Cleaning Internal Fuel Tank.-

[Sea Rider]

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 that time which should be non existing now a days.



Which cleaning method would you guys recommend to have a clean tank as when boat was factory delivered. Bear in mind that we don't have fancy cleaning products available, so simple cleaning products will need to be poured in tank.

Happy Boating

 

[mjf55]

Subscribing as inquiring minds want to know.

 

[flyingscott]

Depending on where you are located. I have started using e-85 to clean my fuel tanks cheap and reusable and when it gets to dirty to use,it is used to to start my bonfires. Or simple green and zep 505 are good options.

 

[Baylinerchuck]

Depending on where you are located. I have started using e-85 to clean my fuel tanks cheap and reusable and when it gets to dirty to use,it is used to to start my bonfires. Or simple green and zep 505 are good options.

Interesting using E85.....Its as much a solvent as it is a fuel. Any residual left over will mix with fresh fuel. Do you agitate it, or leave it sit over a period of time? Would E85 damage older pick-up tubes? Curious.

 

[funk6294]

Depending on how nasty the tank is, use zep 505, simple green, or dawn, and load the tank up with ice cubes and go for a ride with frequent starting, stopping and turns. I have heard of people using a length of chain or nuts and bolts with the e85 to do the same thing.

I will caution if the tank is baffled this could be difficult. Also if it's an aluminum tank how sure are you that it's in good condition?

 

[flyingscott]

Interesting using E85.....Its as much a solvent as it is a fuel. Any residual left over will mix with fresh fuel. Do you agitate it, or leave it sit over a period of time? Would E85 damage older pick-up tubes? Curious.

I only leave it in a couple days works pretty quickly if it is a built in tank I fill it up and let it sit. Then the first 2 tank fulls has to have an inline filter. I did a plastic tank a year ago that nobody get clean filled it up with e85 4 days later it was clean. I really like it for built in tanks. To clean the inside of the tank if it is really bad I take a piece of gas line and put it on my compressor and let that beat around for a while. That you can adjust the air pressure so it doesn't beat the crap out of the tank.

 

[Scott Danforth]

is this a poly tank, aluminum tank or a metal tank

are you trying to clean out residual fuel or other gunk

Here is what I have done in the past
simple cleaning - 2 gallons of simple green, followed by 2 gallons of boiling hot water, go for a drive down a back country gravel road at 40mph - drain
removal of fuel deposits - 3-4 gallons of denatured alcohol followed by the drive down a back country gravel road at 40mph
removal of rust - fill tank half full with vinegar (or 20:1 mix of water and muriatic acid), let sit for a week, go down the same gravel road. drain. then fill tank with hot water and soda ash to neutralize the acid content. http://www.galvatech2000.com/documents/docpdf/NEUTRALIZATION_OF_ACIDS_eng.pdf
after rinse, repeat the simple cleaning method above and then run a gallon of isopropyl alcohol into the tank take the same drive, then drain.

However I like flyingscott's method, as the result is a bonfire with a few chairs around it.

 

[Sea Rider]

Thanks for the feedback, some issues ;

-All those mentioned cleaning products are not available down here.
-Is not known if fuel talk is poly, alu, or metal one.
-Probably it's an internal fiberglass built, at that time E fuels were not available,
-Tank will probably develop leaking issues with E fuel over time, hope not.
-Pouring denatured alcohol will be the way to go, let it stand for some hours.
-Bounce boat while sucking with a vaccum motor all fuel remains or at least most of it.
-Go for a wot run for extended time period, check how much fuel crap external fuel filter has collected.
-Replace by new cheap ones, till last filter is completely clear.

Happy Boating

 

[Baylinerchuck]

However I like flyingscott's method, as the result is a bonfire with a few chairs around it.

Ha ha....my favorite use for E85.

 

[Watermann]

You could dump some of this Startron cleaner in the tank and tow the boat around for a while before draining. I've heard an old Okie talk about lowering a piece of dog chain down in the tank and letting it flail around in there to loosen up the bad gunk.

http://www.iboats.com/Star-Tron-reg-...iew_id.1184381

 

[HT32BSX115]

-Bounce boat while sucking with a vaccum motor all fuel remains or at least most of it.

................I hope you don't mean "Vacuum" like a shop-vac or other electric VAC...etc!! [Can you say "BOOM"?:flame:]

If the tank has an accessible gage sender, you can remove the sender it to open a hole in the tank so you can look inside.


Get some 3/4" clear vinyl hose from HD, Lowes etc.... (20ft or more) and use it to siphon the liquid and debris out of the tank........

If you have sloping property or can tow the boat to a place where you can get the siphon hose and containers several feet below the bottom of the tank, a longer hose will siphon with strong vacuum.

Put a ball valve on the end of the hose where the containers are for draining so your helper can turn it off when each container becomes full.

Fill the hose before starting the siphon. (you don't have to use your mouth to start the siphon if the hose is full of liquid (valve closed!)

Put a piece of PVC pipe on the end you're going to put in the gage sender hole and move it around to suck up all the "stuff"

The back of the tank is usually where the senders are so if you tip the bow up a little, the "stuff" will flow to the back where you're siphoning!

Do the last "suck" with fresh gas and you'll get everything and you can filter it and use it. (and of course, do it outside, NO SMOKING, have a fire extinguisher ready)

Cheers,


Rick

 

[robert graham]

It would be helpful to try and identify the amount and type of contaminants in the tank( may not be all that terrible), then clean/flush tank with solvents/detergents best you can.....then install a fuel/water seperator type cartridge filter between the tank and motor....plan to check/dump/replace the cartridge a few times until any/all contaminants are removed....should be good to go!....

 

[Sea Rider]

Thanks folks, all good ideas to try...

Happy Boating

 

[ezmobee]

-Probably it's an internal fiberglass built, at that time E fuels were not available

My understanding was that fiberglass tanks could not handle ethanol.

 

[Sea Rider]

My understanding was that fiberglass tanks could not handle ethanol.

Precisely, that's what I fear with a boat & tank that old. If with fuel leaks a new fuel tank is mandatory..

Happy Boating

 

[robert graham]

My understanding was that fiberglass tanks could not handle ethanol.

For sure the fiberglass tank will not be able to handle the ethanol fuel....my rail buggy had a glass tank and the E-10 slowly dissolved it until it became very thin....I replaced with a new polyethylene tank....