Removing Rust From Inside A Gas Tank For $30.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Glennwood55cameo

I recently read here or on another site of a way to clean rust from within a gas tank for about $30.00 and does not require coating. It is very simple to the point of being unbelievable but it WORKS!!!! First buy a large box of 1" long sheetrock screws, $20.00. Then buy 4 gal's of white vinegar from the grocery store, $10.00. Then simply insert all the sheetrock screws into the tank, close the cap and shake the hell out of it by hand. I shook it on and off for a day. Every time I walked past it I would shake it. This process knocks off all the loose rust within the tank. I removed the screws. Then simply filled the talk to the brim with vinegar and closed the cap. I let it set for two days. I then poured out all but approx. 1/2 gallon of vinegar. I then added the sheetrock screws again and shook the hell out of it again. Removed the screws again and refilled the tank with the same used vinegar. Let it set another day. Drained the vinegar out and flushed the tank out with a water hose. After flushing it out, I immediately poured gas into the tank and sloshed it around good to evoraprate the water left in the tank and to keep it from flash rusting. It was that simple. It took it down to bare matal......... Mine looked so good after that I didn't even have to Kreem or coat it inside. Wish I'd have taken before pics.......................

Rizingson · Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2011 6:00 pm Post subject:

Congrats - so the old vinegar trick is finally getting out there!! I know it works also as I've used it many times. After final water rinse I usually blow out what I can and soak up what I can reach with a paper towel, then set in the hot sun for a couple of hours. Of course the humidity in CO is like 10-15%, so never had any flash rust appear. I also prefer not to coat a tank if possible.

Glennwood55cameo · Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2011 6:07 pm Post subject:

Yes it came out unbelievable!!!!!!!!!!!!! Its nice to wind up with some thing you can pour down the sink when your done. No fuss No muss, No EPA breathing down your back. No toxic material to dispose of............. I'M SOLD ON IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

KirkN · Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2011 7:35 pm Post subject:

Yep, and if you just leave it sit for 4 or 5 days, instead of 2, you can skip the whole pointy-screws-and-shake routine. Very Happy

Glennwood55cameo · Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2011 8:46 pm Post subject:

I do believe the "pointy- screws and shake" step with the screws was essential as there was a lot of loose rust scale that was removed by the screws and allowed the vinegar to work more effectively. The tank was VERY rusty before starting.............. Cool

I like and stand behind my process as stated..........

Glennwood55cameo · Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 9:07 am Post subject:

Here is a before and after pics of the tank I cleaned with only vinegar!!!!!!!!! The first pic is a large pile of very fine rust dust that came out of the tank when I dumped out the screws.........It really works. Took the rust inside the tank down to bare metal....

porsche74s

You could also try EvapoRust, which is a citrus based product that costs about $20 for a gallon. Not only does it eat rust, but it can be reused again and again. When you do pour it out, it's non-toxic, completely harmless, and you can even pour it out on the ground with nothing but a smile from EPA. It works very well on any rusted part. I bought my supply on eBay. You just leave the part in a bowl of this stuff for 24 hours, and the rust is gone. If you leave it on the surface, it will protect it.

Dudley · Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2012 10:11 am Post subject:

It was a hellavba lot easier to rent a cement mixer like I did, pour in the rocks and wrap it in blankets and pillows. Cram it in the mixer, run it all day, and it cleans the heck out of it!!

Dudley

stevyn · Posted: Mon May 21, 2012 2:27 pm Post subject:

OMG. Theres hope for my tank. Very Happy

Of course I doubt that it will help the rest of the bike. But I do need the tank. TY!

DavidMike · Posted: Tue May 22, 2012 9:19 am Post subject:

Wow this is very useful tip Smile

thanks for posting it up !

GED Online

Tango911 · Posted: Tue May 22, 2012 9:24 am Post subject:

i never have to shake my tank Razz

I use metal rescue, buy a 5 gallon for about 85$ you can do about 5-6 tanks with it.

Or

4 ounces of wood bleach with 4 gallon of water. let set over night. Ill post some pics. then rinse out and coat the inside with 2 stroke oil or fill with gas and run it.