Cleaning the Fuel Tank

[ccurzio]

So today I finally got the new fuel pump/sender combo unit from DMCH (huzzah!), and in preparing to install the thing I've determined that it's going to be a really good idea to thoroughly clean the fuel tank prior to installing it.

Here's my problem: I'm not equipped to drop the tank and clean it. As a result, I was wondering if someone can give me some details on how best to clean the tank while it's still in the car.

I currently have a full tank of gas too, so tips on setting that aside would also be helpful.

[jawn101]

So today I finally got the new fuel pump/sender combo unit from DMCH (huzzah!), and in preparing to install the thing I've determined that it's going to be a really good idea to thoroughly clean the fuel tank prior to installing it.

Here's my problem: I'm not equipped to drop the tank and clean it. As a result, I was wondering if someone can give me some details on how best to clean the tank while it's still in the car.

I currently have a full tank of gas too, so tips on setting that aside would also be helpful.

Cleaning, I'm not so sure about (probably just empty the tank and go at it with a solvent-soaked rag on a stick?)

As for emptying, this is one of the few times I can say something nice about a Harbor Freight tool..

http://www.harborfreight.com/multi-use-transfer-pump-66418.html - best 4 bucks you'll spend (it's always on sale in the store). This is a really good quality pump that moves a lot of fluid FAST. Just pump the tank out into a safe container for storing gas and get cleaning!

[uhhair]

When we got our car our first job was to replace the fuel pump. Figured it would be a good time to drain and clean the gas tank as well so we could inspect the baffle setup and tank condition. Turns out it was a smart move as our baffle was deteriorating and likely the cause of our dead fuel pump was that it sucked up some of the broken plastic parts. Cleaning the tank is simple really. We got a little handheld pump (link below) and pumped out all of the old gas into two 5 gallon gas cans. Our gas we fed to a lawnmower as we were hesitant to put it back in not knowing how old the gas actually was but if it's good no reason not to reuse it. After that, we used a few shop rags to soak up the residual gas left in the tank. After that it was simply a matter of getting a little acetone, wiping the inside with a rag, and repeating a few times till the rag wiped up pretty clean. Then we installed the new baffle and fuel pump and filled her back up. A little tip to help pump up the extra fuel when you get to the bottom is to jack the car up slightly so the gas flows to one end of the tank and then use the pump rather than spend the extra time trying to pump every little bit laying on the bottom. Whole process to clean the tank took around half a day, mostly because our tank was pretty full like yours. The actual cleaning of the tank took an hour, maybe two tops. Can't hurt to be thorough as how often does one really clean out their gas tank?

[uhhair]

My bad, here's the link to the pump we used:

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=100372238&storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=100372238&cm_mmc=shopping-_-googlebase-_-D27X-_-100372238

[David T]

All of this is very good advice but I would add that you need to do this in a well ventilated area, preferably outside, not in a structure. Take precautions for static electric when transferring the fuel especially with plastic tanks or pumps. Use gloves and eye protection especially with the Acetone. It can't hurt to have a fire extinguisher nearby too. Actually you do not get any better access to the tank for cleaning by removing it as long as you have skinny arms.
David Teitelbaum


QUOTE=uhhair;60293]My bad, here's the link to the pump we used:

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=100372238&storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=100372238&cm_mmc=shopping-_-googlebase-_-D27X-_-100372238[/QUOTE]

[WelmoedJ]

I have done the in-car tank cleaning a couple of years ago.
Not exactly what I would love to do again!

Anyway, you will have to empty the tank.
Should you have an old fuel pump, use it and dump the fuel in fuel canisters so you can re-use it after the job has been done.
Re-using the current fuel of course is only possible if
- the fuel is fresh
- you use a filter when pooring it in the tank
- disconnect the battery after the tank is empty (as a precaution)
- make sure the air in the area where you work gets refreshed some way (better for your health)

Have someone assist you if you're in trouble.

The job itself involves you being a kind of elastic human.
You have to lay on your side and back, legs somewhere hanging around.
Make yourself as comfortable as the situation alows.
You have to get your arm (up to the shoulder) into the tank to be able to reach the far end.
You have to twist and turn your arm to do so.
You also must not panic when trying to get your arm out of the tank again.
Remind the twists and turns you had to make to get your arm in, when trying to get it out.
"Retrieving" your arm in the wrong way will surely damage or break something in your arm.

Again: be careful, don't smoke (obvious), don't panic, good luck.

[Citizen]

So today I finally got the new fuel pump/sender combo unit from DMCH (huzzah!), and in preparing to install the thing I've determined that it's going to be a really good idea to thoroughly clean the fuel tank prior to installing it.

Here's my problem: I'm not equipped to drop the tank and clean it. As a result, I was wondering if someone can give me some details on how best to clean the tank while it's still in the car.

I currently have a full tank of gas too, so tips on setting that aside would also be helpful.

I got my new fuel pump/sender about two weeks ago, and put it in just last week. It is NOT necessary to drop your tank. Don't bother. As it has been said, you don't get any better access with the tank out of the car.

To drain the tank, siphon the gas out as best you can. Then use rags as the others have suggested. You can't avoid getting your arm inside the tank to clean it. The bottom of the tank should be clean enough to eat off of. You don't want to ruin your $400 pump, do you?

If you ever have been wanting to drop the bottom tank cover, now is the time, as you’ll only want to do this on the rare occasion that the tank is empty. This is that time.

Anyway, you MUST clean the tank! I think you’ll void the warranty if you don’t. A new filter comes with the kit, so you’ll need to install that too (this is what I still haven’t completed on my car yet). You'll want to refill the tank with fresh gas, so you don’t spoil the new pump and filter.

I did have a little trouble with the install. One, for some reason it was hard to compress the pump inside the tank, I don’t know why. But it finally went in. Also, it was a little hard to route the new rubber hoses, as one seemed a little short. And it seemed to bump into the filler tube. Also, the bend is so sharp on one hose, it is trying to kink.

I don’t have a report yet on pump performance, as I don’t have the car running yet (due to not having replaced the filter yet).

Good luck.

Thomas

[Jimmyvonviggle]

All I can say is don't be in a rush to clean it out. To get mine clean I did the lie on my back with arm up to shoulder. And it's true that when your arm is in don't panic or you will forget how to get it out.

So I used acetone (Dave S advice) and a 3m scrub pad. Used a lot of acetone in a well ventilated area, because that stuff is strong. I even stopped every 10 minutes for a break for safety. I spread my cleaning over a month as I waited for the pump to arrive.

Good luck.

[LEVY]

You forgot to add this:

WARNING, DO NOT DRINK GASOLINE!

LEVY



All of this is very good advice but I would add that you need to do this in a well ventilated area, preferably outside, not in a structure. Take precautions for static electric when transferring the fuel especially with plastic tanks or pumps. Use gloves and eye protection especially with the Acetone. It can't hurt to have a fire extinguisher nearby too. Actually you do not get any better access to the tank for cleaning by removing it as long as you have skinny arms.
David Teitelbaum


QUOTE=uhhair;60293]My bad, here's the link to the pump we used:

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=100372238&storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=100372238&cm_mmc=shopping-_-googlebase-_-D27X-_-100372238[/QUOTE]

[82DMC12]

You can get a 3M respirator like this:

http://blog.pksafety.com/e6000-glue-respirator-question/

And you will save your lungs and brain from the affects of acetone. I nabbed one from work with the organic solvents filters and it works 100% perfectly. You can't smell a thing even with your face down in the tank.

Andy

[WelmoedJ]

You can get a 3M respirator like this:

http://blog.pksafety.com/e6000-glue-respirator-question/

And you will save your lungs and brain from the affects of acetone. I nabbed one from work with the organic solvents filters and it works 100% perfectly. You can't smell a thing even with your face down in the tank.

Andy

Just wondering, Andy: Is your head so small it fits into the pump opening? :histerical1:

[82DMC12]

:beer:

[ccurzio]

Anyway, you MUST clean the tank! I think you’ll void the warranty if you don’t. A new filter comes with the kit, so you’ll need to install that too (this is what I still haven’t completed on my car yet).

Yeah, and to be honest that's really the main driver in me wanting to clean the tank. That being said, for such an allegedly high-quality part that's supposed to last a really long time, 6 months is kind of a shitty warranty.

Aside from that, who knows if the tank has ever been cleaned prior to this anyway? So yeah, all around good idea.

[Tillsy]

Here's my problem: I'm not equipped to drop the tank and clean it.

I removed my tank a couple of days ago on my own with nothing more than a jack and a couple of jack stands. It took quite a few hours to pry the coolant lines and tank but she finally eased out.

It was well worth it as I discovered a nasty rust spot between the tank and frame which I otherwise would never have known about given my frame is otherwise perfect. I am also not elastic-man and having cleaned the tank know I could not have easily done it whilst still mounted.

[Bill6298]

I had previously cleaned my tank twice back in November but never filled it with gasoline. I got some help today from someone who is more flexible and could reach everywhere inside the tank for a final cleaning. Although we used the shop vac multiple times, it appears that the shop rag fibers are still in the tank. Even with more acetone and a different type of rag, it won't come off. Is is possible the the acetone and rag stained the inside of the tank? I say this because the dye has rubbed off on our clothing, etc.

There's also some dark stains that no matter what we do will not go away.

2421324214242152421624217

Any ideas?

[Tillsy]

Looks more like a squirrel met its demise in there?!

[Bill6298]

Looks more like a squirrel met its demise in there?!

:smile: yeah, I regret those red shop rags now. I guess I need to find a new scrubbing device and start over with acetone. I wasn't doing the scrubbing this time around. Maybe she wasn't trying as hard as I'd like to get those bits of fiber or stains out.

[jawn101]

:smile: yeah, I regret those red shop rags now. I guess I need to find a new scrubbing device and start over with acetone. I wasn't doing the scrubbing this time around. Maybe she wasn't trying as hard as I'd like to get those bits of fiber or stains out.

LOL - red shop rags that shed 90% of their fiber everywhere? Someone went to Harbor Freight.

All of my shop clothes are pink because of those freaking things.

[DCUK Martin]

I'm very surprised nobody has suggested the easy way to empty the fuel tank (assuming you have a working pump and happy with the condition of the fuel).

Disconnect hose number 23 from the metering head. It's the large single bolt on the back.

http://store.delorean.com/images/Category/large/2-1-0.jpg

Put hose end into jerry can.

Disconnect RPM relay and with a jumper wire connect the diagonal pins on the plug: Brown to White/Purple.

The car will now drain itself. Obviously you may need more than one jerry can!

Use acetone. plenty of clean rags and someone with long skinny arms to clean out the tank.

[Bill6298]

LOL - red shop rags that shed 90% of their fiber everywhere? Someone went to Harbor Freight.

All of my shop clothes are pink because of those freaking things.

:banghead:


I'm very surprised nobody has suggested the easy way to empty the fuel tank (assuming you have a working pump and happy with the condition of the fuel).


Great idea for quickly emptying the tank.



Use acetone. plenty of clean rags and someone with long skinny arms to clean out the tank.

Your comment about clean rags is key. I didn't realize my Harbor Freight shop rags would be worse to deal with than the old gas sludge.

[DMC5180]

Get some tack rags from an auto parts or hardware store that sell paint supplies products. They work like Lint rollers.

[Bill6298]

Get some tack rags from an auto parts or hardware store that sell paint supplies products. They work like Lint rollers.

I didn't know that. Thanks Dennis. I will try that.

[jawn101]

:banghead:



Great idea for quickly emptying the tank.



Your comment about clean rags is key. I didn't realize my Harbor Freight shop rags would be worse to deal with than the old gas sludge.

I hate to laugh since I feel your pain. But those frigging rags are so awful I just have to. They even manage to lint all over glass-smooth polished tools. I threw every last one away and started using the blue paper towels for everything instead.

[skill]

Heya Jawn, Are you referring to these blue paper towels? Cleaning out the fuel tank is on my To-Do's.

24224

[jawn101]

Heya Jawn, Are you referring to these blue paper towels? Cleaning out the fuel tank is on my To-Do's.

24224

Yeah, those are they. Good for everything but drying the car after a wash.

[skill]

Right-arm, Thanks!

[Bill6298]

Heya Jawn, Are you referring to these blue paper towels? Cleaning out the fuel tank is on my To-Do's.

24224

Will these work with acetone? Will they disintegrate inside the tank?

[NightFlyer]

I used a dollar store toilet brush, newspaper, lacquer thinner, and a shop vac. Minimal cost/materials, was done in no time flat, and the tank was clean enough to eat out of.

[Tillsy]

I used a dollar store toilet brush, newspaper, lacquer thinner, and a shop vac. Minimal cost/materials, was done in no time flat, and the tank was clean enough to eat out of.

Hey what a clever idea - never though of a toilet brush, I MacGyvered my own solution at the time