Please don't use the suction end of a vacuum to dry a solvent laden gas
tank. Vacuum Cleaner motors are notorious spark generators, and would
basically work like a small jet engine with enough solvent in the air
passing through. If you have to "power dry" it, use the outlet of the
vacuum. When working on our antique tractors, we often put pea gravel
(approximatley 3/4" stones) in our dry tanks and shake, rattle and roll
them around to break up and remove the rust and scale. Pour out the
gravel and rust, then use your tank cleaner of choice. I've used
eastwoods tank cleaner and sealer with great sucess. I ordered it direct
from an ad in Hemmings, but I think J.C. Whitney carries the same
product.
Warren
Date: Fri, 23 Apr 1999 17:21:37 -0400
From: "M. W. Jordan, Jr" <mw_jordan@mindspring.com>
Subject: Re: Cleaning Gas Tanks
I probably will win the scorn of the list for my approach, but I bought
a
gallon of a product used to clean driveways and such that is acid based
a
couple of weeks ago and used it to clean my Tr***ph gas tank. took the
tank
out, after draining all the gas out, rinsed it very well with a hose
outside,
then sealed all the holes and poured this stuff in. I sloshed it around
for a
few (5-10) minutes to make sure it got on all the surfaces then drained
it
away, rinsed several times again with the garden hose, then drained the
water
and dried the inside of the tank with Methyl Ethyl Ketone, then stuck a
vacuum
cleaner hose in the tank to complete the drying process.
The end result is a tank that is spotless. And before, there was
visible
scaling in the tank, so much so that the fuel pump bowl was filing with
sediment every 50 miles or so.
About the radiator shops, several around me have said they will not
clean a gas
tank because of the gas contamination in tanks they use.
Just what worked for me.
M. W. Jordan, Jr.
Marietta, GA
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