Gas Tank Cleaning
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 234
Likes: 15
Gas Tank Cleaning
Hi All,
Decided it was time to clean out the gas tank. Can anyone tell me the correct way to clean out the gas tank without damaging anything on the inside? Was told to drain the fuel and use dishwashing soap and water. Is this right?
Thanks
Decided it was time to clean out the gas tank. Can anyone tell me the correct way to clean out the gas tank without damaging anything on the inside? Was told to drain the fuel and use dishwashing soap and water. Is this right?
Thanks
Racer
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 297
Likes: 43
never use water and soap, last thing I would want to try is something that could leave a residue behind. especially something that could leave a gummy residue. if nothing else is wrong witht he system such as leaks etc I would drain it completely, and use marine grade cleaner, follow the directions. something similar to this, again NOT WATER
\https://www.wholesalemarine.com/star...oaAtmlEALw_wcB
\https://www.wholesalemarine.com/star...oaAtmlEALw_wcB
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 234
Likes: 15
The car is a 1975. I rebuilt the carb and found a cloudy milky like substance mixed with the good gas in the carb fuel area. When it dried out after a day it turned to this powder like dust light brown to gold in color. I took that carb off and put on a brand new carb (never before used) and after a week found the same substance in the new carb. I then put a camera scope in the gas tank and saw the same thing in the tank. Not a lot but enough to make me wonder. I pulled the tank and dumped all the fuel. On Youtube a lot of posts demonstrate to use water very little dish soap and clean inside well. After wash out well and clean dry with no lint towels. The bladder is still in the car.
Thanks
Thanks
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Racer
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 297
Likes: 43
I think I was pretty clear on the no water comment, but tis your car and if youtube is the expert by all means go ahead and ruin your fuel lines and brand new carb. im done. (the milky white cloudy soloution is most likely water in old gasoline.)
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,095
Likes: 299
From: Midlothian VA
https://carterfuelsystems.com/resour...an-a-fuel-tank
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 234
Likes: 15
I was torn and confused. Took the sending unit out so just the tank and bladder and took tank to a local shop (Very popular and in business for 40 years) and a local auto restoration shop. ( Could not leave the restoration shop, wish I could live there lol). Both said the same thing: Sending unit never touch water. Clean that with chemical wash mentioned earlier. The bare tank and bladder use mild dish washing soap with water (a gallon) and clean inside. The bladder will protect metal of tank. Interesting restore shop said to get marine tape and seal around the lip where the sending unit bolts to the tank. The purpose is to create a seal around the tank and the bladder preventing any water to get between the bladder and the tank. Restore shop said the rubber nature of the bladder will indicate any residue and to be careful. Will try tonight and let you all know.
Thanks
Thanks
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 234
Likes: 15
Ok reinstalled tank filled tank and test. Put a camera scope in tank to double check. All is perfect, tank is clean as day one with no residue build up or anything. Youtube and 2 auto shops were correct. mild soap (little bit) rinsed repeatedly with water and 100% dried out works fine. Thanks for all your help and input.
Thanks
Thanks
Racer
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 414
Likes: 55
From: Humboldt county Ca
The hotest water you can get makes a good rinse. Rinse your dishes in cold water next time vs hot water. Quite a difference. Compressed air does a great job of drying also. I"ve used this technique on motorcycle tanks a few times.
Not a thing wrong with hot, soapy water. Experts are always expert at something they've never done before.
Congratulations on your job.
Not a thing wrong with hot, soapy water. Experts are always expert at something they've never done before.
Congratulations on your job.