Tank derust advice please.

[Sesman]

I’m just seeking some advice on my tank prep please.

The plan is:

Currently added 5 litres of acetone and two handfuls of 10mm pea gravel. Soaked for 4 days with regular agitation.

Then drain and add 20 litres of DEOX-C made up with boiled hot TAP WATER to filler neck. Or should this be de-ionised water? The instructions don’t say.

Leave for 48 hours or so with regular agitation then drain

Rinse with 5 litres of deionised water and dry with a heat gun or hair dryer.

Rinse with a few litres of diesel.

Fill to brim with petrol

Install a line filter and go for it?

Thanks in advance.

[mickwinf]

I have had these problems in the past, most of the de rust methods work but in my case it was flash rusting afterwards that was the problem. I tried various methods from this forum and other sources but it kept on rusting until i tried nurse Julies tip of rinsing with de ionised water then as you suggest dried it out with a heat gun, which takes ages to get completely dry. Then swill with diesel, and that's how my spare tank is at the moment. So i think your method is sound, go for it!

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

I did the gravel agitation then I used Evaporust - not cheap but it works by breaking down the chemical bond between the steel and the iron oxide (rust)- I used a large bottle brush to help it along periodically - a few days later & the innards looked like new steel - flushed out with petrol / oil mix. Fitted a line filter.

I use Evaporust to clean all sorts of nuts, bolts, washers etc it does what it says on the tin. Thick rust deposits need a wire brush or similat to speed up the process. I keep a 5 Litre can in stock - you can keep on using the old Evaporust until it's spent. Bits like long engine mounting bolts I will leave in a used Evaporust bath for a weel or two. Only surface I have found that it has a strange effect on was a slightly rusty gudgeon pin - it turned that particular metal almost black so be  carefull with that type of steel.

Not tried DEOX-C as not aware of it but might be just as effective as Evaporust.
 

[Sesman]

Ted.

I’m using DEOX-C filled to the tank neck. Did you fill to the tank neck with Evaporust?

[Laverdaroo]

I ran 5 litres of hydrochloric acid into it, swish about for 5 mins, washed with deionised water, dried with heat gun, swilled with diesel.

Spotless and clean with no return of flash rust at all.and its been sitting empty for 7 eeks whilst its been painted!  Crack on Phil

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Ted.

I’m using DEOX-C filled to the tank neck. Did you fill to the tank neck with Evaporust?

I was too tight at the time to fill to the neck -I put 10 Litres in the tank then lay it on either side eventually putting a plastic bag type seal over the filler cap and leaving it upside down. It weeped into a catch tray a tad but didn't loose the Evaporust.

[Sesman]

I’m a fiscally challenged Yorkshire type so will adopt a similar, value added approach

[Laverdaroo]

I’m a fiscally challenged Yorkshire type so will adopt a similar, value added approach

Give over, yer making me cry
You've just had a stack of Timmy Taylor's vouchers off me, get on

[Sesman]

Already drunk that.

[Laverdaroo]

  Good boy

 

[deltarider]

I wonder what deionised water is. Demineralized?

[Sesman]

It’s £2.50, for 5 litres at Asda.

[Laverdaroo]

I wonder what deionised water is. Demineralized?

same stuff

[deltarider]

Thanks, so it is the same water for in a battery when level has dropped.

[Sesman]

That’s right. Good stuff if the quality is good.