matt_gsxr
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| posted on 3/9/09 at 10:28 AM |
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cleaning fuel tank in-situ
Hi there,
I am fitting a bike fuel pump and swirl pot type device to my fuel tank. I have had to chain drill a big hole which I have filled, and I also have 6
smaller mounting holes.
The tank is in the car and I want to know how to clean any swarf out of the tank. I have flushed it with water, and what I would normally do is pick
the tank up and swill it around and flush again. The problem is that the car is light-weight but not light enough for me to swill it around to get
the water out.
So, 2 question:
1) Does it matter, if there is a bit of residual aluminum swarf in there. There is a pre-filter in the pump.
2) Does it matter if there is a bit of water left in the tank. Presumably it will come out in the end.
Any tips or tricks for cleaning it out. I have a compressor if that might help.
Thanks,
Matt
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Mr Whippy
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| posted on 3/9/09 at 10:32 AM |
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you could borrow a wet & dry vacuum cleaner, tape a bit of hose pipe to the nozzle and use that to clean it.
Fame is when your old car is plastered all over the internet
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tomgregory2000
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| posted on 3/9/09 at 10:43 AM |
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there is only one propper way to clean the tank
and thats to remove the tank
i know you didnt want to here that but i had to clean my tank out and i removed it (it was full of fuel of course) i was astonished at how much crap
came out of the tank
i flushed mine out with petrol
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rallyingden
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| posted on 3/9/09 at 10:46 AM |
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DONT USE A VACCUM CLEANER
If there are any fumes sucked up to the cleaner it could explode !!
I read about this happening.
RD 
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matt_gsxr
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| posted on 3/9/09 at 10:47 AM |
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I'm not taking it out. I would have to remove the bodywork.
I'd prefer to leave it a bit grubby even if I end up sacrificing a fuel pump.
I think I can get it clean (it isn't that dirty) so the wet and dry vacuum idea sounds good. I guess I could warm it up (hot air gun) and blow
some dry air through for the last few drops.
OOPS just saw the exploding vacuum cleaner comments, good thought!
Matt
[Edited on 3/9/09 by matt_gsxr]
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matt_gsxr
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| posted on 3/9/09 at 11:18 AM |
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I have been researching how to deal with the residual water, and it looks like lobbing methylated spirits in is the solution.
The alcohol and water combine and it all just goes through the system. There is a product available "HEET" that does just this, and fuel
in cold countries includes alcohol in the winter which addresses the condensation problem.
Interesting stuff, I might even save 50p on fuel!
Matt
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MakeEverything
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| posted on 3/9/09 at 11:54 AM |
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Water in your fuel will ruin the filters and make your engine run like shite.
Let the tank dry naturally with the holes open (or with a hairdryer) and then vacuum out. By the time its dry and ventilated, there wont be any more
fumes to suck through the hoover. This is what i did, and its problem solved.
Sucking fumes through the hoover isnt as bad as it sounds as long as the hoover is outside. What you should be mindful of is what is sitting inside
the hoover when youre finished. Fuel residue will give off flammable vapours and could cause a problem later on.
Kindest Regards,
Richard.
...You can make it foolProof, but youll never make it Idiot Proof!...
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Humbug
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| posted on 3/9/09 at 12:09 PM |
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Even if you can't take the tank out, can you detach the outlet pipe and flush through, catching any sh!te that comes through?
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matt_gsxr
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| posted on 3/9/09 at 12:57 PM |
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thanks chaps,
I will give it a good flush with loads of water
Warm it and blow air through,
and put a pint of meths in (with the fuel) when I have finished which will absorb what is left.
That should keep me busy this evening.
Matt
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andyharding
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| posted on 3/9/09 at 02:28 PM |
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Meths is dyed purple to stain the inside of fuel systems / engines so Bi Brother can catch tax evaders running cheap meths instead of petrol...
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Canada EH!
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| posted on 3/9/09 at 05:40 PM |
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Put the car up in the air, hook a hose to the outlet, and syphon the crud and water out into a pail. Piece of cheap plastic hose should do.
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matt_gsxr
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| posted on 8/9/09 at 10:06 PM |
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Just to follow this up.
I drilled, washed, rinsed with hot water (there was a big hole in the bottom, so rinsing wasn't difficult).
Then I blew some hot air through.
Then I fitted the pump and chucked some meths in.
Checked for leaks, did some electrics, did some megasquirt things ....
Then I tried to start the engine (this was the first time ever). I couldn't get it to fire, injectors were firing, and I knew the sparks were
good (as they are the same as before). It turns out that I was trying to start the engine on wet-meths (that is meths with a bit of water in it,
which looks a bit like Pernod). TO cut a long story short, I drained off some fuel until it was more petroly and then it started. I would say
"first time" but if coughed and back fired like a monster for a while (no great surprise for a new EFI install).
It runs like a baby now (lots of noise, coughs a bit, and sometimes smells bad), so I am very pleased. Just waiting for a new O2 sensor so I can
tune properly.
Conclusion. Meths might get rid of the water but it might not be great for running the engine on when done the way I did it!
Matt
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