Fuel Tank Washout

[wheelysteve]

Currently have the coke/harpic cocktail in the tank doing it's stuff for the next week or so.

What's the best way to clear out the residue after emptying?

What's the best stuff to put in to stop more rusting before it's back in use?

Cheers and Merry Xmas to all
Steve

[needaz1100r]

Are you going to line it or just clean it?

I have a z thou and a GS thou tank to do, so would be interested in the results you get.

To stop rust if no lining how about WD40, I buy it in 5l containers to put in manual spray bottles, ie not aerosols. You'd be welcome to a litre to swill around.

[wheelysteve]

Cheers Mark, I've got some wd40 so I'll stick that in.

I don't need to line the tank, it's in pretty good nick inside, just trying to get small patches of surface rust out.

I'll let you know how it goes.

[KeithZ1R]

White spirt then WD

[wheelysteve]

A quick update on the tank cleaning exercise:

I used :

14litres of Morrisons fat coke (40p/litre)

Approx 4 litres of Harpic Power Plus (around £1 for 750ml)

A cork to plug the fuel tap hole as I couldn't find a suitable threaded plug.

Pre-mixed the coke and Harpic in a bucket until the frothing calmed down then stuck it in the tank right to the very top lip.

Left it for 9 days, giving it the occasional gentle stir. Emptied it out and thoroughly rinsed the tank with white spirit than tipped in about 500ml of WD40 and sloshed that around before draining the excess.

The tank was not heavily rusted inside but did have a light coating all over and a few deeper scaly blebs of rust. ALL of the rust has now gone and the only marks in there are a few "stains" left on the metal.

I chucked some really heavily rusted seat hinges in the remainder of the mix and it's eating it's way through that no problem.

Well pleased with the result and I've just put another tank on derust.

Steve

[Andrew_s]

This might be of interest - not sure how to post a video, but here's the link -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBQX5v4FmzI&t=13s

[ZedHead]

As much as I admire the ingenious domestic chemistry the active ingredients in Coke (Phosphoric Acid) and Harpic (Hydrochloric Acid) are both very weak. I can't help thinking that a strong hydrochloric acid solution would be more effective and cheaper in the end.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5-LITRE-36-2- ... 2062158488

[wheelysteve]

They might be weak but they do the job and I've still got the paint in the same condition on the outside of the tank !

Out of one mix I did 2 tanks and every rusty bracket/bolt and nut I could find and I didn't need to panic when one of my kids went into the garage

[ZedHead]

They might be weak but they do the job and I've still got the paint in the same condition on the outside of the tank !

Out of one mix I did 2 tanks and every rusty bracket/bolt and nut I could find and I didn't need to panic when one of my kids went into the garage

And that is all that matters Steve. To be fair even mild acid can attack paint and I never thought Harpic and Kids were a good mix... not to mention Rola Cola

[swampy]

has any body tried that evapo-rust.

[warren3200gt]

Used bio rust crystals very effectively.