LCGB Forums

hello!

Does anyone recommend a good product to deep clean fuel tank? or a method that works well to remove the rust? Thanks!

I did mine with a box of sharp screws (had in the shed) and hot soapy water, it came out very good too, or you can get a 2 or 3 stage kit I believe that puts a permanent coating on the inside of the tank, I'm sure some else will point you in the right direction

I used a POR 15 kit with excellent results on several tanks. The kit contains all you need to clean out the tank and then seal it.

Lord-Spanner wrote:I did mine with a box of sharp screws (had in the shed) and hot soapy water, it came out very good too, or you can get a 2 or 3 stage kit I believe that puts a permanent coating on the inside of the tank, I'm sure some else will point you in the right direction

Thank you!

Tractorman wrote:I used a POR 15 kit with excellent results on several tanks. The kit contains all you need to clean out the tank and then seal it.

Thank you for the info I will take a look at that.

I have put small, clean nuts into a tank, wrapped it in a large beach towel, taped it up and run it in the drier. Works very well.

Muriatic acid is super aggressive and cleans out everything in a short time but it leaves a raw surface that instantly rusts again unless you coat it right away. Muriatic acid is available from paint shops.

Molasses contains phosphoric acid. Some concrete cleaners have it as well. It not only cleans out the rust it also leaves the surface coated so it doesn't rust. Using molasses takes a week or two. Concrete cleaner much quicker but phosphoric acid has been removed from concrete cleaners in some jurisdictions. Check the contents before using.

Also have heard good things about the various tank cleaning/coating systems. Read online reviews before choosing which one you go with.

jbcollier wrote:I have put small, clean nuts into a tank, wrapped it in a large beach towel, taped it up and run it in the drier. Works very well.

Muriatic acid is super aggressive and cleans out everything in a short time but it leaves a raw surface that instantly rusts again unless you coat it right away. Muriatic acid is available from paint shops.

Molasses contains phosphoric acid. Some concrete cleaners have it as well. It not only cleans out the rust it also leaves the surface coated so it doesn't rust. Using molasses takes a week or two. Concrete cleaner much quicker but phosphoric acid has been removed from concrete cleaners in some jurisdictions. Check the contents before using.

Also have heard good things about the various tank cleaning/coating systems. Read online reviews before choosing which one you go with.

Thanks for the info JB,

The quickest one I have access to is the Nuts and the drier.. do you only put the nuts and thats it? how long do you leave it? and do you do something else after you remove the nuts?

Remove the petcock and cap, put in a good handful of nuts and then tape up the holes. Wrap it in a towels, etc and then run it for 20 minutes. Open it up and check, and proceed from there.

Don't use anything larger than 6mm/1/4". Larger nuts may leave dents!

Generally you could then just swish it out the debris with mixed fuel. It doesn't leave the surfaces raw like muriatic acid does.