Filthy gas tank
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 765
Likes: 50
From: West Palm Beach,Florida
Filthy gas tank
I have a 96 vette that has been sitting for 2 + years due to health issues. Apparently the fuel sending unit and fuel pump rusted out from the ethanol containing fuel. The gas evaporated out and i am left with a caked on rust powder residue at the bottom of the tank. THE TANK ITSELF NOT RUSTED. How do i clean this mess up. What kind of a solvent or cleaner do i use to loosen this residue up.?
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 4,208
Likes: 1,328
From: LeClaire Iowa
I am reading your post and if the gas was above the whole sending unit and rusted it and then evaporated all out in just two years is hard to believe. I don't think this is possible even with the gas cap off. Have you tried just reaching down with a rag with maybe mineral spirits on it? Dan
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 2,315
Likes: 110
From: Brandon Fl
Just spray some carb cleaner or brake cleaner in there and wipe it out with a rag. I recently went through this with mine as it sits a lot. Once you get the sender out there is a lot of room to reach in there. Even some fresh gas would work to wipe it all out. It's a pain but more than doable.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 1,510
Likes: 401
From: Liberty, SC
2023 C4 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
If it is powdery, id try to attaching a brush or scrub pad to the end of a stick and loosen as much as possible. Then shop vac it out. And as a last step damp wipe it out as described above.
