Technical White Vinegar to clean fuel tank?

Has anyone attempted to use white vinegar (allowed to soak for a few days) to loosen up varnish (no rust) in a gas tank?..........Thanks.

 

Should work and easy to neutralize with plenty of running water.

I usually just buy tank cleaner from my favorite catalog speed shop.

 

Sounds like a good idea. If you could find an old gl*** filter bowl full of crud you could test the vinegar in it. I'd do it outdoors, likely a chemical reaction between the gas & vinegar will give off noxious fumes - know what I mean?

 

LOL I got 3.5 gallon tanks on my bike and that would be a lot of white vinegar for me to buy, I can't imagine what 15 or 20 gallons of the stuff would be worth.

 

******, I'm nominating you to give Don mouth to mouth in case he gets overcome by the fumes, ok? be ready.

 

We always used about a #3 crushed stone (or whatever was laying around) with the rough edges and diesel fuel. Put the stone (about enough to cover half the bottom) down the neck and cap it. Get a helper and shake well using a side to side motion, turn it upside down and repeat. Dump out all the debris and rock then flush with clean diesel. Always did the trick and fairly quick.. Of course you have to remove the tank to accomplish this.

 

^^^^^ yes .... abrasive rock, chain, shells, bb's etc .... and diesel sounds better then muratic, neutralizer and sealer. Taught me something. Thank you !

 

I used white vinegar on my Corvette gas tank and it worked well, granted it wasn't full of rust and the tank looked decent before. We used 4 gallons and sloshed it around every day for a week or so, what came out at the end was a cloudy mess, not the clear vinegar that went in. We then steam cleaned it and let it dry out. It worked for me.

 

...............Actually '****** it is for a bike tank. I just didn't want to mention that initially for fear it might be a little off-topic. I ordered a sealer kit from POR15, I just thought I might try something just "slightly" acidic like the vinegar before I try muratic acid. That stuff can be a little dangerous as oj noted. Oh, and I plan on being careful so no need for the aforementioned mouth-to-mouth.

 

This could be epic. gas, vinegar and muratic acid - best not let the EPA hear about it. last time those things were mixed we lost Chernobyl.

 

Look to the East, oj, you may be able to see the mushroom cloud!

 

Vinegar has only about 5% acidity would leave it in more than just a couple days. A week or so as mentioned would be better, shake it around after a couple days.

 

I have done that several times Don. It does work but takes about a week. Don't know if it makes a difference but I think the apple cider vinegar works better. The key is when your done and you wash the vinegar out you need to neutralize the acid after or it will flash rust real fast. Mix up some baking soda and water to rinse the inside of the tank out and this will neutralize the acid. Then you can seal the tank up. Done this in several old triumph and BSA tanks.

 

Citric acid works well, doesn't stink and is pretty cheap.

 

try to keep the tank warm when the vinegar is in there. helps with the action.

 

I've also done the #3 gravel and diesel fuel except I would do it on a Sunday then put it in my truck and drive to work with it in the bed, Secured in an old tire, face up on the way to work, face down on the way home for about a week. Worked great bouncing on all the pot holes and ****py parts of 95 going from Fredericksburg to DC!

 

I cleaned a real nasty allischalmer's gas tank. It had about an inch of sticky sludge in it. I strapped it to the zero turn mower deck with the vinegar and flange headed metric bolts in it. Came out real nice after soaking it for a week first. Gary

 

Never tried it, but I read once where someone was doing this same thing and strapped the tank to his tractor rear wheel. After a few days of sloshing around tied to the wheel the tank was very clean. Not my idea; just a thought if you happen to have a tractor and use it often.

 

I used muratic acid in my Triumph tank. Sloshed it around with a bit of dog chain. Washed with soap and water. Second stage was citric acid. Third stage was my secret ingredient. . . Goop hand cleaner. It really works wonders. Another secret sauce that does miracles. . . Acetone and transmission fluid.

 

I have strapped tanks to tractor wheels and drove around. Works good but you need something stronger than vinegar

 

Waxed gravel or nuts and bolts and a little gas..... jacked up the tractor strapped it to the tire put it in gear and let it idle for an hour or 2.... I cleaned a Lincoln sa200 like that worked good

 

Granddad used a couple bags of marbles and a couple bottles of rubbing alcohol when we cleaned out the tanks on any old M***ey Fergusons.... Worked well.

 

They sell cleaning vinegar at Wally Mart, would not suggest making a salad with it.

 

Thanks for all of the responses everyone.

 

have done the vinegar METHOD to a small tank(ahem cycle tank)...
took the tank 2 times ... turned out ALL GOOD.

 

Vinegar after 1 week. After two weeks and neutralising with Baking Soda it has gradually returned to rusty but not as bad and usable