Author Topic: What are you using to clean out fuel tanks?  (Read 421 times)

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Offline KilliansRedLeo

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What are you using to clean out fuel tanks?
« on: March 24, 2014, 04:54:52 pm »
I have several old saws sitting around that I thought I would clean up and see if I could get running. Most came to me as non runners that customers wanted a couple bucks for. Most have been left for probably years with old fuel in them. They all have that lovely skanky smell of brown gas, some actually still have some fuel in them.

As a matter of habit I usually wash them out several times with old mix that I no longer trust. Just wondering what process the rest of you are using for this task.
"When the people fear the government...you have tyranny....When the government fears the people....you have liberty"

Thomas Jefferson
1743-1826

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Offline KilliansRedLeo

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Re: What are you using to clean out fuel tanks?
« Reply #1 on: March 24, 2014, 05:50:52 pm »
I spoke to an old acquaintance this afternoon that restores old motorcycles. I asked him what he used, are you ready for this, he uses liquid fabric softener, like Snuggle! He says it cleans anything even old dried up grease and oil, is water soluble, easy to dispose of, and makes stuff smell good. I didn't believe him thought he was pulling my leg!

Looked around on the internet and evidently most fabric softeners have some sort of petroleum distillate as their main ingredient and they make an excellent cleaner. So, it is off to the store to get a gallon, he said that he either dilutes it 1:1 or if really tough stuff he uses it straight, in an old tank he puts it in and lets it sit a day or so. Well, we will see in a couple of days. I'll report back.
"When the people fear the government...you have tyranny....When the government fears the people....you have liberty"

Thomas Jefferson
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Offline 660magnum

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Re: What are you using to clean out fuel tanks?
« Reply #2 on: March 24, 2014, 06:15:42 pm »
I'm anxiously awaiting your results for I have a chipper with a polypropylene tank that has about 1/2" or dried crud in the bottom.
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Offline KilliansRedLeo

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Re: What are you using to clean out fuel tanks?
« Reply #3 on: March 24, 2014, 08:55:46 pm »
Jim, you will know as soon as I do! I will get some before and after pics and post I will also get some of the inside of the tank before trying to clean it. My plan is to dilute the Snuggle 1:1 with water and see what that does, if it cleans the crud out of the tank then we are done if not, I will go to straight Snuggle and see what that does.
"When the people fear the government...you have tyranny....When the government fears the people....you have liberty"

Thomas Jefferson
1743-1826

Offline KilliansRedLeo

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Re: What are you using to clean out fuel tanks?
« Reply #4 on: March 25, 2014, 03:00:09 pm »
Sorry Jim, fabric softener does NOT work worth a chit! I have pictures but it is not worth the time it would take o post them!!!
"When the people fear the government...you have tyranny....When the government fears the people....you have liberty"

Thomas Jefferson
1743-1826

Offline 660magnum

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Re: What are you using to clean out fuel tanks?
« Reply #5 on: March 25, 2014, 03:04:52 pm »
thanks
We should share what we know... someone may learn...
That knowledge can live after us... and that "Pays It Forward".
Be all that you can be . . .

Offline aclarke

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Re: What are you using to clean out fuel tanks?
« Reply #6 on: March 25, 2014, 06:43:03 pm »
simple green works great.  Use it to degrease all sorts of engines... Better than Gunk, without the petroleum smell and residue

Offline 1manband

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Re: What are you using to clean out fuel tanks?
« Reply #7 on: March 25, 2014, 06:48:14 pm »
i have never heard of the fabric softener method before.

for steel tanks on bikes, containing rust and crud....... used to put a handful of good sized nuts and bolts, shake and rinse with a garden hose.  then run a clear fuel filter.

used to run bikes with a few big ball bearings inside the tank if could not get it all out initially.

would mineral spirits do it?

regards
-joe
hiatus

Offline KilliansRedLeo

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Re: What are you using to clean out fuel tanks?
« Reply #8 on: March 25, 2014, 08:01:01 pm »
There was a half inch of dried up fuel/oil mix solidified in the bottom of the tank Joe. Also tried mineral spirits, no luck! Ended up putting an inch of Purple Power (4$ @ Wall Mart) in the tank, just let it set for 30 minutes, then rinsed with hot water. All the goo is gone, inside of tank is shiny Sthil white paint!
"When the people fear the government...you have tyranny....When the government fears the people....you have liberty"

Thomas Jefferson
1743-1826

Offline sharkey

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Re: What are you using to clean out fuel tanks?
« Reply #9 on: March 26, 2014, 02:07:35 am »
Snuggles?  That guy was pulling your leg. 

We use a hand full of hardware and a package of BB;s mixed in with old mix or diesel.  Shake it like a can of paint! 

 

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