Cleaning rust from gas tank
 

Is apple cider vinegar effective for removing rust from gas tank? If so how long do I let it soak?
Thanks

never tried that myself,i have heard of using molasses also. myself i have had good luck using electrolysis. look on youtube for videos

I've used regular vinegar. Soak a day or two, then rinse in acetone to dry it. Then use red kote to seal it.

I use muriatic acid - be careful. Neutralized with baking soda and water. X2 on red coat.

POR 15 makes good products that have worked well for me over the years.

Inside, or outside of the tank?? :bigthink:

Inside the tank

Gravel....
That's how I've cleaned several tanks.

But not these because of the baffle. Honestly, if it's a baffled tank, your better off finding a new one. You can try the other stuff, but tanks aren't that hard to come by.

Shake and Bake?

Shake and rinse.... :biggrin2:

Then I use a shop vac on "blow" in the fill hole while sitting in the sun. Not an exact science by any means.... but overall effective.

My arms get tired of shaking though..... You got kids? :bigthink: :biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2:

Put em to work. Like!

I used the gravel method in the past. Duct tape it to my cement mixer, then turn it on.

I've thrown in a box if 1/4" square nuts and did the shake, shake procedure.
I'm not a big fan of internal coatings, see a few go bad and make a real mess.
Acetone was the only thing that dissolved the coating inside.
Maybe it was an isolated case. :bigthink:

I have heard Coca Cola works good if you let it set overnight.

The "Works" toilet bowl cleaner works real well on rust. About 20-30 minute soak. Rinse well and neutralize.

:bigthink:

A piece of chain can be used to dislodge stuff. Keep one end on the outside and just pull it out when finished.

I've used nuts and muriatic acid to remove the rust. Then Kreem to seal it after.
https://www.google.com/#q=kreem+kit

I was amazed at the amount of rust, ect., that the nuts method removed. I added a bit of gas to the procedure, shook and rinsed many times. While your there, now would be a good time to reseal the tank nipple, and repaint the tank if desired.

Maybe use gravel but metal nuts shaking in a container with some gasoline in there too?
No thanks.

Dad use to use the gravel method, dry pea gravel.
Then he stuffed/wedged the tank into the rear wheel of another tractor.
With foam cushions and bungee cords to the tire chains.

Then sent me out to mow the lawn(s).

A 12hp tumbler.

X2 on the Kreem.

X2 on the Works

Electrolysis.

Take a 1/2 pvc pipe about 8 -10 inches long and drill large holes straight thru the pipe at various heights corresponding to the gas tank depth.

Cap the bottom open end of the pipe.

Insert a metal sacrificial rod into the pvc pipe. The cap on the bottom of the plastic pipe insulates the sacrificial rod from shorting to the tank wall. Connect the RED charger lead to the rod in the pvc pipe.

The drilled holes allow the electrolyte solution poured into the gas tank to contact the sacrificial rod.

Attach the BLACK electrolysis lead to the gas tank itself.
Let it cook for several hours and behold rust free cleanliness down to the molecular level!

Wow lots of ideas here. Thanks all!

electrolyte solution is washing soda? (I've looked for washing soda and can't find it) What is a brand name or are there other options?

Baking soda will work, but not as aggressively.

This is a nice idea - an electrolysis tank, but only for the inside of the tank (you just have to separate the rod from the tank wall so it doesnt contact). Alternatively you could dip the whole tank in the electrolysis tank, but this soln is less mess/more self contained.

Molasses, Coke, also known to work.

this is the function of the pvc tube and the capped end of the tube - the cap prevents the rod from touching the tank bottom and the pvc tube prevents the rod from touching the neck of the tank.

I'll either take a picture or do a drawing later today.

Chuck

I buy it at Walmart, it's in the laundry detergent section.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Arm-Hammer...55-oz/19407690