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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Flushing the fuel tank - Suggestions
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Message started by saratovich on 05/28/08 at 17:47:59

Title: Flushing the fuel tank - Suggestions
Post by saratovich on 05/28/08 at 17:47:59

I don't have a shop, water hose or air compressor.

1 - drain fuel
2 - pull the tank.
3 - remove petcock (do I need a new gasket here?)
4 - ???

Thanks

Title: Re: Flushing the fuel tank - Suggestions
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 05/28/08 at 17:57:53

I could rinse a tank in the bath tub if I had no hose. If I had a blow dryer,,, well,, you get the picture. If its a good hot day, put the tank out in the sun & dry it? Will you be doing a rust treaTment? Just getting rid of crud? Naaah, no new gasket required. Ive pulled my petcock several times & not needed a new ( I think its an Oring) gasket.

Title: Re: Flushing the fuel tank - Suggestions
Post by saratovich on 05/28/08 at 18:05:29

I'm just be trying to get the crud out. There's no visible rust in the tank, it looks clean but it sat for awhile with the previous owner.

Title: Re: Flushing the fuel tank - Suggestions
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 05/28/08 at 18:08:32

Wwell, hold tight before you jump on MY ideas. There will surely be someone along with some experience to offer more info.

Title: Re: Flushing the fuel tank - Suggestions
Post by willrph on 05/28/08 at 18:54:40

Ok, I have been reading this site for months and have set a personnel record in adding my two cents on two posts in one night. FYI, most folks on this site have a better wit then myself but what the heck I'll offer my two cents. Hopefully some of the senrior members will offer their input.

From my perspecttice it seems illogical to clean a gas tank with water. Why add to the tank a substance, water, that is not compatible with gas and may cause more problems in the tank. Wouldn't it be better to remove the old gas and inspect the tank, and if needed rinse with a gas compatible substance? Perhpas a car cleaner? Sorry I had years of college chemistry and it just doesn't make sense to mix oil and water in a tank. Senior members, having my respect, should suggest more appropriate alternatives.

Even with careful drying will some amount of water remain in the tank. Let the experts suggest a gas compatible rinse.

Title: Re: Flushing the fuel tank - Suggestions
Post by Gort on 05/28/08 at 19:24:02

I would pour carburetor cleaner in the tank and slosh it around for a very long time. Carb cleaner immediately removes old gummed up gas. Watch you don't get it on the tank paint. Take the petcock and internal filter assy. out first.

The petcock has an oval shaped O-ring which compresses. When I took mine off and back on, it seeped gas as the Oval ring had taken a set and was compressed. They are so cheap that I would replace it with a new one while you have it off. I bought several in a single order because who knows how long this 'one of a kind' part will be available..and if it leaks you got a problem. You can get them here:

https://www.ronayers.com/index.cfm

Title: Re: Flushing the fuel tank - Suggestions
Post by Sandy Koocanusa on 05/28/08 at 19:40:08

I've said it before and I'll say it again... My opinion and 50 cents will buy you a cup of coffee, so take it for what it's worth.

If there aren't any chunks blocking things up, I'd leave well enough alone. Run Seafoam or some such cleaner through the tank with your gas and let it do the work. When I changed my petcock, I got gas on, under, and around the paint next to the petcock hole, even though I tried to be careful. It did not do good things to the paint. I won't be removing that again unless there's a problem that calls for it.

Others will disagree with me.

Title: Re: Flushing the fuel tank - Suggestions
Post by demin on 05/29/08 at 14:34:26

Get some mineral spirits,and about 20 , 1/4"nuts,put in tank,and shake.The mineral spirits will clean the sludge,and the nuts will loosen up any chunky stuff.

Title: Re: Flushing the fuel tank - Suggestions
Post by JakeB on 05/29/08 at 19:29:36

I usually just throw a handful of nuts and bolts into the tank with a little gasoline and slosh it around a little bit. Then fish out the nuts and bolts with a magnet along with any little bits of rust that got knocked loose. Finally rinse a few times with clean gas again and don't worry if there's any left in there cause it's gas.

Title: Re: Flushing the fuel tank - Suggestions
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 05/29/08 at 21:33:20

Ospho, from Kelly Moore paint store, liquid, not the gel, will turn rust from Iron Oxide to Iron Phosphate, a black, hard surface. Once the tank is battered & scraped by whatever fiendishly clever materials are tossed in & its all rinsed out, slosh some in & shake it all over, coating the inside of the tank. It KIlls rust, transforming it chemically, so it isnt rust at all.Now, after it sits a while ( I forget what the instructions say, I keeep a quart around for when I see that hateful thing, rust. I kill it!)
rinse the tank again with whatever youve chosen, gasoline, carb cleaner, whatever.. ride!