derusting fuel tank

[roosterrs]

What is the best way of derusting the inside of a fuel tank. Is there a chemical or company that does this?

[Robw]

Cheap coke and Limescale remover worked for me. I filled the tank up and left it for a week
Rob

[KeithZ1R]

Cheap coke and Limescale remover worked for me. I filled the tank up and left it for a week
Rob

3:1 coke to cleaner

[skid11]

Cheap coke and Limescale remover worked for me. I filled the tank up and left it for a week
Rob

3:1 coke to cleaner

I went with that after seeing posts on here..works well..worked on an exhaust as well

[scott]

Do you leave the fuel tap on to do this job or block it up somehow?

Any limescale remover do or is there a preference brand?

[relisysxx]

Spirit of salts (available from a hardware shop) gets my vote, put half a litre of water in the tank, add a third of the bottle and roll it round so it gets to all areas, don't shake cos it's nasty stuff (hydrochloric acid), add another third, repeat etc.
This will get your tank like new in about fifteen minutes, when it's clean you will need to flush the tank well with water (hose pipe) then neutralize with baking soda (available from the kitchen when the wifes not looking).
Dry the inside of the tank as fast as you can because it will start to rust as soon as you have finished cleaning it then if you are not filling with petrol stick some engine oil in it and roll it round so it covers the whole of the inside of the tank.
you will not believe how clean this will get your tank but make sure you use protective gear cos as I have said it's proper strong stuff, oh and don't sniff it either cos it'll blow your head off! (don't ask me how I know )

[kev edwards]

5-10% sulphuric acid solution shaken about with a small piece of stainless chain mail followed by d I not tap water because of the chemistry in it, and dried as quickly as possible after.

[wheelysteve]

5-10% sulphuric acid solution shaken about with a small piece of stainless chain mail followed by d I not tap water because of the chemistry in it, and dried as quickly as possible after.

A couple of questions for Kev: where do you get stainless chain mail from?

What are you rinsing the tank with if not tap water?

Cheers, Steve

[KeithZ1R]

Do you leave the fuel tap on to do this job or block it up somehow?

Any limescale remover do or is there a preference brand?

Block everything Scott and I use Harpic acid based limescale remover




The point of this is its all disposable down the toilet after use

Rinse the tank with white spirit after you have emptied it this is then just reusable to clean parts etc

[kev edwards]

5-10% sulphuric acid solution shaken about with a small piece of stainless chain mail followed by d I not tap water because of the chemistry in it, and dried as quickly as possible after.

A couple of questions for Kev: where do you get stainless chain mail from?

What are you rinsing the tank with if not tap water?

Cheers, Steve

I got my chainmail from a german company call Kasper Walter when I was a plating chemist, but you should be able to get some off ebay,

Use de-ionised water as there is very little to no chemistry in it, the sulphuric can be bought from a decent plumbers as a drain cleaner call one shot, you add it to water to make it the percentage you want it to be, do not add water to the acid, and it's all flushable, and don't forget your PPE.

[scott]

Keith, does the coke and harpic damage paintwork at all?
I suppose it's ok to use the petrol cap with no damage to its rubber seal?
Stupid questions but I have to be sure

[KeithZ1R]

TBH I cleaned any splashes off straight away and removed the cap and just masking taped it up so the mixture was never on the paint for any extended time period best to be cautious I would think

[scott]

Thanks Keith

[skid11]

Keith, does the coke and harpic damage paintwork at all?
I suppose it's ok to use the petrol cap with no damage to its rubber seal?
Stupid questions but I have to be sure

I used Keith's mixture on a very rusty chromed exhaust as well as the insides of a tank..it worked very well so i would think will damage bike paint very quickly

[scott]

Right, I'd best be carefull then