cleaning out fuel tank

I used "the works" toilet bowl cleaner on last one that I cleaned . It worked very well but it will eat through the tank if it is rusted thin. I used JB weld to repair pin holes and RedKote inside. If you google cleaning tank with the works there is info about the process.

AJ I just did one saturday. I pressure washed it for about 30 minutes before I started and it looked way better after that. I then put in 1/2 gal of muratic acid from the hardware store. DON'T BREATHE the fumes. I only let it sit for 15 - 20 minutes then rinsed. I then put in a mixture of 1/2 box of baking soda with 1/2 gallon of water and let it set a few minutes slooshing it all around. I then put the other half box of baking soda with 1 gallon of water and did the same. I then pressure washed again until I was sure it was free of all the acid. Becareful sloshing the tank with the muratic acid in it. The tank was a good solid tank to start with. Shining a light in it after it look shiney and new. Dry it out with alcohol or acetone. I'm told this can ruin a thin tank or eat away at a good solid tank so be careful. I did an old WC tank last summer that had set with gas for over 37 years. I tried every trick I could find first with no luck. 30 minutes with the muratic acid and hot water and it looked like new. I did plan to line the old wc tank.

Then  add Muratic Acid. It has always worked good for me. just be careful with it and do not let it sit in the tank to long. 

This is how I clean the inside of gas tanks.

Don does have the right idea,if you're not pressed for time. Actually,that way is as good as any I've found and doesn't really take all that long to get clean. Nice pic,Don!  Rick

I used Evapo rust  it worked great for me. http://www.evaporust.com/

If you only have ONE tractor, Don's idea won't work well. You can however mount your tank to an old cement mixer and do the same thing. The scenery will not change for you as you clean the tank, but it will get clean as long as you add a couple handfuls of 3/8 and 1/2 inch hex nuts before you go for a spin.

I've done a variation of Don's method with pour in the tank type carb/injector cleaner. Fill it about 1/4 full with a couple handfulls of roofing nails thrown in, toss it in the back of the pickup and drive around a day or two...

Don you are up a little late.  still working on the fuel guage?

Ha! I am sitting in a hotel in Davenport Iowa watching Duck Dynasty also!! lol

Don...makes me a mount...i kin strap a "stockholder" to...will ya?

Check with your local Radiator guy. Some Radiator shops clean fuel tanks, and they do a pretty good job. Save's you playing with acid. Speaking of acid, reminds of the Little Johnny joke about playing with acid. Little Johnny had a jar of acid one day while he sitting on a corner. A priest walked up and asked Johnny what he had in the jar. Johnny said its acid Father. The priest said to Johnny, little boys shouldn't play with acid, you should play with holy water. Lil' Johnny said to the priest,  what's so good about your holy water?? The priest looked down at Johnny and said I put holy water on a Mothers belly and she passed a baby! Little Johnny looked at the Priest and said, heck, that ain't nottin' Father, I put some of this here acid on a Cats butt and he passed a Motorcycle! Don, that's the darndest looking wheel wieght I ever seen!

Don, Somehow, I missed something in your instructions. How does the gas get into and out of the thermos bottle?

Bob@allisdowneast

You pour it in and you pour it out.  You calling his COFFEE gasoline?