Tips for fuel tank cleaning

flusher · Feb 7, 2007

Looks like I'm going to have to clean the gunk out of the fuel tank on my MF-135 diesel.

I checked TBN for previous threads on this subject. Only found two threads, the most recent dating from 2004.

Anyone interested in sharing ideas/experience in this area?

john_bud · Feb 8, 2007

If you are going to take it off and coat the inside, people have posted that putting 20' of chain in it and strapping it to a rear wheel for a long ride gets all the rust, scale and stuff off. Then there are products like "creem" to seal the inside.

But, if you just want to clean out residue, and leave it on the tractor you have a bit more limited options. I would drain it, then take off the outlet and drain if it has one. Then pressure wash it. Hot water and soap. Use compressed air to help it dry, toss in a cloth and let it flop around in there to suck up more moisture. Then dump in a couple quarts of alcohol to help get rid of the remaining moisture. Drain and compressed air dry - good to go.

jb

Giles Gurley · Feb 8, 2007

How you clean the tank depends on what you are removing. If it is trash, I would just remove the tank and --rinse--rinse---rinse. If it is rust that is more complicated. Rust requires that you use acid for removal and this presents problems that have to be addressed.

Redbug · Feb 8, 2007

Hi Flusher,
If it is a metal tank...I would use Kreem. I have done a few gas tanks for the boats I have had, and this product works well. You have to get rid of the scale and rust chunks, first. I put some bolts inside the tank and rattled them around to loosen the chunks. Then dump out and wash clean with some MEK, and dry with the air compressor.

Using the Kreem kit, you will etch and clean up the inside metal with the acid supplied after general cleaning. Muriatic acid diluted (pool acid), will do if you have some already and don't want to buy the whole kit. Otherwise, buy the kit.

After etching, and drying the insides out with MEK again, you coat the tank with Kreem, rotating the tank as it dries to cover the entire surface evenly. It sets up pretty fast.

The Kreem will plug most small leaky holes in the tank, also.

Kreem Products for Gas Tanks - Instantop Inc.

scott_vt · Feb 8, 2007

Mornin Flusher,
When I was rebuilding my Super A I had rust and other crud in the tank that needed to be removed. I poured a box full of 1/4-20 locknuts into the tank and spun them along with some kerosene on a paint mixer for a few hours. I was originally going to coat the tank after that but when I looked inside it was so clean that I didnt even bother with that. No problems !

Mighty Dodge · Feb 8, 2007

I've done the same thing but used roofing nails....worked great.

MadReferee · Feb 8, 2007

Use ULSD fuel. It will do a good job of cleaning the tank.

scott_vt · Feb 8, 2007

Afternoon Farm,
Im not sure I can talk with you anymore Bill, I see your Elite status now

To make this post legal

I think my wallet had so many cobwebs in it, I just couldnt get myself to spring for the Eastmans coating

Farmwithjunk · Feb 8, 2007

scott_vt said:
Afternoon Farm,
Im not sure I can talk with you anymore Bill, I see your Elite status now

To make this post legal I think my wallet had so many cobwebs in it, I just couldnt get myself to spring for the Eastmans coating

WOW! I didn't notice that I'd "made the grade". Movin' on up! The Mrs. will be home in a few. She'll humble me right back to NON-elite in seconds.

That old F-40 was my dads. I'm thinking about dragging it around and shoving it in the shop later this month. Talk about your labor intensive restoration.... It's 50 years old this May. Dad wasn't much on keeping his tractors in like new condition. There's bird nests in the air cleaner, tires rotted plum off the front rims, and not a teaspoon full of paint left on the entire tractor. The fuel tank is probably the ONLY thing in good shape still.

Sure do wish dad was here to help me with it though.

scott_vt · Feb 9, 2007

Farmwithjunk said:
There's bird nests in the air cleaner, tires rotted plum off the front rims, and not a teaspoon full of paint left on the entire tractor.

Sure do wish dad was here to help me with it though.

Afternoon Bill,
No paint left, that will be easy

BTW, Your Dad will be there with you, trust me on this !

Farmwithjunk · Feb 9, 2007

scott_vt said:
BTW, Your Dad will be there with you, trust me on this !

That is probably why I've never started restoring that old Ferguson. Every time I walk around the barn and see it peeking out from under the tarp, I see dad out mowing hay, building fences, or just enjoying being out of doors. He was everything I aspire to be. He taught me a lot. Probably the single most important thing was to love my wife and family with all my heart. I just want to leave it like it was the last time I saw him on it. 9 days from today he'll be gone for 6 years. Maybe that's the day to pull his old tractor in the shop and get started.

JC-jetro · Feb 9, 2007

Farmwithjunk said:
He was everything I aspire to be. He taught me a lot. Probably the single most important thing was to love my wife and family with all my heart. I just want to leave it like it was the last time I saw him on it. 9 days from today he'll be gone for 6 years. Maybe that's the day to pull his old tractor in the shop and get started.

In this cold day in Kansas you warm my heart

may your dad soul rest in eternal peace.

CATMAN · Feb 9, 2007

During harvest two years ago, my Dad and I cleaned his JD 6620 sidehill combine fuel tank and we basically did what john bud suggested on his post. I made one mistake thou, I didn't remove the fuel gauge sending unit before flushing with the pressure washer. After reinstallation, the sending unit only worked for about one tank of fuel, then died. I think it was $46 to replace. I suggest you remove your sender first.

cp1969 · Feb 10, 2007

Farmwithjunk said:
That is probably why I've never started restoring that old Ferguson. Every time I walk around the barn and see it peeking out from under the tarp, I see dad out mowing hay, building fences, or just enjoying being out of doors. He was everything I aspire to be. He taught me a lot. Probably the single most important thing was to love my wife and family with all my heart. I just want to leave it like it was the last time I saw him on it. 9 days from today he'll be gone for 6 years. Maybe that's the day to pull his old tractor in the shop and get started.

I know how you feel, just last week was the 20th anniversary of my father's passing. Not a day goes by that I don't think of him.

Probably the best way to live the rest of our lives is to pretend they are standing right beside us, every day, and let that govern our actions accordingly. Can't go wrong with that approach.

Jstpssng · Feb 11, 2007

flusher said:
Looks like I'm going to have to clean the gunk out of the fuel tank on my MF-135 diesel.

I checked TBN for previous threads on this subject. Only found two threads, the most recent dating from 2004.

Anyone interested in sharing ideas/experience in this area?

I cleaned a tank from a small engine out using paint remover (not thinner), then put the pressure washer to it. It was about half full of shellac and crud, but when I got done it looked like brand new inside.
I'm not sure if that'll work for you or not.

BTDT · Feb 13, 2007

Take it to a radiator shop. They can clean, patch any holes, and seal (if needed), while you can be doing more constructive things. Tires rotted off the rims (??), must have had them filled with CaCl

. No wait, that would have eat the rims. Never mind.

workinallthetime · Feb 13, 2007

radiator shop charges us 150.00 to clean motorhome tanks. I think that would be the way i would go, just remember to have it completly striped down befor they pick it up.

tdi1fun · Mar 7, 2007

One word for you BioDiesel 100%
I started running Bio 100 in my Kubota this past year and it is amazing what that stuff will remove, after 2 tank fulls my fuel system is spotless!!