Cleaning gas tank

[jorgeinmiami]

I have a 70 gallon tank from my Master Angler which is in good shape.
My question is the following: I have heard of the great cleaning properties that ethanol has in cleaning the insides of old gas tanks ( and creating havoc ) Now that I have my tank out of the boat could I not buy say 5 gallons of E85 and use it to clean insides rolling on its different sides and then flushing out the gas and crud?

[shrek]

If the tank is out, take it to a radiator shop and have them hot tank and pressure test it.

[Vezo, Part II]

Jorge, my buddy and I are refurbishing a 1971 Pontiac LeMans Sport convertible for his brother. Has been stored for 15 years (NO Ethanol!) and he had great success heavily rolling and flushing with Mp & Naptha, from Lowe's, for removing varnish and heavy grease.

I have a 1979 MA with 70 gallon tank removed and shot. Getting ready to order a new one from Sunshine Tanks any day. Could you send a pic of yours, as I am not sure mine was original, and am trying to decide where optimum locations for fill, vent, pickup, and sending unit. I will be duplicating to this tanks dimensions, but believe that I will be filling from the dock in the future, versus trailer.

TIA,

Vezzosi, Part II

[Bushwacker]

Originally Posted by Vezo, Part II

. . .
I have a 1979 MA with 70 gallon tank removed and shot. Getting ready to order a new one from Sunshine Tanks any day. Could you send a pic of yours, as I am not sure mine was original, and am trying to decide where optimum locations for fill, vent, pickup, and sending unit. I will be duplicating to this tanks dimensions, but believe that I will be filling from the dock in the future, versus trailer.

TIA,

Vezzosi, Part II

Vezo, there was clearly much thought given to the locations of the vent fitting on the OEM tank. On my Seafari, the fill is on the gunnel is on stbd side a couple feet fwd of transom. So when you're refueling at the dock, you'll be in back of boat on stbd side, and it'll be heeled to stbd. They put the vent fitting where the high spot of the tank would be under those conditions, i.e. on port side at very front of tank! This works great at the dock, but if I refuel at a gas station with boat on trailer, the front of tank is lower than the back, and it'll spit gas out the vent before it's really full. For those conditions, I typically get an extra 5 gal in a jug, which I can use to top off the tank once I get home and raise front of trailer with the tongue jack.

I'd suggest using the same thought process to locate the vent on your MA tank. In general I think you want the fuel pick up at the back of the tank and sender in the center. Don't think it really matters where the fill pipe is on the tank, but the vent wants to be at the high spot on the tank when you're refueling and the hull vent fitting wants to be near the filler so you can see it starting to spit gas when the tank gets full.

[Vezo, Part II]

Makes perfect sense, Denny. Getting ready to contact CSC member FossilMan and family member of Sunshine Tanks for his input. Thanks Again!

Michael.

[jorgeinmiami]

Tank dimensions are as follows

93 long 23 wide 7 3/4 deep

over flow and gauge are 21 1/4 from edge of tank


Needs some cleaning and then coal tar treatment

[gofastsandman]

Originally Posted by shrek

If the tank is out, take it to a radiator shop and have them hot tank and pressure test it.

One post in 5 years?
So I have to ask why this thread?
Thought your bag of trix was much larger.

[shrek]

Originally Posted by gofastsandman

One post in 5 years?
So I have to ask why this thread?

I have some experience with tank cleaning and repair, so I thought I would contribute.

[Islandtrader]

Originally Posted by Vezo, Part II

Makes perfect sense, Denny. Getting ready to contact CSC member FossilMan and family member of Sunshine Tanks for his input. Thanks Again!

Michael.

Tony is a great source...he did my tanks!

Originally Posted by gofastsandman

One post in 5 years?
So I have to ask why this thread?
Thought your bag of trix was much larger.

Sandy...did you get out of bed on the wrong side? LOL...

Originally Posted by shrek

If the tank is out, take it to a radiator shop and have them hot tank and pressure test it.

I would go with this solution...why mess around with sludge and grunge? It can't cost that much...and wouldn't you rather be grinding?