Cleaning inside gas tank

jgrewe · 01-06-2010, 10:56 AM

I did the tank for my '59 Austin Healey myself using the method described. The secret is to use the right tank sealer. Find Bill Hirsch's sealer, a few companies sell it, Bill even sells it direct from the web. It is by far the best I've found and it will handle ethanol no problem. The FC should be really easy since you can remove the pump and pick up.

edit: went out and got the link for you http://www.hirschauto.com/

Max777 · 01-07-2010, 01:16 PM

Thank you!

N.RotaryTech · 04-10-2010, 06:30 PM

Thread resurrection.
So I was replacing my fuel filter today along with checking out my fuel-pump-filter.
And found a layer of particles on the bottom of the tank.
So Sunday I'm dropping the tank, and cleaning it myself.

So whats a really cheap way to do this, materials wise?

I was thinking water flush, then paint-thinner/acetone/etc flush.
Purple power flush?
What do ya think?

Max777 · 04-11-2010, 02:29 PM

call a few radiator shops, ask them if they have a boil tank that can take care of gas tanks.... cheap and easy to do...

Muratic acid is not recomended for big gas tanks, works better on motorcycles and moped style tanks.

N.RotaryTech · 04-11-2010, 08:36 PM

So I dropped the fuel tank.
I wish I took better/more pictures (will post up sometime this week), cause this was awful.

So the tank had a layer of brown gunk coating the insides.
The rectangular little basin right under the fuel pump, had maybe an inch or 2 of this brown gunk in it.
It was so bad, I put the fuel pump back in, and it wouldn't seat on the tank, i had to wiggle an push on it for it to seat.
So the bottom of the fuel pump must have been sitting on the pile of gunk.

Its all out of there now.
You can actually see metal now.
And the walls/separations are not rusted through.

I 1st flushed it with water from the garden hose, then put purple power through it, then flushed with water again, finally flushed with a quart of acetone.

Putting the tank back in was a pain.
But I got it done.

I think I actually felt more power when I drove it. ha ha ha.

N.RotaryTech · 04-12-2010, 07:09 AM

Yeah, that brown gunk came out of the tank. There was chunks actually.

The inside.

88turboii · 04-13-2010, 06:28 PM

nasty shit bro

Akagis_White_Comet · 04-29-2010, 12:59 AM

Looks like an elephant had diahrrea!!!

N.RotaryTech · 04-30-2010, 05:19 PM

lqtm.

Ok to make this post more...

During DGRR I had no problems at all with left turn fuel cut, etc.

It was very fun.

91GSL-SE · 05-02-2010, 02:50 PM

I have had great results cleaning inside tanks with a kit from Summit Racing. Its only like $50 and has a cleaner, a primer, and a liner in the kit. It works wonders. Good luck...

01-06-2010, 10:56 AM	#16
jgrewe Rotary Fan in Training Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: On the Beach iTrader: (0) Posts: 59 Rep Power: 17	I did the tank for my '59 Austin Healey myself using the method described. The secret is to use the right tank sealer. Find Bill Hirsch's sealer, a few companies sell it, Bill even sells it direct from the web. It is by far the best I've found and it will handle ethanol no problem. The FC should be really easy since you can remove the pump and pick up. edit: went out and got the link for you http://www.hirschauto.com/ __________________ New rat from the sinking ship.

01-07-2010, 01:16 PM	#17
Max777 Pirate Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Central IL iTrader: (5) Posts: 1,323 Rep Power: 18	Thank you! __________________ Rotaries:They are NOT that complicated!

04-11-2010, 02:29 PM	#19
Max777 Pirate Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Central IL iTrader: (5) Posts: 1,323 Rep Power: 18	call a few radiator shops, ask them if they have a boil tank that can take care of gas tanks.... cheap and easy to do... Muratic acid is not recomended for big gas tanks, works better on motorcycles and moped style tanks. __________________ Rotaries:They are NOT that complicated!

04-11-2010, 08:36 PM	#20
N.RotaryTech Home-brew Rotary Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: GooseCreek SC iTrader: (0) Posts: 552 Rep Power: 17	Sludge factory. So I dropped the fuel tank. I wish I took better/more pictures (will post up sometime this week), cause this was awful. So the tank had a layer of brown gunk coating the insides. The rectangular little basin right under the fuel pump, had maybe an inch or 2 of this brown gunk in it. It was so bad, I put the fuel pump back in, and it wouldn't seat on the tank, i had to wiggle an push on it for it to seat. So the bottom of the fuel pump must have been sitting on the pile of gunk. Its all out of there now. You can actually see metal now. And the walls/separations are not rusted through. I 1st flushed it with water from the garden hose, then put purple power through it, then flushed with water again, finally flushed with a quart of acetone. Putting the tank back in was a pain. But I got it done. I think I actually felt more power when I drove it. ha ha ha. __________________ '89 RX7 GTU, half-Bridge-port S4/S5 NA, E6K, Full RB exhaust, weekend warrior. '83 RX7, The "this might take awhile" project. '87 RX7 GXL, Rest In Pieces. '98 Subaru Impreza Outback-sport, rx7 rescue vehicle, down for repair. '94 Ford Ranger, daily.

04-12-2010, 07:09 AM	#21
N.RotaryTech Home-brew Rotary Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: GooseCreek SC iTrader: (0) Posts: 552 Rep Power: 17	Pictures. Yeah, that brown gunk came out of the tank. There was chunks actually. The inside.

04-10-2010, 06:30 PM	#18
N.RotaryTech Home-brew Rotary Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: GooseCreek SC iTrader: (0) Posts: 552 Rep Power: 17	Thread resurrection. So I was replacing my fuel filter today along with checking out my fuel-pump-filter. And found a layer of particles on the bottom of the tank. So Sunday I'm dropping the tank, and cleaning it myself. So whats a really cheap way to do this, materials wise? I was thinking water flush, then paint-thinner/acetone/etc flush. Purple power flush? What do ya think?

04-13-2010, 06:28 PM	#22
88turboii destroy, rebuild, repeat Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Charleston, SC iTrader: (0) Posts: 395 Rep Power: 17	nasty shit bro

04-29-2010, 12:59 AM	#23
Akagis_White_Comet Comealong busts your nuts Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Columbus, OH iTrader: (0) Posts: 29 Rep Power: 0	Looks like an elephant had diahrrea!!! __________________

04-30-2010, 05:19 PM	#24
N.RotaryTech Home-brew Rotary Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: GooseCreek SC iTrader: (0) Posts: 552 Rep Power: 17	lqtm. Ok to make this post more... During DGRR I had no problems at all with left turn fuel cut, etc. It was very fun. Last edited by N.RotaryTech; 04-30-2010 at 05:23 PM..

05-02-2010, 02:50 PM	#25
91GSL-SE At the dirt track. Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Willamette Valley, OR iTrader: (5) Posts: 89 Rep Power: 15	I have had great results cleaning inside tanks with a kit from Summit Racing. Its only like $50 and has a cleaner, a primer, and a liner in the kit. It works wonders. Good luck... __________________ Rollin like a reuleaux. Unstoppable.