Fuel tank cleaning

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Ive got a 50 gal auxiliary diesel tank I would like to put on my truck but it has some rust on the inside from sitting. What is the best way to get the rust out? This tank is bulky and weighs quite a bit so its not real easy to handle. I've thought about just putting on a couple cheap in line filters, but I would rather just get the rust out and not have to worry.
Reply:There are some fuel tank coatings that are sold to coat the insides of rusty tanks and seal them up. http://www.eastwood.com/ew-gas-tank-...art-32-oz.html The best thing is to just flush out as much of the loose material as you can and then use filters. PITA I know. I helped a guy pump out several shop diesel tanks, transferring fuel for the old tanks to the ones in the new location with my transfer tank. Got a ton of crap in mine that ad been sitting for years in his tanks. Even after flushing my tank 3 or 4 times, filling the tank with 10 gal of diesel, sloshing it all around by rocking, tipping the tank and so on, then dumping it all and starting over, I still went thru 4-5 screw on filters before I managed to get all the crap out. If I'd have known how much of a pain getting the tank clean was going to be, I'd have just told him to get drums instead.Be advised some filter setups have a bypass that allows fuel to pass around the filter if the filter gets clogged.I don't know an easier way. Acid would knock down the rust, but you'd need to still rock and twist the tank to move the acid around, then neutralize the acid and not contaminate the tank. I wouldn't want to do all that with acid from a safety standpoint..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Originally Posted by mateo270Ive got a 50 gal auxiliary diesel tank I would like to put on my truck but it has some rust on the inside from sitting. What is the best way to get the rust out? This tank is bulky and weighs quite a bit so its not real easy to handle. I've thought about just putting on a couple cheap in line filters, but I would rather just get the rust out and not have to worry.
Reply:I had the same dilemma a few years ago and eventually opted on cutting the tank open and buffing out the rust with a wire wheel then re-welding it up. Probably not the easiest solution but I tried something called gyliptol (sp)  that didn't work first so....?Lincoln Squarewave 255Miller Coolmate IIISpeedway 320Lots of melted mess so far
Reply:I've got a nice coat of rhino lining on the tank that I dont want to destroy. I am taking it to the rad shop today and see what they can do.
Reply:Originally Posted by mateo270Ive got a 50 gal auxiliary diesel tank I would like to put on my truck but it has some rust on the inside from sitting. What is the best way to get the rust out? This tank is bulky and weighs quite a bit so its not real easy to handle. I've thought about just putting on a couple cheap in line filters, but I would rather just get the rust out and not have to worry.
Reply:Originally Posted by 4sfedClean it using electrolysis . . . like this project . . .http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...t=electrolysisFill the tank with water, add 1 ounce of washing soda per gallon of water, hang a cathode in the tank and hook up to your battery charger.  After a couple days the inside of the tank will be rust free without damaging the good metal.Jim
Reply:Originally Posted by mateo270Very interesting. It says that the cathode cannot touch the item being cleaned. How would you suggest getting a piece of iron in the tank without actualt touching the tank? I suppose I could use some sort of insulator??
Reply:I think this could definitely be an option. I will see what the rad shop tells me and go from there.Will it be necessary to coat the tank with some sort of treatment once I have all the rust removed. I plan on using this daily and will have diesel in it.
Reply:Originally Posted by mateo270I think this could definitely be an option. I will see what the rad shop tells me and go from there.Will it be necessary to coat the tank with some sort of treatment once I have all the rust removed. I plan on using this daily and will have diesel in it.