Gas tank cleaning

David G · Mar 31, 2013

what size gravel would you use to clean a tank? I am planning to fasten it to tractor wheel.

Ken-Pa · Mar 31, 2013

Too large will be harder to get back out . I used about a shovel of 2B gravel . Wash it out good with HOT water , Then I repeated the process a couple more times . Be sure to rinse the tank out good & then us air pressure . Then there's an acid solution made thats recommended before any stop leak coating is added . Eastman sells the tank repair products

David G · Mar 31, 2013

Is that the size of pea gravel?

IrvIA · Mar 31, 2013

I've had better luck with a piece of small log chain. It slides rather than roll over the crud and it comes out in one piece. I use a solution of muratic acid and water. After that, you can use a soda water solution to neutralize the acid, and then rinse thoroughly. I probably would coat it after you're done. They stay nice that way.
Irv

Ivan in Mich · Mar 31, 2013

I use a piece of chain that each length i bent together instead of being welded and I think it cleans faster and better than the welded one.

JD Seller · Mar 31, 2013

I use steel nuts. I would never use gravel. How are you going to get all the gravel out of the tank??? With steel nuts you can fish them out with a magnet. You can buy a few pounds of new nuts for a under five dollars. Most of us have bucket,bin full of used ones just throw a few handfuls in and shake how ever you want to.

flying belgian · Mar 31, 2013

I also use chain. You can get the really small stuff used for hanging picture frames if this is a lawn mower tank.

wilamayb · Mar 31, 2013

If it has old gas in it you can use MEK to cut it out. MEK can be found on the solvent aisle at your local hardware store or lowes. It'll cut that old gas in short order.

James Howell · Apr 1, 2013

You might consider using a chain to clean the inside of the tank.

<a href="http://s200.photobucket.com/user/jameslloydhowell/media/John%20Deere%20Equipment/Uncle%20Earl/IMG_1698.jpg.html" target="_blank">

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<a href="http://s200.photobucket.com/user/jameslloydhowell/media/John%20Deere%20Equipment/Uncle%20Earl/IMG_1701.jpg.html" target="_blank">

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Attach the last link in the chain to the strap.

Hope this helps.

Geo-TH,In · Apr 1, 2013

Saved the small gravel from having a well drilled. Had a small gas tank from a mower that needed cleaned. Put the gravel in it, used air compressor, put hose in tank, the gravel bounced around, it like sand blasted the inside.

Hobo,NC · Apr 1, 2013

(quoted from post at 06:13:35 04/01/13) what size gravel would you use to clean a tank? I am planning to fasten it to tractor wheel.

Pea gravel stiffed thru rabbet cage wire... I tried a chain once and it got stuck in the baffle if it does not have a baffle a chain would work great.... I made a extension (reducer) to go on my shop vac to get all the gravel out. One thing I would not do is try and sand blast inside the tank you will never get all the sand out BTDT... The liner will take care of whats left but I want it all out...

http://forums.yesterdaystractors.com/viewtopic.php?t=244783&highlight=

Ande · Apr 1, 2013

Jim,I like your chain idea,does it clean it out good? Usually how long does it take

Mike Aylward · Apr 1, 2013

Just this last month I was working on some carburetors that had sat in unused tractors for about ten years. The gas had Sta-Bil in it and had turned to asphalt. I got some MEK and thought it would cut it if anything would. It never even got dark. I ended up using toluene and it worked ok. Not fast, but ok. We ended up putting some E-85 in the tank of one tractor that was particularly bad. It actually cut the crud about as good as anything we tried. Mike

rustyfarmall · Apr 1, 2013

(quoted from post at 06:44:23 04/01/13) Just this last month I was working on some carburetors that had sat in unused tractors for about ten years. The gas had Sta-Bil in it and had turned to asphalt. I got some MEK and thought it would cut it if anything would. It never even got dark. I ended up using toluene and it worked ok. Not fast, but ok. We ended up putting some E-85 in the tank of one tractor that was particularly bad. It actually cut the crud about as good as anything we tried. Mike

Exactly!! E85 is the way to go, and you may not even need to remove the tank from the tractor.

rustyfarmall · Apr 1, 2013

I find it to be totally amazing that there are still folks out there who actually believe that old myth of putting rocks or chains in a gas tank to clean it out. And even worse, now you're going to hang it on a wheel and drive around that way? What happens if the tank slips a little and makes contact with the ground? Are you prepared to go shopping for another tank?

Come on guys. There are many, many chemicals available that do an excellent job with no risk of ruining an otherwise good fuel tank. 9 times out of 10 all you need is fresh fuel, and if you want to go one step further, use E85.

The little bit of rust left in the tank will be easily caught in the sediment bowl. Just clean the sediment bowl a few times and you're done.

JMS/.MN · Apr 1, 2013

Same here- nuts instead of gravel. I have a tank mount on a cement mixer.....just let it run overnight.

James Howell · Apr 1, 2013

As far as I know the chain did a good job.

A couple of years later had to repair a leak near the fuel filter.

<a href="http://s200.photobucket.com/user/jameslloydhowell/media/John%20Deere%20Equipment/Uncle%20Earl/Tank%20Repair/IMG_2813.jpg.html" target="_blank">

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Fellow at the radiator shop flushed the tank and commented on how clean the inside was.

Don't remember exactly how long it took; just made a tour around the farm which takes about 45 minutes.

<a href="http://s200.photobucket.com/user/jameslloydhowell/media/John%20Deere%20Equipment/Uncle%20Earl/IMG_1702.jpg.html" target="_blank">

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Drove "Uncle Earl" our 39B yesterday afternoon and the sediment bowl is still clean.

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Anonymous-0 · Apr 1, 2013

I take mine to a radiator shop,they cook it in their acid tank.then put pour in liner in it.i have never had a problem. If you don't get it clean enough the liner will peel off and really make a mess.

David G · Apr 1, 2013

JD Seller, I like that idea of using nuts.

Hobo,NC · Apr 1, 2013

(quoted from post at 18:21:45 04/01/13)
I find it to be totally amazing that there are still folks out there who actually believe that old myth of putting rocks or chains in a gas tank to clean it out. And even worse, now you're going to hang it on a wheel and drive around that way? What happens if the tank slips a little and makes contact with the ground? Are you prepared to go shopping for another tank?

Come on guys. There are many, many chemicals available that do an excellent job with no risk of ruining an otherwise good fuel tank. 9 times out of 10 all you need is fresh fuel, and if you want to go one step further, use E85.

The little bit of rust left in the tank will be easily caught in the sediment bowl. Just clean the sediment bowl a few times and you're done.

"The little bit of rust left in the tank will be easily caught in the sediment bowl"

If you are not going to do it right then yes you will still have a contaminated tank... The ones I have done were in bad condition no chemical I know of that would eliminate the rust... I put enuff gas in my tractors to do what I plan to do one time,,, add as needed all the tanks I have lined in the past 10 years look like I just lined them and never had to clean the fuel filters...

If you are going to prep the surface for a liner it needs to be prepped just like you were going to paint the outside only you can not get to the inside,,, rocks, nuts, nails, chains what ever it takes prep it and you will be a happy camper,,, are haftarse it and join the group that were to lazy to go the extra mile... Prepped and lined correct and you are done with it forever...

I find it to be totally amazing anyone would question the efford unless they could buy a good tank reasonable... Me, if I am going to this much trouble I line the tank I am done with it forever (I hope)

rustyfarmall · Apr 1, 2013

(quoted from post at 11:03:22 04/01/13)

(quoted from post at 18:21:45 04/01/13)
I find it to be totally amazing that there are still folks out there who actually believe that old myth of putting rocks or chains in a gas tank to clean it out. And even worse, now you're going to hang it on a wheel and drive around that way? What happens if the tank slips a little and makes contact with the ground? Are you prepared to go shopping for another tank?

Come on guys. There are many, many chemicals available that do an excellent job with no risk of ruining an otherwise good fuel tank. 9 times out of 10 all you need is fresh fuel, and if you want to go one step further, use E85.

The little bit of rust left in the tank will be easily caught in the sediment bowl. Just clean the sediment bowl a few times and you're done.

Click to expand...

"The little bit of rust left in the tank will be easily caught in the sediment bowl"

If you are not going to do it right then yes you will still have a contaminated tank... The ones I have done were in bad condition no chemical I know of that would eliminate the rust... I put enuff gas in my tractors to do what I plan to do one time,,, add as needed all the tanks I have lined in the past 10 years look like I just lined them and never had to clean the fuel filters...

If you are going to prep the surface for a liner it needs to be prepped just like you were going to paint the outside only you can not get to the inside,,, rocks, nuts, nails, chains what ever it takes prep it and you will be a happy camper,,, are haftarse it and join the group that were to lazy to go the extra mile... Prepped and lined correct and you are done with it forever...

I find it to be totally amazing anyone would question the efford unless they could buy a good tank reasonable... Me, if I am going to this much trouble I line the tank I am done with it forever (I hope)

I cleaned one about 12 years ago with muriatic acid, and then put in the liner. I was still getting rust and other crud in the sediment bowl, so I did the acid trick again. The acid totally removed the liner as well as getting the tank thoroughly clean this time. I never did put a liner back in, and 12 years later the gas in the sediment bowl is still clean. I wasted my money buying that stuff in the first place.

Hobo,NC · Apr 1, 2013

Myself all but the 2nd one I lined I have never had a issue... I used muriatic acid on that one and it made rust as soon as I washed it out. I did not treat it with a neutralizer tho

... I used Kreem and later applied por-15 over the kreem its still hang'n in my old shop maybe one day on my own chit I will install it...

The first one a honda ATC I used muriatic acid then Kreem as far as I know its stll OK... Its work and time consuming but done right I don't think a liner applied correct can be beat... I do believe you and understand your issues with it BTDT I changed my recipe and have been pleased with the out come...

SDE · Apr 1, 2013

My B-I-L suggested using galvanized nails.
SDE

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