Cleaning my gas tank

[Rod K]

Now this isn't the usual run of the mill clean my tank story. I had my tank's drain plug replaced and I was cleaning it's outsides and I was ready to install it when I looked into the bottom inside the tank. It has a fine dust on the bottom inside the tank, I mean dust not a phospahte coating from the repair process good old actual dirt. Since I've just gone through the fuss and bother or replaceing my fuel filter I have not urge to to that all again. Any ideas on what to use to swish and clean out the dirt (not rust, the thing is clean, just dusty) the pump had died that is why it was apart. All I want to do is clean the thing up again. I've read about using radiator cleaner and hot water, agitate it and rinse it all out, pour in methyl hydrate to disperse the water then when dry, install. OR Does anyone have any better ideas? As to Cleaning up the inside? I can't reach all the areas with my hand due to all the baffles inside as is is the fuel injected 1991 corolla tank. I'm almost close enough to be finished and then something else comes up like this. No point going back to the people who screwed it up, I doubt they'd improve it.

[Rabbitbunny]

Don't bother. A new tank is about $70 delivered on eBay.

Alternatively, I used muriatic acid and a coating kit to great success on a Malibu once. I believe it was Rustoleum, but I know it was a little plastic box.

[Rod K]

Well I am 99.9% finished and it is a Japanese tank which is different from the USA ones and I don't want to get stuck fabricating. I just want to gte the shop dust out.

[ayang951]

good old swash of gasoline might do the trick... i mean i have never cleaned one before, but thats what i would think about... then later use the gas from the tank and start a fire in the pit... but im just smh on this though.... =D

[Flashmn]

You have a pre filter on your fuel pump anyways, which is actually quite good. I'd probably just put the tank as is, or if I'm really worried, some kerosene and flush it out.

Well I am 99.9% finished and it is a Japanese tank which is different from the USA ones and I don't want to get stuck fabricating.

I havent seen any difference between EFI tanks, except the japanese tank makes stealing gasoline easy as pie as it has a drain plug.

[Blof-fan]

Originally Posted by Flashmn

You have a pre filter on your fuel pump anyways, which is actually quite good. I'd probably just put the tank as is, or if I'm really worried, some kerosene and flush it out.


I havent seen any difference between EFI tanks, except the japanese tank makes stealing gasoline easy as pie as it has a drain plug.

There is a difference though. You might not expect it (I didn't) but the coupé tank is different than the other tanks. Don't recall what it was. It had something to do with the flanges. I believe there was one extra or they were a different size or something like that.

A friend of mine acctually ordered a new tank for his Liftback, but I believe that the flange for the fillertube was different and thus didn't fit.