pretty shine it had was now dull gray.

 

As such, it would probably be a good prep for painting aluminum.

 

Some of the industrial cleaners also carry a warning not to use on Aluminum if you are concerned about appearance afterward.

 

 

Good to know. All mine are plastic or steet and one stainless steel.