cleaning out fuel tank
Printed From: Unofficial Allis
Category: Allis Chalmers
Forum Name: Farm Equipment
Forum Description: everything about Allis-Chalmers farm equipment
URL: https://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=66696
Printed Date: 06 Sep 2025 at 10:32am
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Topic: cleaning out fuel tank
Posted By: AJ
Subject: cleaning out fuel tank
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2013 at 7:01am
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Whats the best way to clean out a fuel tank? ------------- Can't fix stupid |
Replies:
Posted By: Bull
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2013 at 8:37am
| 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. |
Posted By: Dean (West MI)
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2013 at 9:03am
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I use hydrochloric acid purchased from a pool store. It has a higher concentrate and is less expensive than acid purchased through a hardware. Using it, you can clean a tank in a day for under $10. You will also need something to neutralize it (baking soda), and something to remove the moisture (rubbing alcohol). I don't coat the tank because if it starts to flake, you will have a mess to deal with. Keep it full of gas and use it. |
Posted By: Thad in AR.
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2013 at 9:19am
| 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. |
Posted By: AJ
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2013 at 9:28am
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Thanks guys. I was in you neck of the woods Saturday Thad. Picked up a load of tractors. ------------- Can't fix stupid |
Posted By: bdallman
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2013 at 9:48am
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I flush it with a power washer to work all of the junk out. 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. I also flush em with baking soda/water and then rinse allot. I do not coat the tank either. Flaking is a nightmare. ------------- 1954 CA, 1952 WD with Freeman Loader,1955 WD45, 1963 D19 Gas, 1984 620H, 1980’s AC Forklift, 66 All Crop Harvester, White Top Roto Baler, Misc S.C. Equip and AC Collectibles. |
Posted By: jaybmiller
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2013 at 9:57am
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and ...while you're at it...
be sure to clean the fuel line as well !!!
had one that had 'hardneing of the arteries'....
------------- 3 D-14s,A-C forklift, B-112 Kubota BX23S lil' TOOT( The Other Orange Tractor) Never burn your bridges, unless you can walk on water |
Posted By: Don(MO)
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2013 at 2:00pm
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This is how I clean the inside of gas tanks.
Don
 ------------- 3 WD45's with power steering,G,D15 fork lift,D19, W-Speed Patrol, "A" Gleaner with a 330 corn head,"66" combine,roto-baler, and lots of Snap Coupler implements to make them work for their keep. |
Posted By: bdallman
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2013 at 2:05pm
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Lmao don that's brilliant!! At first I thought that may be your reserve fuel supply...haha Brett ------------- 1954 CA, 1952 WD with Freeman Loader,1955 WD45, 1963 D19 Gas, 1984 620H, 1980’s AC Forklift, 66 All Crop Harvester, White Top Roto Baler, Misc S.C. Equip and AC Collectibles. |
Posted By: Rick
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2013 at 2:09pm
| 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 |
Posted By: Rick
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2013 at 2:12pm
| Yeah...that's his extra tank alright! Have him explain to you how his recoiling gas line works out with that setup! ROFLMAO! Rick |
Posted By: brbrooks83
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2013 at 2:23pm
| I used Evapo rust it worked great for me. http://www.evaporust.com/ |
Posted By: Don(MO)
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2013 at 8:30pm
First drill a 1/4" hole through the axle, then tap it to 1/8" pipe, then put a funnel under the inside of axle (must use lots of duct tape to hold funnel on) install a low pressure pump to funnel (more duct tape required here too)then run the 1/8" line up to top fuel tank outlet line (some more duct tape here too) the hard part of running two tanks is not to over flow the top tank when you are plowing and turn on the lower tank pump and forget to turn it off as the top tank gets full.
Tune in next time I will give the 411 about the gas gauge I have come up with. lmao  ------------- 3 WD45's with power steering,G,D15 fork lift,D19, W-Speed Patrol, "A" Gleaner with a 330 corn head,"66" combine,roto-baler, and lots of Snap Coupler implements to make them work for their keep. |
Rick wrote:Posted By: CTuckerNWIL
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2013 at 8:50pm
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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.
------------- http://www.ae-ta.com" rel="nofollow - http://www.ae-ta.com Lena 1935 WC12xxx, Willie 1951 CA6xx Dad bought new, 1954WD45 PS, 1960 D17 NF |
Posted By: Rick
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2013 at 8:55pm
| Good comeback,Don! LOL! I bet that could work...maybe? I guess I didn't know about you working on the fuel gauge as well. I guess that every half turn of the rear tire would make the gauge read full and the next half turn it would read half full...right? I guess you're going to have a little monkey running around the center of the axle letting you know what it's reading then? You'll have to 'splain this one to me also...when you get time,of course! LMAO! Rick |
Posted By: Brian Jasper co. Ia
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2013 at 10:23pm
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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... ------------- "Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the government take care of him better take a closer look at the American Indian." Henry Ford |
Posted By: Don(MO)
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2013 at 10:59pm
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My idea to clean a tank has to be a good one becouse I'm on page 17of "The Allis Connection" I have made the big time now! ------------- 3 WD45's with power steering,G,D15 fork lift,D19, W-Speed Patrol, "A" Gleaner with a 330 corn head,"66" combine,roto-baler, and lots of Snap Coupler implements to make them work for their keep. |
Posted By: Steve Zidlicky
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2013 at 11:20pm
| Don you are up a little late. still working on the fuel guage? |
Posted By: Don(MO)
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2013 at 11:24pm
------------- 3 WD45's with power steering,G,D15 fork lift,D19, W-Speed Patrol, "A" Gleaner with a 330 corn head,"66" combine,roto-baler, and lots of Snap Coupler implements to make them work for their keep. |
Posted By: bdallman
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2013 at 11:30pm
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Ha! I am sitting in a hotel in Davenport Iowa watching Duck Dynasty also!! lol Take Care Brett ------------- 1954 CA, 1952 WD with Freeman Loader,1955 WD45, 1963 D19 Gas, 1984 620H, 1980’s AC Forklift, 66 All Crop Harvester, White Top Roto Baler, Misc S.C. Equip and AC Collectibles. |
Posted By: Steve Zidlicky
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2013 at 11:34pm
| well don't try SI's beans. might need another gas guage. lol |
Posted By: SHAMELESS
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2013 at 1:00am
| Don...makes me a mount...i kin strap a "stockholder" to...will ya? |
Posted By: Lonn
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2013 at 5:35am
I think I saw that on Red Green!  ------------- -- --- .... .- -- -- .- -.. / .-- .- ... / .- / -- ..- .-. -.. . .-. .. -. --. / -.-. .... .. .-.. -.. / .-. .- .--. .. ... - Wink I am a Russian Bot |
Posted By: Steve in NJ
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2013 at 11:34am
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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!
mailto:Steve@B&B" rel="nofollow - Steve@B&B
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Posted By: AJ
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2013 at 12:32pm
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Don i'll just let you have my tank so you can clean it the Don-ified Process of cleaning a tank. ------------- Can't fix stupid |
Posted By: Bob-Maine
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2013 at 6:41pm
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Don, Somehow, I missed something in your instructions. How does the gas get into and out of the thermos bottle? Bob@allisdowneast ------------- I used to think I was indecisive, but now I'm not sure. |
Posted By: Rick
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2013 at 7:00pm
| Pssst...Bob! It's a DIFFERENT kind a gas that he uses in that thar thermos o' his! Don't get him started on that one! LMAO! Rick |
Posted By: Ted J
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2013 at 7:09pm
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You pour it in and you pour it out. You calling his COFFEE gasoline? ------------- "Allis-Express" 19?? WC / 1941 C / 1952 CA / 1956 WD45 / 1957 WD45 / 1958 D-17 |
Posted By: Bradleytrench
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2013 at 9:32pm
| Dad, Don't forget about the UFO's Flying around in there!!!!!!!! Bobby "Don(MO)" Son |