Best Way To Clean Years Of Sludge From Fuel Tank?

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Viewing 10 posts - 11 through 20 (of 21 total)

  • aquasonic

    US Member - 1 Year (includes $3 online payment fee)
    Replies: 606
    Topics: 41
    #282592

    Glad to see that you were able to get your tank clean. Be careful using acid on aluminum as it’s very corrosive. I do use it in a controlled manner for cleaning out the oxidation in cylinder head water jackets, and a few other applications.

    The Por-15 is usually used on steel tanks with holes in them. Your two-piece cast aluminum tank might be the most rugged outboard tank ever made. If it develops a leak, the leak would likely be at the seam. The fix for a leaky seam is to disassemble the tank halves and reseal it.

    Save the Por for a steel tank. Just an opinion. Good luck with the TD-20!

     

    1 user thanked author for this post.

    John Gragg

    US Member - 1 Year (includes $3 online payment fee)
    Replies: 128
    Topics: 36
    #282609

    Glad to see that you were able to get your tank clean. Be careful using acid on aluminum as it’s very corrosive. I do use it in a controlled manner for cleaning out the oxidation in cylinder head water jackets, and a few other applications.

    The Por-15 is usually used on steel tanks with holes in them. Your two-piece cast aluminum tank might be the most rugged outboard tank ever made. If it develops a leak, the leak would likely be at the seam. The fix for a leaky seam is to disassemble the tank halves and reseal it.

    Save the Por for a steel tank. Just an opinion. Good luck with the TD-20!

     

    Thanks for the advice.  Makes sense. So u actually developed a tiny leak at the seam when I 1st shook the tank before I opened the vent. I tried separating the halves after removing all the screws, but it wouldn’t budge. Didn’t want to make things worse, so I put it back together. Eventually I will want to separate the 2 halves and reseal.  But I can’t figure out how without further damaging the tank. Maybe a heat gun along the seam?

    Best Regards

    John Gragg
    RIverside, CA

    Just starting in the hobby, please be patient.

    49 Sea King 5hp GG9014A
    49 Johnson TD20
    48 Johnson TD20
    54 Johnson QD15
    55 Johnson CD12


    aquasonic

    US Member - 1 Year (includes $3 online payment fee)
    Replies: 606
    Topics: 41
    #282623

    Heat along the seam and glancing blows from a rubber mallet should separate the halves.

    Filling up the tank with piping hot water may help.


    John Gragg

    US Member - 1 Year (includes $3 online payment fee)
    Replies: 128
    Topics: 36
    #282641

    Heat along the seam and glancing blows from a rubber mallet should separate the halves.

    Filling up the tank with piping hot water may help.

    The hot water is a great idea! Thx. I was also thinking about some sort of an air or water bladder put inside to gently lift the two apart.  Need to research a bit, we’ll see…

     

    Thx

    Best Regards

    John Gragg
    RIverside, CA

    Just starting in the hobby, please be patient.

    49 Sea King 5hp GG9014A
    49 Johnson TD20
    48 Johnson TD20
    54 Johnson QD15
    55 Johnson CD12


    The Boat House


    Replies: 4413
    Topics: 108
    #282644


    Presently my procedure of choice for aluminum tanks
    is to fill them as much as possible with 50/50 Zep
    Purple Cleaner and Degreaser, and water.
    It has some mild acid in it so it dissolves any corrosion
    in an aluminum tank resulting from moisture over years
    of them resting. I wait till its pretty much done foaming
    and dump most of it out.
    Keeping with the duck tape & bailing wire solutions my
    Boat House is equipped for, I have “Engineered!!!!!”an
    alternative to the shake shake shake.
    Video link – https://youtu.be/-cQ5c3Z5GGg
    Tubs
    .


    Buccaneer

    US Member - 1 Year (includes $3 online payment fee)
    Replies: 7290
    Topics: 1053
    #282646

    Tubs, I like your “Flex brush”!

    Prepare to be boarded!


    crosbyman

    Canada Member - 2 Years
    Replies: 3430
    Topics: 317
    #282650

    what ???? no colonoscopy pictures inside the tank ??

    Joining AOMCI has priviledges 🙂


    The Boat House


    Replies: 4413
    Topics: 108
    #282657



    My scope is old tech. Doesn’t save images for
    transfer and the image doesn’t photograph well.
    Best I can do.
    Tubs


    crosbyman

    Canada Member - 2 Years
    Replies: 3430
    Topics: 317
    #282658

    looks good 🙂

    Joining AOMCI has priviledges 🙂


    jeff-register

    US Member - 2 Years
    Replies: 1507
    Topics: 52
    #282661

    Yhere is also a voltage use results.Positive to one ebd (tank frame) & negative to habging metal & all contaminates go to metal hanging in the tank water. Sorry I forget the details. Help.

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