Gummy residue in tank...help

[chuck hahn]

So I get a guy that wants me to clean and do a tank liner on a tank thats sat well over years. It does have rust in it rather bad, but the underlying problem is getting the gummy sticky brownish sludge dissolved first so it can even be derusted and lined.

When googling for solutions one guy said fill it with E85 gas and aggitate it now and then. Guys going out of town for two weeks so I got some time to get the caramel out. Anyone have suggestions for chemicals for the task?? Tank paint is like day one so I surely dont want to do any harm to the paint. When a radiator shop "boils out" a tank does that destroy the paint too?? I am totally unfamiliar with that process.

 

[alke46]

I can't say with 100% accuracy, but I have been told the radiator shops boil them in a chemical solution so it would be best to ask a shop near you just what kind of chemicals they would be using. I don't know if some chemicals would be ok for not causing harm. This is a question for a chemist or at least somebody who knows for sure.

 

[Big T]

Partially full of gas with some Seafoam or carb cleaner on it. Shake it up, let sit, shake some more. Repeat as necessary.

 

[Hinermad]

Partially full of gas with some Seafoam or carb cleaner on it. Shake it up, let sit, shake some more. Repeat as necessary.

I was going to suggest trying Seafoam. It loosens carbon deposits so it may help.

 

[Guest]

I can't say with 100% accuracy, but I have been told the radiator shops boil them in a chemical solution so it would be best to ask a shop near you just what kind of chemicals they would be using. I don't know if some chemicals would be ok for not causing harm. This is a question for a chemist or at least somebody who knows for sure.

I've several tanks done by a rad shop. They blast the inside, and bake on an epoxy coating. I had that done on the GS about ten years ago and it still looks like new.

 

[Nessism]

The Por-15 tank repair kit comes with a product called Cleaner Degreaser that is exactly for that purpose...https://www.por15.com/POR-15-Motorcycle-Fuel-Tank-Repair-Kit-_p_106.html

 

[leftlostcommonsense]

Dollar General sells purple power $5 a gallon concentrate. I've had luck with it getting all kinds of grease off stuff just by spraying it on concentrated and hitting it with a hose after a minute or 2. Maybe a good dose sloshed around in the tank will get rid of it. I haven't had any paint issues with it but haven't sprayed it directly on paint either so idk just be careful. Just an idea.

 

[Buffalo Bill]

I've considered using Carb Dip for an old outboard engine tank. Can old gasoline residue stand up to that?

 

[leftlostcommonsense]

I've considered using Carb Dip for an old outboard engine tank. Can old gasoline residue stand up to that?

I doubt it could considering that's exactly what carb dips are made to get rid of. I'd be careful around paint with it though. Either way, dish soap and hot water would probably get the job done too with enough elbow grease (agitation) and time. Pinesol does a decent job getting stuff too. You'd do well to find a can of redkote to line the tank with. My tank wouldn't hold anything around the seams due to pinholes all down it. A can of redkote, after a good washing, pour in half the can and roll it around then dump off what you can and repeat a few days later making sure to leave no pools and give atleast a week or 2 to cure. When researching liners it was basically the only one I couldn't find accounts of it failing too. Unless you've got bullet holes you won't be worrying about patching, rusting, or leaking ever again...Anyways, Good luck.

 

[Sam 78 GS750]

I've several tanks done by a rad shop. They blast the inside, and bake on an epoxy coating. I had that done on the GS about ten years ago and it still looks like new.

Not trying to thread jack here, but I just got this done recently. Looks like there's some sand particles in the epoxy coating as if they didn't get it all out after blasting, but before coating? Any of yours come back like that? Should I be concerned about it, or it's encapsulated in the coating so it's fine?

...and to avoid thread jacking a little, the POR-15 cleaner degreaser is a safe bet. Even if you don't use their liner product, looks like you can order it separately.

This is another option ---->https://www.caswellplating.com/epoxy-gas-tank-sealer/caswell-seal-masktm-8-fl-oz.html