How to clean gas tanks

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Tim Ko

Junior Member
Joined
Aug 23, 2018
Posts
8
Reaction score
1
Location
PA
First Name
Tim
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
K30
Engine Size
454
Good for you RP but my inclination is not to throw away a serviceable part. If you take it to its logical conclusion ... you probably should
throw away the whole truck; go to the Chevy dealer, pick out the color you want, sign your name on the dotted line and drive away with a brand new truck which has all brand new parts.
But, if you got the money and you have a short fuse and want to get it done quick ... it's the way to go.

I'm on the fence. For me, I'll get a borescope and take a look first and go from there.
 

highdesertrange

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 19, 2013
Posts
1,066
Reaction score
211
Location
kalifornia
First Name
mike
Truck Year
1978
Truck Model
k30
Engine Size
454
if the tanks are empty just drop them pull off the sending unit and look inside. you could replace the rubber lines while you are at it. highdesertranger
 

rpcraft

Full Access Member
Joined
May 31, 2016
Posts
1,329
Reaction score
507
Location
Texas
First Name
Robert
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
Jimmy
Engine Size
LS 6.0 364 CID
Well, I will shamefully admit, in my case I'm doing an LS swap so it was more about swapping to the tank that had a baffle so I can have the in tank fuel pump so it was more about solving a problem, rather than tossing an old part. In fact aside from being dirty looking my old tank was in good enough shape that it is living on with an owner who did the Blazer fuel tank in his C10.
 

fussfeld

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 25, 2013
Posts
340
Reaction score
54
Location
east coast
First Name
j
Truck Year
83
Truck Model
c-10
Engine Size
4.3 v-6 262CID
If i could hijack the thread and ask another, related question:

How do you clean the tank out so that you don't get blown to the moon if you want to do some welding, cutting or drilling on it?
 

shiftpro

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 31, 2012
Posts
4,855
Reaction score
6,085
Location
BC Canada
First Name
shiftpro
Truck Year
73-87
Truck Model
1500, 2500, 3500
Engine Size
350, 383, 454, 496!
If i could hijack the thread and ask another, related question:

How do you clean the tank out so that you don't get blown to the moon if you want to do some welding, cutting or drilling on it?
I didn't say this but my post was outlining the way to get this job done... steam clean...
 

smoothandlow84

I'd rather be draggin' frame
Joined
Jan 4, 2015
Posts
2,121
Reaction score
784
Location
Arizona
First Name
Steve
Truck Year
1984 Frame...87 motor and 700r trans
Truck Model
1500 r10 pavement scraper
Engine Size
350 TBI
I filled my old tank with a handfull of bb's. I then poured a gallon of white vinegar, shook the tank vigourously for mins, dumped, refilled and repeated the process. After the loose crap was flushed out with fresh gas, I let it dry overnight. Any residual sediment was trapped by the $10 inline fuel filter.
 

idahovette

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 7, 2016
Posts
6,448
Reaction score
13,778
Location
Weiser Idaho
First Name
Perry
Truck Year
1975-1979
Truck Model
K20-K10
Engine Size
350
If i could hijack the thread and ask another, related question:

How do you clean the tank out so that you don't get blown to the moon if you want to do some welding, cutting or drilling on it?
Used to work with an old guy that left a tank filled with gas to weld on. He said they won't blow if they are full, just burn . NOBODY stuck around when he welded on them. The other way is to fill with water ,leaking side up and weld
 

Lowered87

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 12, 2017
Posts
103
Reaction score
99
Location
Oxbow, Saskatchewan
First Name
Adam
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
R10
Engine Size
350
I have welded on fuel tanks before. I duct taped a 1.5 inch poly pipe to the exhaust of another diesel truck and threaded the other end into the fuel tank. Close off as much of the openings in the tank to be repaired but leave a small opening as far away from the exhaust pipe entrance spot as possible. Run the other vehicle while doing any work and continue until your work spot is cool enough to touch. The exhaust from the diesel displaces the oxygen and pressures the tank so no oxygen will enter while you are working and during the cooling period. Do this somewhere well ventilated unless you want to take the final dirt nap.
 

Lowered87

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 12, 2017
Posts
103
Reaction score
99
Location
Oxbow, Saskatchewan
First Name
Adam
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
R10
Engine Size
350
Check out Rockauto for the lowest price on fuel pieces. You can buy a 20 gallon tank made by Liland Global for 65 USD. Sending units are very inexpensive although I did see a driver side sending unit (3 outlet Spectra Premium) for $19.99 on Amazon. AC Delco is $130!! I redid my entire fuel system because when I really searched, I could find all of the parts less costly online. Shipping can add up so in my case the local Carquest was selling a Dorman tank for $100 USD. The Dorman tanks have a really nice coating on the exterior of the tank. Even though the last guy that owned my truck replaced the driver side tank with a Spectra Premium, the Dorman tank is a much nicer build. LMC had the lowest cost on filler and vent hoses for the filler pipe. The filler neck was the one thing that was expensive but now my fuel system is brand new and correct from locking gas cap to my Edlebrock fuel pump. After the selector valve (AC Delco U7000 3 port purchaced from Rockauto) I added a solenoid fuel valve shutoff for added security. It takes time but you can find some good deals online that can lower the costs of fuel system replacement. All of my slightly used parts can become swap meet specials.
 

MikeB

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 4, 2014
Posts
1,745
Reaction score
935
Location
Justin, TX
First Name
Mike
Truck Year
1969
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
355
When I bought my truck it was running, but I suspect it had sat for years at a time. After driving it for 3-4 years, I recently drained and dropped the tank expecting rust and junk inside, but the insides were shiny, and only a few tiny bits of debris came out. It was so nice, I just sloshed around the remaining gas, and dumped it into container.

This little pump will suck the gas out of your tank like you wouldn't believe. They claim 2 gallons/minute and I saw no reason to doubt it. You can then take a look at the gas to get some idea of what the tank looks like inside. And if you drop the tank and remove the filler hose, you can literally look down inside it. In some cases it may be easier to unbolt the bed and slide it back. There was no way I could loosen the fuel lines and sender wire w/o removing the bed (which I wanted to do anyway), but mine is a short bed so your tank filler, hoses, and sender may be easier to get to. ???

Performance Tool W1156

https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/.../performance-tool-transfer-pump/w1156/4613609


You must be registered for see images
 

MikeB

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 4, 2014
Posts
1,745
Reaction score
935
Location
Justin, TX
First Name
Mike
Truck Year
1969
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
355
And here is the pump!

You must be registered for see images attach
 

WesN

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 15, 2018
Posts
209
Reaction score
565
Location
Edmonton Alberta Canada
First Name
Wes
Truck Year
1981
Truck Model
C1500
Engine Size
350
I just removed both my tanks. One was totally rusted inside the other look spotless and shiny but when I pulled the front plastic shield off there was external rust and while scraping it with a screw driver it poked a hole. Don’t just look inside, pull the rock shield and check outside rust as well.
 

peats

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 2, 2016
Posts
288
Reaction score
236
Location
Pennsylvania
First Name
john
Truck Year
72k5, 81c10 short step, 83k10 short fleet, 03 SSR. 25 chevy doodlebug
Truck Model
k5 c10 k10 SSR doodlebug
Engine Size
406 360 6.2 5.3 171
cleaned and painted my tank on my '81 c10 short step. about a month after filling and starting it the tank started leaking. a little over $100 @ LMC truck. probably less from rock auto. money well spent!
 

shiftpro

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 31, 2012
Posts
4,855
Reaction score
6,085
Location
BC Canada
First Name
shiftpro
Truck Year
73-87
Truck Model
1500, 2500, 3500
Engine Size
350, 383, 454, 496!
Let's all get tanked!
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
41,847
Posts
903,379
Members
33,361
Latest member
iiixtremeiii
Top