Cleaning a gas tank

[NobodySpecific]

I was replacing the petcock on my XT last night when I discovered that the tank is full of sediment. A mix of what seems to be fine gravel and coarse sand is in the tank, and just running gas through won't get it out.

My plan was to use the garden hose to get all of the crap out, run some of the old gas through the tank, add a bottle of dry gas, and let it sit overnight. Is that going to cause problems (rust?)? Should I use a heat gun to forcibly dry it out? I just want all of that crap gone before I put everything back together.

Thoughts? Advice? Ridicule and insults?

[Pigman]

Use good gas to flush it and if you do use water just grab a bottle of IPA (Rubbing alcohol) and flush it good the IPA will remove the water....and evaporate off

[markbvt]

Just go with the garden hose, then use Pigman's rubbing alcohol suggestion.

Remember that current ethanol-containing gas will always absorb some water because ethanol is hygroscopic. Nevertheless the bike will run fine. So the miniscule amount of water that might be left after flushing out the tank shouldn't have any significant effect.

--mark

[gregp]

More importantly, make sure you run a good quality, large capacity fuel filter when you are done flushing out the tank....

[NobodySpecific]

More importantly, make sure you run a good quality, large capacity fuel filter when you are done flushing out the tank....

The new petcock that I'm putting in has a pretty nice filter. I'm certain that the sediment will NOT make it through. My biggest concern was the water causing the tank to rust, but I think if I use the rubbing alcohol trick I'll be fine. Thanks guys!

[STREET&COMP]

If you find that the sediment and garbage is stuck to the tank find about 30 of the biggest washers that you can fit through the tank fill opening and use a 50/50 mixture of rubbing alcohol and warm water. Slosh it all around and until the water alcohol combo comes out clear keep refill with fresh mix and keep sloshing. Just remember to take out as many washers as you put in! Then clean with some rubbing alcohol and let dry.

[BMFR6]

If you search my threads, I just had a thread with a similar situation That may have some more info for you.

[BMFR6]

Actually, here is my post in said thread on the process I used

So I went with "the works" solution........ and it worked. Last weekend I sprayed about half a can of PB Blaster in the tank, dumbed in a bunch of 1.5" drywall screws and I just kept shaking the tank every time I walked by it hoping to knock off a bunch of the big/loose stuff. Dumped it today and then rinsed a handful of times with hot water and dish soap. Next I dumped in a half gallon of water and two 28oz bottles of "the works" then topped it off to the brim with more water. Let it sit for about 1.5 hours or so. I was skeptical because what I read online it said it would be bubbling, mine wasn't. Figured I diluted the solution too much. Dumped the solution and went to rinsing it with a water and baking soda mix, used a whole box of baking soda at roughly 1/4 cup per gallon of water so I'd say i rinsed it 6-7 times. Dumped in 2 bottles of 91% rubbing alcohol. Once I dumped that I fogged it with wd40. The results are impressive to say the least. It's probably as good as it will get for under $10. One word of caution, now that the rust is gone I can see how pitted the interior is. If you try this yourself, start with a diluted solution and increase from there. I think if I went full on "works" from the start, my next thread would be about how to patch and seal a gas tank.

[jwm2k3]

I wouldn't even go so far as some here. Ive dealt with shit in the tank before. Remove tank. Flush with water hose. Let air dry. Fill with gas. The important part is to use 90% of the gas in tank then make sure its full again. Don't let it sit. You should be ok. The manufacturers know shit happens and most modern tanks are made quite well....

[NobodySpecific]

Actually, here is my post in said thread on the process I used

Cool, I will steal the parts that are applicable. I will double check for rust, but what I saw of the interior looked fine in that regard, it's just the sediment that is a concern. Thanks!

What about some carb cleaner? Would that hurt anything? I just figure if I can try that and get the crap out without needing water I should at least attempt it.

[jwm2k3]

By the way I bet a million the sediment you found is from gas and not rust from tank. That's right, a million. Your tank is probabbly fine.

[NobodySpecific]

By the way I bet a million the sediment you found is from gas and not rust from tank. That's right, a million.

I never thought it was rust Mainly because it looks like small rocks/sand, and the interior of the tank looks fine. I am just looking for a way to flush that crap out, I don't need to coat the tank or anything.

[jwm2k3]

Then I will shut right up.

[BMFR6]

Cool, I will steal the parts that are applicable. I will double check for rust, but what I saw of the interior looked fine in that regard, it's just the sediment that is a concern. Thanks!

What about some carb cleaner? Would that hurt anything? I just figure if I can try that and get the crap out without needing water I should at least attempt it.

Good idea to double check for rust if you're working on it all ready. Keep in mind the rubbing alcohol has water in it so it's not a perfect solution. If you are just putting the tank back on the bike, after the rubbing alcohol i'd fill it with gas, a bottle of dry gas and run it as much as you can. If it is going to sit, i'd go with the wd-40 as that is a "water dispersing" product. I havent seen any flash rust yet and mine has been sitting. I guess another option would be dumping in a couple bottles of dry gas and giving it a good shake a few times a day.

[NobodySpecific]

Good idea to double check for rust if you're working on it all ready. Keep in mind the rubbing alcohol has water in it so it's not a perfect solution. If you are just putting the tank back on the bike, after the rubbing alcohol i'd fill it with gas, a bottle of dry gas and run it as much as you can. If it is going to sit, i'd go with the wd-40 as that is a "water dispersing" product. I havent seen any flash rust yet and mine has been sitting. I guess another option would be dumping in a couple bottles of dry gas and giving it a good shake a few times a day.

I really like the WD40 trick and I will be using that. The bike will not be road ready for a couple of weeks, so I would like to prevent it. It is sitting open and empty right now, but I hope that'll be ok for a day. I plan on at least hitting it with the WD40 when I get home. These are the ideas I was looking for

[RandyO]

nuts, bolts, nails, screws, washers, probably a combination would work best

if you have access to a paint shaker, get yer tank on it and let it shake for a while, if you don't have a paint shaker, borrow someones harley

[NobodySpecific]

nuts, bolts, nails, screws, washers, probably a combination would work best

if you have access to a paint shaker, get yer tank on it and let it shake for a while, if you don't have a paint shaker, borrow someones harley

The sediment is loose, so why do I need to ADD more shit, when all I want to do is get rid of it? It is literally just a bunch of small rocks/pebbles/sand floating around the bottom of the tank.

[RandyO]

The sediment is loose, so why do I need to ADD more shit, when all I want to do is get rid of it? It is literally just a bunch of small rocks/pebbles/sand floating around the bottom of the tank.

I'm sorry, if everything is that loose, why can't you just turn it upside down and shake it out, blow some air at it, flip it what ever way you need to to get stuff to fall out. I assume the tank is off the bike

if theres loose stuff, what makes you think there isn't caked on crap in the crevaces, have you inspected with a mirror, thats problem with ethanol gas, its a solvent that loosens gunk buildup inside the tank

I wouldn't put water in the tank, I would shake with mixture of hardware & kerosene, flush with clean kero, then use 1 oz of isopropyl dry gas (not methanol based dry gas)in your first tank after you reassemble

[NobodySpecific]

I'm sorry, if everything is that loose, why can't you just turn it upside down and shake it out, blow some air at it, flip it what ever way you need to to get stuff to fall out. I assume the tank is off the bike

if theres loose stuff, what makes you think there isn't caked on crap in the crevaces, have you inspected with a mirror, thats problem with ethanol gas, its a solvent that loosens gunk buildup inside the tank

I wouldn't put water in the tank, I would shake with mixture of hardware & kerosene, flush with clean kero, then use 1 oz of isopropyl dry gas (not methanol based dry gas)in your first tank after you reassemble

Because it is a dirt bike and it has a two inch long filler neck that is welded inside the tank. Therefore, tipping it upside down simply allows the settlement to be collected by the neck. And it sticks to the tank when trying to get it out through the hole where the petcock goes. I shook the damn thing for 10 minutes trying to get this crap out, having a very low success rate. I need a high flow of something (I tried air, it didn't do anything) to get the crap to come out, and the only thing that I can safely spray everywhere with high enough pressure is water.

[RandyO]

did you try a vacuum cleaner