Cleaning out gas tank (Page 1/1)
Robg64 SEP 19, 05:03 PM
Got my gas tank out, it's not to bad ,is there a way I can clean it out with out taking it to someone to do it .and how do you make sure it clean with the baffles still in it
Vintage-Nut SEP 19, 05:43 PM
Gas tank cleaning and coating - could use your advice by USMUCL
https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum2/HTML/141301.html

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Original Owner of a Silver '88 GT / Under 'Production Refurbishment'

[This message has been edited by Vintage-Nut (edited 09-19-2023).]

gregr75 SEP 19, 05:48 PM
i pulled my gastank several weeks ago. it was probably the first time it was ever pulled. it was spotless inside. didnt do much other than empty the gas, paint the outside. then keep it in a dehumidified basment until its ready to attach to car again.

you might want to empty it as much as possible ( there'll still be ounces left you cabt get rid of. add a cup or so of fresh gas mixed with a tiny amount of motor oil to coat the insides and dump it. you should be good, i wouldnt worry too much unless you actually see rust inside.
PhatMax SEP 19, 05:53 PM
I was going to do the same thing….tank was spotless inside but the plastic liner was cracked and there was a piece floating around. Decided to go for Rodney’s tank…
82-T/A [At Work] SEP 19, 08:31 PM
When you say it's not bad, does that mean it's a little bit rusty, or does it just have a lot of silt and dirt in it?

What my daughter did with her Fiero, was pressure was the entire thing, both outside and inside as much as she could. She flushed the inside out with water, and then left it out to dry in the sun... flipping it upside down and right-side up. It was rust free inside, but did have some rust on the outside.

She sanded it down in spots where it had rust, hit it with metal etching primer, and then painted it with three coats of epoxy paint.

Shameless plug for my daughter's video...
Mike in Sydney SEP 19, 09:49 PM

quote
Originally posted by Robg64:

Got my gas tank out, it's not to bad ,is there a way I can clean it out with out taking it to someone to do it .and how do you make sure it clean with the baffles still in it



Google search electrolysis rust removal. To me, it's the absolute best way to remove all rust and it's pretty inexpensive and much safer than using muriatic acid.

If use use this method, after you rinse the tank, dry it by putting it in the sun and blowing air into it with a shop vac for an hour or so. Afterwards, pour in a litre (or quart) of methylated spirits and slosh it around then dump it out. Wear gloves and pour it in a container, not onto the ground, your sewage lines or septic tank, or storm drains. This will get rid of any water trapped in seams, etc. KEEP AWAY FROM SPARKS AND FLAME. THIS STUFF IS FLAMMABLE.

After you get the tank dry, you are likely to get flash-rusting on the cleaned surface, especially if the tank's galvanising or aluminising coating is dmaged. This shouldn't be a problem if you go directly to the either of the next steps:
1) Mix a a pint of 2-stroke oil with a gallon of gasoline and put it in the tank. Slosh it around to coat the tank and put the tank aside until you re-install it. After you do reinstall, fill the tank with gasoline without removing the 2-stoke oil and gasoline mix. It will burn out as you run the car; or
2) Reinstall the tank and fill it up. Don't use anything with ethanol in it because it attracts water and will promote rusting. Keep the tank level full and don't store partially full. You'll still get rusting but it will be reduced, somewhat; or
3) (My Favourite) Coat the inside of the tank with Red-Kote tank liner. This stuff is great. I have several motorcyle tanks that are more than 40 years old with this stuff in them for more than 10 years. No issues at all. Doesn't care if you use ethanol blends up to E85.

Good luck.

[This message has been edited by Mike in Sydney (edited 09-19-2023).]

ArthurPeale SEP 20, 10:34 AM

quote
Originally posted by Mike in Sydney:


Google search electrolysis rust removal. To me, it's the absolute best way to remove all rust and it's pretty inexpensive and much safer than using muriatic acid.




Especially if there are thinner areas on the tank - it'll eat right though.

It's dirt cheap (electricity and a few tablespoons of either washing or baking soda) and largely hands off.

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Arthur Peale

edfiero SEP 22, 08:15 AM

quote
Originally posted by gregr75:

i pulled my gastank several weeks ago. it was probably the first time it was ever pulled. it was spotless inside. didnt do much other than empty the gas, paint the outside.



Same thing with my tank when I took it out a few years ago to replace the fuel pump.
Makes me wonder how some tanks get so rusty and gross inside.
theogre SEP 22, 10:34 AM
Before you bother w/ cleaning or much anything else in the tank...
Get a Bore Scope & just look what's hidden by the baffle(s).
Can get USB that plug into anything ~ $50 or less or standalone w/ own screen often < $100.

I looked in my tank early this year w/ one & no cleaning needed.

Caution: Coating tanks w/ plastic baffles have some problems as some coating products flake/peal off of the plastic or cause other problems w/ the plastic because have strong solvents etc to attach to metal.

The Baffle Prevent "running out of gas" when you floor the pedal or brake or just driving down a hill with low gas, ~ < ¼ tank.
IOW Last 2 to 3 Gallons can run to the front very often & bad baffle then engine often dies. F-pump won't like being running dry either & can fail soon w/ this problem.

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Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
(Jurassic Park)

The Ogre's Fiero Cave

[This message has been edited by theogre (edited 09-22-2023).]