Cleaning rust from inside fuel tank.

[royhall]

Has anybody tried cleaning the insides of a fuel tank with vinegar.

Checking online I found this:   http://kawasakikhregister.myfastforum.org/archive/rust-remover-from-inside-of-your-tank.-this-stuff-works.__o_t__t_1787.html   Hard to believe something as simple as that would work.

Should have done this before the tank was painted, is it safe if it gets onto new paint.

Sounds like a wacky idea, but if it works, it works.

[Trigger]

Tried vinegar before, was OK to get rid of flash rust but, not on a well caked tank. I use caustic soda to loosen the rust a bit and then mix some of those stones and water, the ones you find in the bottom of fish tanks and wrap the tank in a blanket, place in a tumble dryer for 5 mins . Make sure you well pad the tumble out with pillow or do it by hand and shake it well.

[tom400f]

I found vinegar to be a pants idea. Went for this: http://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php/topic,4758.0.html

The nuclear option, but worked for me.

[gtmdriver]

I've just done my tank with De-Ox from Bilt-Hamber.

It will remove rust but it is not strongly acidic. It is safe with all metals and other materials such as rubber seals or on paintwork.

It dissolves rust by chelating the iron rather than by acidic attack. I mixed it with 15 litres of water and completely filled the tank to the brim (CB350F).

When I emptied it out a couple of days later the inside of the tank was cleaned down to bare metal in all the nooks and crannies and even the steel components of the filler cap were as new.

It's not cheap but you can re-use the solution until it becomes exhausted (it goes black instead of yellow).

[royhall]

Great find that, will give it a go. What size De-ox did you buy. Amazon are doing a 1kg for £16ish, is that big enough to do a CB350F tank?

[JamesH]

Hi Roy. It's good stuff - I've used it in the past as well and is safe on the paint (although I would be very careful with freshly clear coated paint). I used mine with warm water initially which helps activate the mix a little better. James.

[gtmdriver]

1 kg should be fine. It will make up to 20 litres at maximum dilution but the stronger you make the solution the faster it will work.

Warm water will help the crystals dissolve and will work quicker initially till it cools down.

As the product is dissolved in water make sure the inside of the tank is thoroughly degreased before you start. Any greasy residues will prevent the solution making full contact with the rust and steel.

[AshimotoK0]

Word of warning on DeoXC .. It cleans up corrosion on chrome really nice but if you leave it in too long it starts strip the chrome off ...don't ask me how I know this 
We have a 40 litre  hot tank of it here for cleaning up S/steel parts. Good thing it's branded as non-toxic.

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[gtmdriver]

Maybe it's a time or temperature thing.

I've left chromed parts in DeOx for days with no problems.

[AshimotoK0]

Maybe it's a time or temperature thing.

I've left chromed parts in DeOx for days with no problems.

Yes have to admit, I went on a two week cruise and left it in there so my fault really.