Fuel tank residue.

[ray8829]

Does anyone know how to remove the brown gunge that I have just found in my Mk2 fuel tank. The car has stood with about four gallons of very old four star fuel in the tank for at least 20 years and the inside of the tank and the fuel sender are coated in a hard substance that refuses to clean off with fresh unleaded petrol. Amazingly, the tank is still sound and the sender unit moves freely and gives a reading on the fuel gauge. The only way I have found to shift the coating off is by scraping with a sharp knife, but that will not be practical for the entire internal area of the tank, any ideas? I have a great photo of the sender unit but not sure how to upload on to the forum.

 

[Keith Halstead]

Why not try oven cleaner as that's quite caustic & shifts burnt on carbon and must be steel friendly?

 

[Steve 155C]

Try brake disc cleaner or carb cleaner on the sender.

This might eb worth a try for inside the tank

http://www.bilthamber.com/fuel-tank-cleaning-kit

, or try paraffin or vinegar.

 

[MLI]

In similar cases, I've seen people filling the tank with gravel/pebbles and shaking it vigorously, to get rid of the residue.
One guy even strapped the tank to his concrete mixer, and the tank then did "the rounds", filled with pebbles.
Might be a slightly aggressive metod for a concourse resto, though

 

[Pete G]

Price up a new tank & sender!
Better check the fuel lines and pump as well.

I would try white spirit and turps but if it is a hard residue it will likely need an abrasive to shift it.

 

[Keith Halstead]

A friend of mine is importing repro tanks soon plus Team Deville do them but quite expensive.

 

[David Baldock]

Must be worth trying to save the original tank?

Vinegar works well clearing blocked shower heads. Not the same stuff i know but worth leaving some in the tank for a while to see what it can do.

I was told it should be white vinegar but not sure if that's true.

Dave B

 

[Rick]

Diesel and paraffin mix works on seized engines, let it soak for a week or so,

 

[dxcgnoc]

Hi
has anyone come up with the best solution for this

Thanks Dave