texasfishingforum.com logo
Main Menu
Advertisement
Affiliates
Advertisement
Newest Members
TraeMartin, Power-Pole CS, T-Rigger, JoeGoes, EcKo
119150 Registered Users
Top Posters(All Time)
hopalong 120,575
TexDawg 119,517
Bigbob_FTW 94,886
John175☮ 85,892
Pilothawk 83,260
Bob Davis 81,480
Mark Perry 72,287
Derek 🐝 68,312
JDavis7873 67,416
Forum Statistics
Forums59
Topics1,037,831
Posts13,935,262
Members144,150
Most Online39,925
Dec 30th, 2023
Print Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2
Cleaning Fuel Tank #10619445 02/15/15 04:05 AM
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,628
B
brandon f. Offline OP
Extreme Angler
OP Offline
Extreme Angler
B
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,628
Ok guys, I just got my first boat a couple of days ago.

I've decided to completely clean it top to bottom and inside and out.

One of the first things that I plan on cleaning is the fuel tank. I've got about 20-30 gallons of fuel in the tank now that I know has been in there since November of 2014. Ive got a plan to get the fuel out and dispose of it.

What is the easiest way to clean the inside of the tank? I can look inside of it and see "stuff" in the bottom of the tank and I might as well go ahead and do it now while im in the cleaning mode.

Here is my progress so far...





Last edited by brandon f.; 02/15/15 04:06 AM.
Re: Cleaning Fuel Tank [Re: brandon f.] #10619553 02/15/15 06:07 AM
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 870
TITANIUM-BACK Offline
Pro Angler
Offline
Pro Angler
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 870
Take it out of the boat and clean it or have it cleaned.


Freedom isn't free, you don't have to love it or leave it, but respect the price paid for it.
Master Caterpillar Field Mechanic. Retired
Re: Cleaning Fuel Tank [Re: brandon f.] #10619580 02/15/15 07:24 AM
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,628
B
brandon f. Offline OP
Extreme Angler
OP Offline
Extreme Angler
B
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,628
I plan to clean the inside of the tank, but how do you clean it is my question.

Re: Cleaning Fuel Tank [Re: brandon f.] #10619727 02/15/15 01:32 PM
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 11,586
gary purdy Offline
TFF Guru
Offline
TFF Guru
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 11,586
Take it out and have it power washed.


The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything. Remember what He has done and remember that He is not done yet!-- GOD IS GOOD
Re: Cleaning Fuel Tank [Re: brandon f.] #10619872 02/15/15 02:54 PM
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 120,579
hopalong Online Confused
Pescador Loco
Online Confused
Pescador Loco
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 120,579
go buy a couple of qts of the engine flush at an auto parts house (can is silver/orange/black) it just says engine flush on it.

empty tank, remove, pour engine flush in and let sit, put a pc of hose from the pickup to the overflow connections (the small hoses on top) and plug the fill with a rag inside a qt ziplock baggie, OUTSIDE, after tank sits for a few hrs. pick up one end and rotate a few times to break up any sludge and varnish, let sit again for a couple of hrs. repeat, when all this is done rotate tank so that fill hole is positioned over a 5 gal. bucket and remove rag/baggie, let drain for about half an hr. next put in 4 large bottles of rubbing alcohol and repeat rotation process then drain (this is just a flush). reinstall and be sure to put in an inline fuel filter to catch any missed debri.


" Hop, set the hook"!
hopalong 99,999
TexDawg 99,999
FJB! not my president by a long shot!

lake fork FISHERMANS COVE MARINA/reservations - 903 474 7479
Re: Cleaning Fuel Tank [Re: brandon f.] #10619877 02/15/15 02:58 PM
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 120,579
hopalong Online Confused
Pescador Loco
Online Confused
Pescador Loco
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 120,579
oh and when you are ready to refill the tank, put in 3 cans of seafoam and 6 gals of gas, run on muffs (not on driveway or concrete or it will stain it) and idle to temp, rev. to about 1200 rpm and let off, DO NOT HOLD RPM'S above 800 for any amount of time, just short bursts about 5-6 times then shut off and let sit overnight, in the am repeat the process then go to the lake and run it hard till the gas is gone (take a can with ya so you can get back to the ramp if needed).

this will decarb the engine and it will run much much smoother and better, change to full synthetic oil and never have to decarb again


" Hop, set the hook"!
hopalong 99,999
TexDawg 99,999
FJB! not my president by a long shot!

lake fork FISHERMANS COVE MARINA/reservations - 903 474 7479
Re: Cleaning Fuel Tank [Re: brandon f.] #10620633 02/15/15 10:31 PM
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,628
B
brandon f. Offline OP
Extreme Angler
OP Offline
Extreme Angler
B
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,628
Thanks Hop!

That's exactly what I was wanting to know.

Here's a pic of the inside of the tank. Got all of the fuel siphoned out today.


Re: Cleaning Fuel Tank [Re: brandon f.] #10621561 02/16/15 07:35 AM
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,545
B
Biscuits Offline
Extreme Angler
Offline
Extreme Angler
B
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,545
That is one nasty looking tank. Post a picture of when it is clean so we can see the result smile




Current Cylinder Index is 42.
Re: Cleaning Fuel Tank [Re: Biscuits] #10629076 02/19/15 01:25 AM
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,628
B
brandon f. Offline OP
Extreme Angler
OP Offline
Extreme Angler
B
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,628
Originally Posted By: Dan in S.A.
That is one nasty looking tank. Post a picture of when it is clean so we can see the result smile


Got it cleaned out Dan. It looks 100X better. I took the picture from the exact same spot.

It sure was a P.I.T.A getting it disconnected and out of the boat though!






Re: Cleaning Fuel Tank [Re: brandon f.] #10629809 02/19/15 01:00 PM
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 11,586
gary purdy Offline
TFF Guru
Offline
TFF Guru
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 11,586
Good job!


The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything. Remember what He has done and remember that He is not done yet!-- GOD IS GOOD
Re: Cleaning Fuel Tank [Re: brandon f.] #10630047 02/19/15 02:34 PM
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,545
B
Biscuits Offline
Extreme Angler
Offline
Extreme Angler
B
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,545
That is one heck of a job. How and what did you use to clean it? Great job.




Current Cylinder Index is 42.
Re: Cleaning Fuel Tank [Re: Biscuits] #10631742 02/20/15 01:44 AM
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,628
B
brandon f. Offline OP
Extreme Angler
OP Offline
Extreme Angler
B
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,628
Originally Posted By: Dan in S.A.
That is one heck of a job. How and what did you use to clean it? Great job.


I syphoned as much of the gasoline out of the tank as I could. Disconnected the fuel lines. Removed the tank from the boat. Put 2 cans of seafoam in the tank for about 24 hours just to help break up the "build up" in there. Next day I syphoned the rest of all of the liquids out of the tank until I couldn't get anymore out. Then took a pressure washer to the inside of the tank. At first there was a little bit of "rainbow" from the gas, but after about 10-15 seconds of running water through the tank it was all water. I went ahead and pressure washed as much of the inside of the tank as I could for about 5-10 minuets.

Then I took one of these...


and ducted all of the heated air into the tank to help dry any moisture out. It was dry within 4-6 hours but I let it run for 24 hours just to make sure there was no moisture.

Then installed tank back into boat and put the seats back in.

**I checked all of the fuel lines while the tank was out. To my surprise they all looked really good. I figured there would be some breakdown of them, but they looked good.**

Re: Cleaning Fuel Tank [Re: brandon f.] #10631757 02/20/15 01:49 AM
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,628
B
brandon f. Offline OP
Extreme Angler
OP Offline
Extreme Angler
B
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,628
Took a lot of elbow grease, paper towels and all purpose cleaner to clean out the fuel tank cavity in the boat. It was some kind of nasty!! Glad that's done.

Next project is re-organize the battery compartment and give it a deep cleaning. Then to address the VRO pump.

Re: Cleaning Fuel Tank [Re: brandon f.] #10631853 02/20/15 02:30 AM
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,545
B
Biscuits Offline
Extreme Angler
Offline
Extreme Angler
B
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,545
That sounds like work but well worth it. One good think about all the work you are putting into the boat is now you know every nut and bolt and how it works. That will come in handy in the future. I just read a good boat captain knows his boat inside and out. Please keep us posted on your progress.




Current Cylinder Index is 42.
Re: Cleaning Fuel Tank [Re: Biscuits] #10631988 02/20/15 03:16 AM
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,925
S
smooth move Offline
Extreme Angler
Offline
Extreme Angler
S
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,925
Originally Posted By: Dan in S.A.
That sounds like work but well worth it. One good think about all the work you are putting into the boat is now you know every nut and bolt and how it works. That will come in handy in the future. I just read a good boat captain knows his boat inside and out. Please keep us posted on your progress.

X2------that's a fact! you redo an older boat with new wiring and hoses and when you're through, you know where every squeak and bump is. if it does break, you can go right to the problem without any trial and error.
good job on the tank.


es le bon ton roulet
Page 1 of 2 1 2
Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread

© 1998-2022 OUTDOOR SITES NETWORK all rights reserved USA and Worldwide
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.3