Recommendations on Cleaning a Plastic Diesel Fuel Tank

[JD5210]

The valve at the bottom of the fuel tank had a leak, while I have stopped the leak, I will be replacing the valve. Since I have to drain the tank to replace the valve. Figured I would replace the fuel lines and clean the tank as well. I have not had any fuel problems.

How do others recommending cleaning/washing a plastic the tank?

Thanks in advance for the help!

 

[marchanna]

I would just wash with some clean diesel fuel. It's a pretty decent solvent. Otherwise, if you need something a little stronger, you can use mineral spirits or acetone, they will dissolve perfectly into any residual diesel in the tank.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Before using acetone, check on the outside of the tank to see if it softens the plastic. I seem to recall that it does attack PVC , so I wouldn't want to put it inside a plastic tank.
I would just look inside with a strong flashlight to see if it is dirty, likely it isn't.

 

[marchanna]

You make a good point, however the fuel tank will be made from HDPE which is a solvent resistant polymer. All plastic fuel tanks are made from this material specifically because gasoline degrades into acetone and HDPE can safely contain it.

 

[larboc]

The valve at the bottom of the fuel tank had a leak, while I have stopped the leak, I will be replacing the valve. Since I have to drain the tank to replace the valve. Figured I would replace the fuel lines and clean the tank as well. I have not had any fuel problems.

How do others recommending cleaning/washing a plastic the tank?

Thanks in advance for the help!

If it ain't broke don't fix it. As long as you monitor your fuel filter's health just replace the valve and move on.

 

[boomer1025]

If it ain't broke don't fix it. As long as you monitor your fuel filter's health just replace the valve and move on.

.
:thumbsup:

 

[Wagtail]

If it ain't broke don't fix it. As long as you monitor your fuel filter's health just replace the valve and move on.

I agree... however, since the OP is going to have the tank off, there's no harm in inspecting/cleaning any debris that may cause a problem 'down the track'.

A 'look see' with an inspection camera will highlight any potential faults.

 

[bitternut]

Not sure if he intends to remove the tank. I routinely open the petcock on my 5210 and drained a pint or so out every fall until one day in doing so the stupid petcock unscrewed from the tank and it wasn't long before I had more than a pint drained out and the petcock in my hand. The petcock is screwed into the tank, not molded into the tank. I was like the little dutch boy with his finger in the dike. I screwed the petcock back in and am very careful when opening it now. It has never leaked even though I did not put any sealant on the threads. I have never seen any foreign material or water in what I drain out. The tractor was delivered in Feb of 2000. I treat every gallon of fuel year round.

 

[JD5210]

Bitternut it is the same valve you are talking about. I opened it to drain off the sediment none come out and it would not close and was leaking fuel. I have stop the leak by patching it, but who knows how long that will last, so I want to replace the valve.

Since I have to drain the tank to put in the new valve, figured since the fuel lines have been on there for almost 20 years, I would replace them. Looking at the tech manual removing the tank looks easy and I think installing the new valve would be easier with the tank off. Since I have the tank off figured I might as well clean it.

I also treat every gallon with JD summer/winter conditioner. The tractor will sit for weeks and it starts with just a flick of the key.

I was just looking for the advice on the correct way to clean the tank.

 

[dfkrug]

All my rental tractors that I bought to refurbish and/or use here had sludge in the
bottom of their fuel tanks. Thankfully, all the JDs had PE tanks with drain valves
that were positioned an inch or so off the bottom of the tank.

My Kubotas were all steel tanks with no drain valves. Kudos to all makers who
incorporate drain valves.

Oh yeah, to clean them out (removed), I would blast them with soap and hosed water until
clean, then air dry. On the tractor, I think that I would have used some
solvent (diesel, old gas, etc) and an air hose, then flush with diesel.