How do I clean my fuel tank

I'm working on a 73 Satellite / Roadrunner that's been sitting in a field for 15 years after I pulled the motor I noticed what looked like melted black plastic on the floor after seeing it a couple times I realized it was coming from the fuel line. I had some on my fingers and it washes off with just water. It's still coming out of the fuel line so I know it's not hard yet but what's the best way to clean this stuff out plan to pull the tank remove the sending unit and dump out as much of the crap as I can and blow out the fuel lines with a blow gun but what will get everything clean enough for a new motor? carb cleaner? Sea foam ? paint gun cleaning solvent? what do you guys use?

I would blow out the lines, then run mineral spirits or some other solvent through them to flush out the crud. then inspect the lines to see how they look. it might be easier to simply replace all the lines, expecially if they look really rusty under the car.

as for the tank...is this a budget deal or a "do it right" deal? on the cheap, drop the tank, pour in the same minieral spirits/solvent and swish it around for awhile. then try an engine degreaser foam that you let soak, then rinse away with water. let the water dry and re-install the tank.

or, take it somewhere and have them boil out the inside of the tank, then have it sealed up from the inside so that it won't leak.

unless the tank ALSO looks very rusty, in which case...buy a new tank.

It has no rust on the fuel lines or on the tank. I forgot about taking it to a radiator shop to have it boiled out and sealed. I will do what you said with the mineral spirits or solvent in the fuel lines. Oh and yes this is a budget deal this car will just be a cruiser. My Challenger was supposed to be a cruiser/ street beater but I got carried away while I was building it although I still beat the crap out of it I don't want to hurt it if you know what I mean.

on my 63 d100, I took the tank out, and sloshed CLR around in it..its been like that for 2 years now

Eastwood has a 3 step cleaning and sealing kit for tanks. Strong detergent, acid, strong solvent (acetone) and a sealer. It cleans out the crud and prevents any future rust contamination. I've used it and it worked well.

I know you said its a budget deal, but I saw new tanks for $150 at the Indy meet saturday. FYI...

I have cleaned some nasty ones out by using a bout 10 gallons of E85 gas and putting about 2 or 3 gallons at a time in and sloshing around and letting sit a little while and then redueing. came out clean as a whistle.

I used POR15s tank kit on my 65.The fuel had sat in it for probally 6 years and was nasty.Followed the instructions on the kit.That was at least 12 years ago.Still looks like a new tank inside.I did replace my fuel lines also.Rocky

Yes POR15 works good I treated a tank and sealed it with the kit I bought. No problems, takes a few hours to do right

chemtool B12 solvent sold at parts stores works great to remove old varnished gas

I let my tank sit in the sun for a few days.Cleaned it with their cleaner then let it sit in hot sun 2 days.Then used their sealer and it sat for another 2 days in hot sun.Looks better than any new tank.Rocky

Maybe worthwhile to call and see how much a radiator shop would charge to clean it out.

I had mine boiled out and sealed. Worked well for many (8) years. Then, the sealer, a red substance started to degrade and go thru the fuel lines causing blockage. Changed to a new tuel tank. So, clean and boil out but I wouldn't pay the extra for sealing. If it needs a seal, you need a new tank.

Dont use these sealers as mentioned, they will not last. Take a nonflamable cleaner such as simple green and dump it in there with a chain with flat links and shake it for a while. If that doesnt get it, replace the tank, they arent that expensive. I do motorcycle tanks all the time and never have any flaking rust problems.

I called a radiator shop today they want $65-$225 to boil it and seal it. I found another tank thats clean but has a small hole in the bottom of it like somebody ran over something with it. it looks like I'll be soldering a penny over the hole

I put a sealer in a rusty (surface rust) motorcycle gas tank and will never put sealer in anything again. The sealer peeled off and caused more problems than it was worth.

Just clean it real good or replace it

To prevent peeling sealer, the prep is critical. The Eastwood kit (detergent, acid, acetone) preps the metal for the sealer so it sticks. Sealer only is trouble as posted above.

Sandblasting also works but is rare and a bit expensive. I had a '47 PW tank sandblasted and sealed and its been trouble free for 5 years.

If your on a budget have a rad shop boil it out. Then use the POR sealer. But then again by the time your done you will spend almost as much as a new tank. There pretty cheap for new ones.

I agree the old sealers would peel.The POR 15 dosent.Mine has been in for over 10 years and its like the day I put it in.Its a 3 stage kit and you have to follow the instructions.When I did mine tanks werent readily avaliable.But Id still use their lit again.Rocky