I'm trying to get evaporated gas residue out of my '54 gas tank. The gas tank must have had at least a 1/2 tank of gas that evaporated and left a thick layer of tar like stuff on the bottom. Other than that, it's in excellent condition, with no rust. I first soaked it for days, in a strong industrial soap and water mix. It helped everywhere that the tar like stuff wasn't in contact. Next. I used Oxalic acid (a weak acid that works on rust), for 2 days and no help, at all. What will get this stuff out, that anyone has actually used for that and was successful? It's what is keeping me from driving it.
Local rad shops around here will boil it in a solution.. or a place that strips metal parts like doors and trunks, etc,etc, may help... but I guess the cost would go over the cost of a replacement tank.
I have thought of doing that but, I don't know how long it might take and if it will get it all. I've thought of Acetone and Xylene, also. I was hoping someone had already done this successfully.
Start calling the local older radiator shops and get a quote, ten years ago the cost was $75 for a boil out and pressure test it came out looking like new, if you get lucky and drop it off the end of the week maybe like I did, it spent the weekend in the soak tank. If you are thinking a new tank check out the "Sticky" about using a 55-56 tank which is a lot less money, over the years they always have done a low production rate on the 52–54 tanks, and it's not uncommon to find vendors out of stock. Best way is this https://www.ebay.com/itm/3305290296...2tBYZQxb4mlNXZJ7HNF7Vytw76|tkp:Bk9SR6ayotXOYQ In most cases the 60 year old sending units are junk anyway, going rate on the 52-54 tanks by themselves is about $450.
Worth a try....After soaking in gas for a day or so, try suiting up head to toe...then power wash thru the fuel sender hole.
Is the tank off the car? I used one of the gas tank cleaning agents that you can find with a google search. After letting it sit a few days I dropped a short piece of chain in, sealed the inlet, the vent and the fuel gage sender hole and shook it. Let it sit for a day and shook it some more. When I was satisfied the inside was cleaned I finished the job with a sealant. Hirsch Automotive Gas Tank Sealer/1 Qrt | Ford | Econoline | Model T A Early V8 Falcon Fairlane Mustang Full Size Ford Truck Bronco (macsautoparts.com)
Mine was so bad that the PO used the drain as the feed line. The sending unit, the br*** float crumbled like an egg shell. If I HAD to try to salvage a tank, I would try good old lacquer thinner to dissolve the crud.
I appreciate all the input, thank you, all. I like the chain idea. I thought about using rocks as, that is how some people have cleaned tractor tanks. I got a Ferguson tractor, that someone had done that to but, couldn't get the rocks out. I spent many hrs working on that and never got quite all of them out, because of the baffles in it. The carb cleaner is hopeful. I've used it to clean small stuff but, wasn't sure it would get the dried gas out. It's main ingredients are Xylene and Toulene so, I'll use those. The lacquer thinner might be worth a try, too. Muratic acid, I'm sure would do it but, I believe the tank is zink plated and that acid would remove that and allow rust to form. It's a very good gas tank (other than the dried gas) and I don't want to replace it!
This would probably get it out if you dumped in the entire gallon and let it sit for about 3 days, when I had my tank cleaned I closed off the fuel line at one end and filled the line with their aerosol spray and closed that end off and let it sit 3 days, the black nasty gunk flowed out under air pressure from my compressor, I added another can after that let it sit a day and what came out was almost clear.
A old school radiator shop is the easiest & safest way to clean a old gas tank, they will probably vat it over night and pressure test it for and leaks, if there is a leak they can take care of that an ditwill be ready to go. HRP
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