Cleaning aluminum gas tank

[Drivewayboater2]

Love this forum. Great information from knowledgeable boaters.
Looking for advise on the best way to clean the inside of an aluminum gas tank. I’ll be removing the tank from a 1990 Bayliner 2652. Once removed I’ll pressure test and if it passes I’d like to clean the inside. What’s the best way to clean the interior of tank? Fuel has been removed( well most of it) a couple drops remaining. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[kcassells]

I've never done this but have heard it come up before.
Load the tank with some chains and drive around with it in a pickup and let it rattle around.
Good luck.

 

[Chris1956]

After you remove the fule gauge sender, you will have a reasonable hole. You can use purple stuff cleaner, a swab, pressure washer, nuts/bolts/chains etc. What kind of debris are you trying to get rid of?

Use some alcohol after you have all the water out to dry the tank.

 

[Davetowz]

I have used purple power and hot water, after draining fuel. Rlet it soak a bit then agitate. Use a friend and swish it around. Rinse well. Dry well. I use a hair dryer in a short piece of filler hose to connect it.

 

[Chris1956]

A hair dryer has a red hot element. Although sparks are unlikely, it is still a possibility, and real bad if gasoline fumes are still present.

A lot of shop vacuums use motor brushes. These always spark, so don't use them either.

 

[Scott Danforth]

there are about 30 other posts on cleaning fuel tanks.

here are a few from a simple search

Fuel Tank Cleaning

This summer I picked up a 1979 Glasply 19ft runabout for a pretty good price. Needed a few things but got it running and had a blast on it. Previous owner said he had no idea the condition of the main tank so I just ran it off some gas cans. Now that it's winter, I pulled the 50gal aluminum tank...

forums.iboats.com

Cleaning Internal Fuel Tank.-

Need to immaculate clean the interior of a 20 Gal fuel tank hidden under deck, there's no access to it as to remove it out from boat, unless the deck is cut which will like to avoid. This boat's tank has been sitting as seen on pic for the last 2 and a half years with non E leftover fuel from...

forums.iboats.com

aluminum gas tank cleaning

So I just bought my first boat. Needed a few repairs to get it running. The boat has an aluminum gas tank fitted under the floor. There is only enough of the tank exposed for the hoses and filler neck. Tried pumping the fuel bulb and after a long time I came to the conclusion that the lines are...

forums.iboats.com

 

[airshot]

Being aluminum there should not be any rust, so just a quick scrub and flush is all that should be needed. If badly corroded then reconsider using the tank!

 

[dingbat]

E85..........the best fuel tank cleaner and drier on the market.

 

[Davetowz]

I wouldn't use E85 to light a fire.

 

[Davetowz]

If the tank is washed well with soaps, drying with a heating element is of no consequence,