It seems 21 years has caused my fuel pump screen and a rubber line in my tank to rot out. Lol they are completely gone! Well.. a good bit of the chunks are now waving around the bottom of the tank. What is the best safest way to get that junk out?

 

Just use some water, swish it around, and dump it out. Or, if you have wet/dry vac, use that to suck out the crap. Leave the tank sit open for a day or so to be sure it dries completely though.

Might also consider using one of the aftermarket gas tank coatings while you have it open.

 

If your tank is in good shape, then I would probably try the aboved method and also look at POR-15. They make a good gas tank coating.

If your tank is old, you might want to invest in a new one. Last time I bought one for my s10, it was only $90 from Standard. Just another option. A lot of the junk comes from up top actually where air hits the exposed tank on the inside. Older tanks get alot of this that starts dropping down into the tank.

 

I've hear the water method before, If I were you and decided to use water I would throw some vinegar in the mix as well, just a bottle or two. Then to add to using the water method, I've heard of taking gravel rocks, or any small jagged rocks for that matter; washing them really well, and then throwing them into the tank with the water and vinegar mix. Close off all ports and shake the tank... a lot. The rock will take off any stuck on goo or grime, so that when you put gas in the tank any build up won't come loose because all the loose stuff is broken off, ohh and make sure to shake the tank a few times after you drain the water vinegar and rocks (don't want an extra rock rolling around lol)


DacMan

 

Hmmm is its rusting you can use this epoxy stuff to coat over it, thats what mine had done to it like back in 08

 

all of the above work . the condition of your tank will dictate what you do . very important is clean . clean before repair , clean after . what ever you do wash & clean & dry . of course do all this outside in a well ventilated area . dry interior between cleanings ( not an easy task ) . a way to do this that has worked for me . #1 a CLEAN shop vacuum with the hose set to blow . #2 small leaf blower . duct them in the filler neck to dry the interior , when you think it's dry don't stop . let it go for another couple of hours . has worked for me on many marine fuel tank repairs . DRY & CLEAN . good luck .

 

I don't know about your local shops, but the radiator shops around here do fuel tanks, and can power clean them the same as a radiator, just a thought.

 

The tank was in good shape. The only thing in it was dirt and rubber chunks from both the seal and the rubber line that use to connect the pump to the hard line. Lol I dont know if it just rotted away or if it was somewhere fallen into the tank. There was no real rust in the tank except under the cap which was light enough to wipe away with some acetone.

I ended up draining the fuel then spraying it out at a private car wash. I was probably filling and dumping it for 35 to 40 min, as long as my 50 cents lasted. After that I sucked out the water with a shop vac, then attached a hose to a hair drier and let it pump the tank full of heat during a nice dry day. After doing so I did a quick inspection to find that it was bone dry and clean. There was a bit more of that dusty type of surface rust with no pits on the top. I just sprayed it with some of that rubber coat stuff. I was thinking about doing the bottom but I'm not sure, that's kinda close to the hot exhaust. The last thing I want is some weird smell of heated rubber coming from the car. Maybe a good enamel later in time.

Thanks for the help all! Project tank cleaning, complete.