I'm back, and I have a technical question! Fuel tank cleaning.
#1
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I'm back, and I have a technical question! Fuel tank cleaning.
I've been out of the RX7 game for a few years now. Been into the working my life away and starting a family game haha.
But I just picked up yet another FC. Not quite sure on my plans yet. But as for my question.
The fuel tank has been sitting with fuel in it for... Who knows how long. I don't have a problem dropping it and cleaning it, but I'd prefer to not drop it. Is there a way to get this gunk out without having to drop the thing? Maybe disconnect my fuel lines and let it soak with some sort of cleaner, siphon, and then blast it out with the pressure washer?
But I just picked up yet another FC. Not quite sure on my plans yet. But as for my question.
The fuel tank has been sitting with fuel in it for... Who knows how long. I don't have a problem dropping it and cleaning it, but I'd prefer to not drop it. Is there a way to get this gunk out without having to drop the thing? Maybe disconnect my fuel lines and let it soak with some sort of cleaner, siphon, and then blast it out with the pressure washer?
#4
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Inside was bad enough to clog a new fuel pump sock in about... 15 minutes. It's sat in it for quite a long time I'd say. It's turned into gunk basically.
I guess I'll just drop it. I was just hoping I would have to.
I guess I'll just drop it. I was just hoping I would have to.
#7
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If you can get the sending unit off with the tank ON the car then there really isn't too much of a problem.
Drain the fuel with the 14mm drain nut on the passenger side of the tank,mop out the old fuel..clean up and put back together.
If the Y pipe is already off the car then the tank can be dropped in like 15 minutes with a floor jack.
Drain the fuel with the 14mm drain nut on the passenger side of the tank,mop out the old fuel..clean up and put back together.
If the Y pipe is already off the car then the tank can be dropped in like 15 minutes with a floor jack.
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#8
Engine, Not Motor
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The amount of work it is going to take to clean it out through the little fuel pump flange hole just isn't worth it. You'll have a very hard time getting the whole tank clean unless you use a small pressure washer wand or something. Then draining it becomes a hassle. Honestly removing it isn't really that bad at all. Remove catback, disconnect lines to tank, remove tank straps. Plus then once it's out of the car, you can coat it to avoid this issue in the future.
#9
FC guy
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Just dont have it boiled at a radiator shop, they made a f'ing mess of mine
Degreaser and water, flush , flush flush until water is clear.
Repeat. Dawn dish soap and water,flush until clear again.
Then i filled it with white vinegar and let it sit a week
Flushed with water and dawn again.
Dried it out with a towel through the top, then let air blow in it with a cage fan for a day or so.
Depending on what the surface looks like when you are all done you may want to seal it, i used red kote
Degreaser and water, flush , flush flush until water is clear.
Repeat. Dawn dish soap and water,flush until clear again.
Then i filled it with white vinegar and let it sit a week
Flushed with water and dawn again.
Dried it out with a towel through the top, then let air blow in it with a cage fan for a day or so.
Depending on what the surface looks like when you are all done you may want to seal it, i used red kote
#10
Rotary Enthusiast
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I watched your video Aaron. That's one of the reasons I wondered if there were a way to do it without dropping the tank haha. Looked like a hell of a workout. Hahahaha
#13
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I drained the tank and got a good peek inside. It's bad. Really bad. About an inch thick layer of rust/sludge. And the sump area(correct terminology?) appears to have oil sitting in it. But it's the consistency of honey.
#15
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I poured in a few gallons of vinegar and it's slowly breaking down everything. The tank is actually in good shape under the sludge. Nice clean metal.
#17
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Amazing what some soaking does. Try Super Clean poured in 100% (buy the big jug) and then let it sit several days. Agitate it often. Then cut it with water about 50% and give it a few more days.
#18
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Soaking and agitating will work but abrasion will speed the process up considerably.
Toss in a few pounds of pea gravel (or ball bearings) and agitate.
Can't recall where I saw it but one guy did just that and then strapped the tank into a cement mixer and spun it for a few hours...came out sparkling.
If you don't have a cement mixer handy (and why don't you?), it'd be relatively easy to cobble up something similar.
Toss in a few pounds of pea gravel (or ball bearings) and agitate.
Can't recall where I saw it but one guy did just that and then strapped the tank into a cement mixer and spun it for a few hours...came out sparkling.
If you don't have a cement mixer handy (and why don't you?), it'd be relatively easy to cobble up something similar.
#19
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Perhaps fabricate some sort of rotisserie with a clamp on handle? Use it specifically for cleaning the tank, and it would also work for coating it too!
#20
Red Pill Dealer
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Soaking and agitating will work but abrasion will speed the process up considerably.
Toss in a few pounds of pea gravel (or ball bearings) and agitate.
Can't recall where I saw it but one guy did just that and then strapped the tank into a cement mixer and spun it for a few hours...came out sparkling.
If you don't have a cement mixer handy (and why don't you?), it'd be relatively easy to cobble up something similar.
Toss in a few pounds of pea gravel (or ball bearings) and agitate.
Can't recall where I saw it but one guy did just that and then strapped the tank into a cement mixer and spun it for a few hours...came out sparkling.
If you don't have a cement mixer handy (and why don't you?), it'd be relatively easy to cobble up something similar.
The last tank I dealt with I had cleaned and coated by the radiator shop. It worked just fine though others above had a bad experience.
#21
roTAR needz fundZ
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Originally Posted by clokker
Soaking and agitating will work but abrasion will speed the process up considerably.
Toss in a few pounds of pea gravel (or ball bearings) and agitate.
Can't recall where I saw it but one guy did just that and then strapped the tank into a cement mixer and spun it for a few hours...came out sparkling.
If you don't have a cement mixer handy (and why don't you?), it'd be relatively easy to cobble up something similar.
Toss in a few pounds of pea gravel (or ball bearings) and agitate.
Can't recall where I saw it but one guy did just that and then strapped the tank into a cement mixer and spun it for a few hours...came out sparkling.
If you don't have a cement mixer handy (and why don't you?), it'd be relatively easy to cobble up something similar.
#23
FC guy
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I used very strong acid on parts of my tank to see if it was galvanized and i could see no sign of it
The red kote is good stuff, very easy to use. 2 quarts will do 2 nice coats. Just follow instructions and take your time. If you never had premix in the tank it takes some worry from the job
I think it was cheaper from amazon then from them direct
The red kote is good stuff, very easy to use. 2 quarts will do 2 nice coats. Just follow instructions and take your time. If you never had premix in the tank it takes some worry from the job
I think it was cheaper from amazon then from them direct
#24
Rotary Enthusiast
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New discoveries. Every single one of the little bolts for the fuel pump lid type deal, have been snapped off by PO. So now I have to attempt to drill these minuscule little things out.