Rusty Gas Tank

[Guest]

I don't know if this is the right place for this but it has something to with the fuel technically. The outside of the gas tank is in decent condition and I'm not too worried about that but the inside is a different story. It seems pretty rust covered from what I can tell. How can I get rid of the rust or clean it out best I can or where do I draw the line and just try to find another tank?

[nejeff]

There are a ton of threads on this. Do advanced search, titles only, rusty tank

[posplayr]

Acid Magic

http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3607507

[Nessism]

Phosphoric acid is safer than HCl. http://www.homedepot.com/p/Klean-Str...0220/100406369

You have to fabricate some seals for the various openings before degreasing. Don't dump chemicals in the tank with the petcock and fuel sending unit attached.

[zcarst13]

So I'm hoping either of those products will get rid of most of the rust then. If it doesn't get all of it cleaned out is it alright if there is a little bit of rust remaining?

[trtsmb]

So I'm hoping either of those products will get rid of most of the rust then. If it doesn't get all of it cleaned out is it alright if there is a little bit of rust remaining?

When I did my tank a few years ago, I tossed a piece of chain in to use as an agitator to get any stubborn bits off. A lot of people use ball bearings or washers but I think it's a lot easier to fish a piece of light duty chain out.

[Nessism]

So I'm hoping either of those products will get rid of most of the rust then. If it doesn't get all of it cleaned out is it alright if there is a little bit of rust remaining?

It is NOT alright for there to be rust remaining. Use the phosphoric acid linked above and you shouldn't have that problem though.

[nejeff]

Vinegar and chain works well and is less expensive. Also be prepared to line the tank. If it is real bad then your tank could fall apart during the de-rusting

[chuck hahn]

NOTE..once the rust is eaten up and gone, you still have to check down along the bottom seams for what looks like melted in black plastic laying in the bottom. this is old gas and gunk thats turned to a hard solid.

Depending on if the paint is good or not will dictate how you deal with the slag. If your gonna repaint then just get some MEK and let that set in there a few days. Plug the filler neck as it evaporates rather quickly. After it has soak a few days, get a wire coat hanger and bend a 90 at the end. Use the coat hanger thru the filler neck to dig and scratch along the seams and rip the crap out. If theres more left after you rinse the chunkies out do more MEK.

If you want to save the paint you can use the MEK but be real carefull to not drip it on the paint. I drain the sauce out via the petcock hole with the tank setting on a 5 gallon bucket. If a little paint gets off the bottom its not a crisis area. That hardened in slag has to be dealt with too.

[nejeff]

We all are just guessing anyhow. Tank may be pretty good or may be too far gone. I've had people tell me plenty of times they had a little rust in the tank and it turned out to be well beyond saving and some exactly the reverse, not enough rust to even worry about, gas and go. How about posting some interior tank pictures?

[zcarst13]

I went ahead and went the vinegar route and I'm going to let it do it's work for a couple days or so then see how well it's worked. I'm pretty bad about taking pictures so I'll try to get some when the vinegar treatment is done. What should the process be for when I go to drain it?

[chuck hahn]

Little tech tip..if you take a Xmas tree light ( clear bright one ) and stick it in the tank it will illuminate the inside for inspection. Small inspection mirror down the filler neck and youll see well inside.