Contaminated fuel tank.

[Carrieve]

Hi tribe.
After four years of sitting in my garage with auto fuel in the tank, it seems to have turned to lacquer. I can do all the hoses, carb, etc, but how do I clean the tank. It seems to be a gummy, sticky residue. I almost with I could find a good tank. I hope I don't have to pull it, it sure doesn't look like fun. Help.

[fearofpavement]

Re: Contaminated fuel tank.

Carburator cleaner will dissolve that gum quickly. remove the hoses from your carb so it doesn't wash it all into there. You will want to put in a fairly large amount of the carb cleaner(mixed with gas) and slosh it around the best you can. When you drain it out keep it off anything painted. I wouldn't hesitate to use the drained fuel in a vehicle or tractor. The varnish will be dissolved and won't redeposit unless it dries out again. Carb cleaner is designed to dissolve this mung so you should have good success with it.

[NY86]

Re: Contaminated fuel tank.

Laquer thinner will do it, too, and may be cheaper in large quantities.

Caution, if you sloshed the tank in the past, it'll make a bigger mess...

[Arnold Wallace]

Re: Contaminated fuel tank.

Now comes another story of good results. I washed my 20 year dusty tanks on a 120 Cessna with alcohol from Lowes. Took out all the gum, varnish and contamination at a reasonable price. Sure wish I'd had an extra electric fuel pump to circulate it around and around in the tank. Coat hangars with rags attached to the ends were the swabs.
The alcohol is easily removed after cleaning. Be sure to take your time so you won't have to do the job twice. Good luck. N96175

[Dick Huish]

Re: Contaminated fuel tank.

You can get the liquid to circulate by putting the nozzle on your air compresor in the tank and reducing the pressure. Dick

[Carrieve]

Re: Contaminated fuel tank.

Thanks for the help so far. I have some fuel system cleaner in there right now. One gallon treats 400 gallons of fuel. I added it to just five of gas so it is really concentrated. I will drain it and see what happens.

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Contaminated fuel tank.

Slosh it around a lot, rumor has it that some folks have blocked off the fuel out line and flown the ship though some mild gyrations to speed up the process, drain and do it again too!

[Carrieve]

Re: Contaminated fuel tank.

Hi gang,
I don't like what I see in the bottom. The carb cleaner didn't work. I think it may have been sloshed and the gook is like a sticky slime in the bottom and sides. I dabbed some of it onto a clean rag and lacquer thinner won't cut it. I don't want to take a chance with it. I don't think loops and hammerheads will get rid of it Forest. So now, how hard is it going to be to remove the tank? If I can get it out I can have it steamed and make sure I get all of that ugly stuff out.

[Gary Snell]

Re: Contaminated fuel tank.

Yep it sounds like that goo is sloshing compound. MEK will cut it (very slowly) but it sounds like it had a leak at one time and you need it for sealant. It breaks down over time but should be OK as long as no flakes are showing up in the gascolator. I had a bad experience with the stuff in my Champ and ended up replacing the tank. Make sure you don't get any ethanol in it.

[Carrieve]

Re: Contaminated fuel tank.

I think you are right Gary about the sloshing thing. Everytime I look under the panel at how difficult it will be to get the tank out, I try to figure a way to get the stuff out. Even though it looks like hell in there, there is a good flow of clean fuel out of the hose. Maybe I will try the MEK thing.

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Contaminated fuel tank.

I'm sorry I thought it was a wing tank..... YES take it out, drop H column out, there are two heavy wires that go through the tank. They have to come out. i am leaving real soon for Florida , there is a instruction set for the tank removal back at the airport , I can't get it to you till a week from now. It is pretty stgriaght forward. YES pull the tank and do it right.

[Carrieve]

Re: Contaminated fuel tank.

Thanks Forrest for the push. Better doing a right. I will grin and bear it upside down while you are at Sun N Fun. Enjoy.
Carri