Best cleansing/flushing option for fuel tank?
#1197873
03/16/12 03:18 AM
03/16/12 03:18 AM
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 817 Eugene, Oregon
Secret Chimp
OP
super stock
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OP
super stock
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 817
Eugene, Oregon
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So after determining with your help that I can use a regular old 66-67 B-body fuel lever sender in my wagon, I want to drop the tank and get a new sender in there. I'm going to need to clean it out though - I have some fine rusty sediment that comes and goes floating around and slowly piling up in my fuel filter (or in last week's case, in my fuel bowls - don't use Autozone Duralast fuel filters!!)
The thing isn't sending very threatening amounts of rust up the line, but I want to neutralize whatever is in there. I think whatever is in there is mostly settled at the bottom of the tank since it seems to appear right after I fill up or after a lot of city driving (lots of jostling about in the tank). It's never clogged a filter on me, but it has gotten a good tablespoon of sparkly rusty silt in there in there over the course of a few tanks.
What combo would be best for a mildly dirty/sedimenty tank? Hose blast + Simple Green/acetone + phosphoric acid? I'm wary of some coatings - POR-15's sounds good, others sound like they need to have perfectly clean and etched metals or else they flake off and cause more problems than the original rust did.
I know the usual answer for initial cleaning is "have it boiled out at a radiator shop" but I've been unable to find any actual radiator shops in my area, just places that have "radiator" in their name but don't do anything other than installs and Jiffy Lube flush-and-fill junk. Though if anybody knows of a good place around Snohomish county, let me know...
1967 Dodge Coronet Deluxe station wagon
1.03" T-bars, QA1 arms/rods, Cordoba/GM Metric/Volare brake & knuckle, XHDs, Hellwig rear sway, 318 Magnum w/ air gap, 727, 3.23s
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Re: Best cleansing/flushing option for fuel tank?
[Re: 79powerwagon]
#1197875
03/16/12 07:26 AM
03/16/12 07:26 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,074 Niles , Ohio
therocks
oh wait.but hey.lets see.oh yeah.
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oh wait.but hey.lets see.oh yeah.
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,074
Niles , Ohio
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I used the POR gas tank kit in my 65.That was probally 15 years ago at least.Still looks new inside and it was real funky.I followed the instructions and after using the sealer let it sit in the sun for 2 days to dry.Its better than a new tank.I also used there chassis paint on the outside before I put it in place.Rocky
Chrysler Firepower
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Re: Best cleansing/flushing option for fuel tank?
[Re: therocks]
#1197876
03/16/12 07:46 AM
03/16/12 07:46 AM
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 12,291 Kent, Wa
340SHORTY
Truck Nut
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Truck Nut
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 12,291
Kent, Wa
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Id drain the tank. Put about a gallon of diesel fuel in it along with a length of chain. Shake the snot out of it. Flush it real well and after the inside has dried put some of the Harley SDD tank sealant in it..
I am truckless..
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Re: Best cleansing/flushing option for fuel tank?
[Re: Secret Chimp]
#1197879
03/16/12 11:26 AM
03/16/12 11:26 AM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 299 East Brunswick, NJ
finadk
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 299
East Brunswick, NJ
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The most economical seems to be Prep and Etch by Kleen Strip. You can get it in Home Depot for about $15 a Gallon. I started doing the tank on my 56 dodge with this stuff. You can see in the pic below where I have treated 2/3 of the outside. I painted it on with a brush and left it wet for a few hours. Then wiped it off with a paper towel. The Prep and etch will leave a phosphorus coating so you dont get flash rusting when its done. I was then going to treat the inside using a sealer from Eastwood or POR. I never got to do the inside because I decided to go with EFI and did not want to take a chance on fouling a very expensive fuel system. I ended up going with Moyer's Gas-Tank-Renu. http://www.gas-tank.com/They did a great job and the turnaroud time was about 2 weeks. I highly recommend them.
Last edited by finadk; 03/16/12 11:33 AM.
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Re: Best cleansing/flushing option for fuel tank?
[Re: finadk]
#1197880
03/16/12 04:31 PM
03/16/12 04:31 PM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 755 Tempe, AZ
loco340cuda
super stock
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super stock
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 755
Tempe, AZ
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When I first bought my Cuda it had a tank full of gas that had been sitting in it for about 4 years, needless to say it was a nasty smelly mess. After draining the tank it had a bunch of rust in it. I took it to a radiator shop and they boiled it clean and coated it with some material. I still get a little bit of rust in the fuel filter but not much.
I don't remember the cost because it was over 10 years ago but around $100 comes to mind. Honestly if I had to do it all over again I would just buy a new tank and be done with it.
Either way, I bring this up just to give you another option to consider.
Best of luck with the tank clean up.
70 Cuda 340 4 speed - now stroked to 416ci (SOLD) 2017 Mustang Shelby GT350
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Re: Best cleansing/flushing option for fuel tank?
[Re: therocks]
#1197883
03/16/12 08:51 PM
03/16/12 08:51 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 27,728 places
79powerwagon
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 27,728
places
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Quote:
I used the POR gas tank kit in my 65.
I didn't know they made a gas tank product. I thought the OP was talking about regular POR15.
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