Cleaning fuel tank without removing

[McGillicuddy]

Fuel tank is drained and looks real clean. Can't get all fuel out (can see a small amount in aft end).

There are however some sand and small 1/8" gravel bits in there.

Is there a safe way to get these out (kind of hesitant to suck fuel fumes through a shop vac).

Any thoughts? Thanks.

McG

[DonV]

Hey Gillie, see if you and find a 12v 1/4" or 3/8" electric fuel pump. The one I used was a racing fuel pump, it primed very quickly and moved quite a bit of gas rather fast. On my friends boat I was able to tilt the boat as far down as it would go on the trailer and then jacked up one side of the trailer to move all the gas to the front corner of the tank. A coat hanger or stiff wire tie wrapped to the hose bent in JUST the right angle will get the hose to the corner. If the shortest distance from the fuel guage hole to the tank's corner wall is the rear of the tank , just jack the boat trailer up as high as you can. To finally clean it I took a wash rag...with no loose threads....and tie wrapped it to a coat hanger, stuffed it through the fuel guage hole and swabbed it around the tank, pulling it out and wringing it dry then do over and over until clean. Kinda time consuming however it's now clean and all the bad gas/water and goo was removed.

[Blue_Heron]

Originally Posted by McGillicuddy

(kind of hesitant to suck fuel fumes through a shop vac).

McG

That's a good thing. The discharge from your shop vac cools the motor, which isn't ignition protected.

There was a story in our local paper about ten years ago about a hobby shop that burned to the ground the day it was supposed to open. One of the employees broke a bottle of thinner for the fuel proof dope they use on model airplanes and tried to clean it up with a shop vac that promptly burst into flames.

Oops!

[McGillicuddy]

Thanks Don. The remaining fuel is probably less than a Tijuana shot of tequila so I don't know that it warrants trying to pump it out. I think the rag on a wire will absorb that much no problem. My baffle is in the front third of the tank so I'll have to target the aft end.

Except where the sediment is visible, the tank looks very clean. Should I soak the rag in a sovent or WD40 or any thing, or just wipe what I can?

Dave, Thanks for the reminder. Glad to know I didn't over think that.

[Handful in NC]

I actually met a guy a few weeks ago that used a shop vac to remove gas from his tank. He said it worked like a charm until the gas ignited. He (luckily) came away uninjured and the worst damage was to his engine. His insurance paid for the repairs and a new engine! He does not plan to use a shop vac to suck gas again.

[eggsuckindog]

you might just put something sticky on a rag and coat hanger - like wheel bearing grease, should sticky most of the particles - but you do have fuel filters for that too

[Capt Chuck]

Originally Posted by eggsuckindog

you might just put something sticky on a rag and coat hanger - like wheel bearing grease, should sticky most of the particles - but you do have fuel filters for that too

Good idea ESD....I think stuff like Silly Putty would work also.

[eggsuckindog]

Ya but sure as hell it will fall off in there

[BigLew]

Originally Posted by eggsuckindog

you might just put something sticky on a rag and coat hanger - like wheel bearing grease, should sticky most of the particles - but you do have fuel filters for that too

You could spray a rag with artist's spray adhesive and then swab that around in the tank. Like the spray adhesive they use to mount fabric or cut paper on a backing board. It ends up feeling like a tac cloth. It will get most of the smaller stuff anyway. You can get it at craft supply stores.

[strick]

"Dilution is the solution to pollution" I'd keep flushing and draining then get some duct tape reversed on the rag and coat hanger thing to pick up anything that is too heavy to flush out.

strick