Cleaning of plastic fuel tank??

[Brrly1 1,146]

Hello everyone, I am curious as to what one would use in cleaning a plastic fuel tank? I have heard of kerosene but then again I am wondering what someone else might suggest???  Any help?? Thanks    John

[daveoman1966 3,839]

The best grease / grime / sludge cutter in the world.... DAWN
Just be sure to thoroughly rinse and dry.   

[pacer 3,177]

I had one that looked like tar in it - and the fuel line and carb! - While Dawn is good, it wouldnt touch this stuff! Tried kerosene and nothing... then tried a little Acetone and it seemed to be working some. Tried a few applications sitting for a few hours and each time would get a slight improvement, but too slow for me - so I then tried lacquer thinner and it worked even better, so a few with that and the tank finally looked ready. Boy that was nasty stuff! The carb was beyond hope, the needle jet was completely beyond as was the lines.

[Brrly1 1,146]

Pacer, how long did you let it sit with the thinner? Your basic varnish, and yes it's nasty.

[pacer 3,177]

Ouch!, youre asking me to use my memory - of which I seem to have less and less of!

Seems like I would get to the shop and check it from overnite, or maybe even after a few hours. Since I had already begun to made 'dents' into the 'tar' with the previous attempts, seems like it went pretty fast after the lacquer treatment.

Since that one I have done 2 others with much less crud in them, going straight to the lacquer thinner first and they both cleaned up rather quickly.

[rmaynard 16,293]

I had a black plastic tank that was all crudded up like that. When mineral spirits didn't cut it, I thought about lacquer thinner and how much I would need to do several soak, flush, & repeats. But with lacquer thinner running about $17.00/gallon, and a good used tank about $25, I opted for a replacement tank.

[Wheel-N-It 2,976]

Brrly, I have access to a hot water (almost steam) pressure washer. I have used it to clean the inside of Wheel Horse plastic fuel tanks and old LAGT tires that have years of built up dirt and grime that can't be washed out any other way (in my experience). It works great and gets the fuel tanks clean like new.
If you or one of your buddies has access to one of these washers this is what I would recommend.

[wheelhorseman 3,237]

I have not personally tried it but I have heard E-85 works good

[RedRanger 1,469]

I have not personally tried it but I have heard E-85 works good

​It eats everything else, I can't see why not. A lot slower than lacquer thinner I'd assume...  and safer to the tank.

[jeff lary 173]

Hi you can try this too, Simple Green and a hand full of nuts and bolts then shake the heck out of it. I personally just use gasoline though most of the time.

[callum12 257]

I found a really good product by swarfega, it comes in a large spray can its called swarfega Jizzer ( i know, i know, funny name  ). 
it works so well, i think its safe for plastics, a fuel tank will be fine considering it hold petrol, always double check though. 
callum