Fuel tank rust/gunk removal

[jondokken]

So my rear tank (stock) sending unit went bad and I ordered a replacement. When I took the old one out I noticed that there was a slight (sarcasm) amount of rust and buildup on the sending unit and in the tank. A photo is attached for reference.

My question is: Is there an effective way to remove the rust/build up WITHOUT removing the tank? The PO had welded a hitch/receiver to the frame and I can't drop the tank without cutting the receiver off. I plan on upgrading to a larger tank at a later time, when I'll cut the receiver off, but I'd like to "fix" the rear tank in the meantime if possible. I've read on other forums that people use a variety of items; ammonia, soap and water, etc. Is there anything else that might work for this situation. Any help is appreciated.

 

[taipeichris]

Hi,

How important is that hitch to you? Can it be bolted on or is a weld on only? If its not important I'd remove it. You can't tow anything if your fuel lines are clogged, right?

With my metal tanks I've just used about 1/2 gallon of gas and the metal chain from my hoist to clean the tanks. (Its a big chain, about 6ft long) Basically you just shake the heck out of the tank with the chain inside of it acting like a scraper. When done I use a funnel with a metal screen to filter the crap out of the gas. With my old Mustang it took a good hour of doing this before the tank got clean. But looking on the bright side, once it's clean you won't have to do it again for a long time.

Make sure you've got a big fan blowing fresh air, this is not a fun job as far as wrenching goes.

Good luck.

 

[u10072]

Just take it to a radiator shop--- well worth the money and the effort. The others are like using a bandaid when you need stitches.

 

[73azbronco]

Ditto, hitch is useless unless it has fuel to pull hitch, cut it off.

 

[Glass Pony]

Wow! Did that even run?

 

[scottbr997]

My EB sat for 20+ years and had rust and old gas in the main tank. I replaced the entire tank, sending unit, and all hoses/lines to engine. I didn't want to take any chances and it wasn't that expensive. Good luck.

 

[jondokken]

Surprisingly it started and ran fine, just never knew how much fuel was in the tank. The receiver is welded on, really well, so there is no way to drop the tank without hacking it off. The receiver is useless to me and will come off. I just installed all new fuel lines, filters and an electric pump so I don't want to run the new pump until I clean the tank. From what it sounds like, a new tank is the way to go. I just didn't know if there was a way to clean it out until the money tree grew some more leaves to get into a larger/new tank.

 

[71massbronco]

I had the same problem. I know it's a PITA, but Get that tank out and wash it out. Eastwood has a kit to coat the tank. Nice thing about the coating is it absorbs any rust particles that may not make it out of with the rinse. After the hitch problem is solved, it is pretty easy to drop the tank.

 

[larryejoh]

I put rocks in mine tried to break up some of it with soap. Then I used some acetone to clean the varnish out of the tank. Then use a little murric acid and water to clean the rust out. Watch out for the fumes. After that it looked new inside and I coated it with gas tank sealant from Bill Hirsch

 

[jondokken]

So I did a little clean out of the tank, with it still installed, and I can't believe how much debris came out. I'm not sure whether this will eventually do more bad than good, but it should get me by until I can get the receiver cut off and purchase a new tank. I parked the bronco nose down on a decline and put a pressure washer through the sending unit hole and gave it a few sprays. I also put the wand through the main fill hole and sprayed that as well. I then disconnected the pressure washer and just stuck the end of the hose through the fill hole and flushed any remaining fuel and dirty water out of the tank through the sending unit hole. Once the water came out clear I used a suction gun to draw out as much water as I could. There were a bunch of rust flakes that were clogging the gun so I pulled the truck back inside and got out the shopvac. It sounded like I was vacuuming gravel out of the tank, and it just kept coming. I chocked the back wheels and jacked up the front end to get the rust to settle more towards the back of the tank so it was easier to vacuum out. A couple gentle taps with a rubber mallet, a few bursts of air from a compressor and some more vacuuming and it finally quit picking up debris. We'll see what happens from here, hopefully it can buy me a few months. I've got new filters before the pump and the carb so I'll keep an eye on what they're picking up.

 

[Delmer]

fill tank with vinegarlet set 3 days

 

[Delmer]

fill tank with vinegar walmart let set 3 days

 

[Delmer]

fill tank with vinegar let set 3 days

 

[jondokken]

Here is just a sample of what came out of the tank. A new tank has moved up a couple spots on the wish list.

 

[ketywary]

I think you would have to remove the tank. Though it would some more time and effort, but the result would be worth the effort. If you have to face any difficulty, while doing the removal thing, please take help from professionals. Many fuel tank leak detection professionals would complete the work effortlessly.

 

[ol gray mare]

I've had good luck with using a 10% solution of hydrochloric acid and a small chain. Be sure to rinse well as the acid will eat holes if you leave it too long. I'm hesitant to use gas because the consequences of the metal banging around causing a spark could get pretty hot!

 

[Revelation]

Before doing any banging, cutting, welding or any other activity that may cause a spark with a gas tank, fill the tank with water and powder laundry soap and let it sit for an hour or so to neutralize the flammability of the fuel!

 

[zonian]

Great tip Revelation, saw a body shop set a car on fire by not neutralizing the fuel...Just my 2 cents, unless financially undoable I wouldn't risk things, I'd go new tank. the alternative is more expensive repairs and problems. Kind of like a bad tooth, just pull it...