Projects Gas tank problem,my new Deuce

I discovered the gas tank in my new deuce sedan is all gummed up with varnish,I know the normal approach is to pull it,take it to a radiator shop and let them hot vat it overnight and I would be good to go.

The only problem with this is the hot tank not only cleans the inside but also removes the paint on the outside.

I also know trying to save myself the time and trouble of matching the paint is a PITA but I guess what I'm asking has anyone tried successfully to clean a gas tank and save the paint? HRP

 

Is a liner an option?

 

Race fuel many times will chew up the varnish. Put a few gallons in, seal it up, slosh it around and let sit. If you have any sprint car guys around Methanol works well also. Just be carefull around the paint

 

You can buy gas tank cleaner at oriellys. It comes in a gallon jug I believe, but I think it's purpose is rust... Maybe they have another type for your problem? I'm sorry I'm not exactly sure of any other tips!

 

Have you googled it? [emoji1]

 

There is no need to Google with the HAMB, sheesh.

 

Find a independent parts house in your area. They should have what you need. Just MHO.............

 

Acetone or por15 tank cleaner

 

Newbie. HRP

 

The por 15 is for rust removal, and works with a sealer.
Sorry I have no answers,.... just a question.....
How does varnish find it's way in there ?

 

A gallon of Berryman's chem-dip? Still have to be careful of the paint. Is there a drain in the tank? Original tank?

 

I filled mine with coke the liquid not the powder let it set for a couple days it worked pretty good. I did have it out of the car and shook it a few times. Oh yea don't drink it when your done.

 

Just dont put any Mento's in there...

 

Well,it's not actually varnish but has a thick consistency and has a strong smell,Rene' should have used a gas stabilizer when he stored the car in his warehouse,after 4 to 5 years the fuel breaks down. HRP

 

Try a couple gallons of E85,slosh 2-3 times a day.Cheap cleaner.

 

I've done a few dozen motorcycle tanks and not harmed the paint. But they are easy to shake, auto tanks require more ingenious methods on the shake. The biggest thing is to make sure it doesn't leak, the next is don't drop it if you plan on shaking it.

Does it run on the stuff?

 

Thanks man,Fired the car off using a jug with fresh gas, HRP

 

Research product, sea-foam, gas additive, might slowly clean tank as you drive car.

 

POR 15 makes an excellent cleaner for doing this. Look for Marine Clean that they offer or ask your dealer for a quart or gallon of the cleaner that comes in their fuel tank kit. It works great for cleaning many things and does not have to be sealed

 

HRP, I've used this stuff a few times, awesome product.

 

My vote is for E-85...if you care to spend a little more $$$ and are in a hurry, go for a gallon of acetone. The ladies use it for nail polish remover and believe me...it'll cut that varnish in a hurry. Don't get it on the paint...it cuts paint too.
My wife fills up her empty bottle of nail polish remover from my gallon can....

 

HRP,

What Bob said - Acetone. It works wonders. Put a gallon in there along with some BB's and give it a shake every so often over the course of a day or two and then rinse and repeat. Watch the paint as it will not appreciate acetone.

Good Luck,

Thor

 

Acetone and a couple of short lengths of chain (twisted link chain like on a kids swing set) if there are no baffles in the tank. Then shake the tank. The chain will help to loosen the varnish quicker kinda like the mixing balls in a rattle can.

And like a couple of the others have said, do not get the acetone on the external paint.

 

.....................That might work, depending on how bad the varnish is, but stock up on fuel filters and make sure there's one preceding the fuel pump 'cause you're probably going to have to change them a number of times. You're right, Danny, Rene should have put some StaBil or Seafoam in there but I'm sure we've all been guilty of letting fuel sit too long. It just doesn't take long at all anymore for the stuff to turn to varnish. We all expect to start and drive stuff sooner than what we often wind up doing. Good luck, I suspect you're not going to feel comfortable about it until you pull it and get that funk out of there some way.

 

Danny, diesel works too- John Sizemore cleaned the tank on the '28 Dodge with it and it worked out great!

 

How about just painting the tank a nice accent color......

 

I've used it a couple times but E-85 works just takes a couple days and a bunch of shaking.

 

I'm pretty sure this is covered in your owners manual...might still be under warranty

 

Sea Foam mixed with gas and soak and shake.

 

I just recently helped a friend do this on a motorhome he bought that had been sitting. We took the tank out and used purple power and a pressure washer. We were lucky there was a pretty good sized hole where the fuel pump/sending unit went so that we could get the wand in there pretty good. The stuff we washed out had the consistency of red mud, not the smooth stuff, but like well dirt. WTF? I could not believe that . I hope you get lucky and a little rinse will do it for you.
We also tried it with a volkswagen tank and we could never get it good and clean, because of the baffles. It would clog the filters as soon as we tried to run it. He finally got pissed off and went and bought a new one. Good Luck!