Varnish in fuel tank

Animal · Jun 27, 2014

I have a tank in an old truck that has a varnish a little thicker than STP, I have cleaned the lines and fittings to get the old truck to run, is their anything I can add to the fresh gas to help cut that varnish?

Jiles · Jun 27, 2014

Don't know if this could be an option, but I had a similar situation with an antique sports car that had been setting for over 20 years.
I tried MANY different cleaners and finally flushed all fuel lines and removed and cleaned the fuel tank with Acetone.
Be advised that this is a powerful and highly flammable liquid with harmful vapors.
It is a little pricy but will definitely dissolve the varnish.

Prawn Farmer · Jun 27, 2014

If you are going to take the tank off the truck, Drano has worked for me. Let it soak (it will get hot!), rinse good and sun bake it dry. I've always followed up with tank sealer to keep the tank from rusting. I've done 4 tanks now using this method.

rustyfarmall · Jun 27, 2014

(quoted from post at 09:41:39 06/27/14) I have a tank in an old truck that has a varnish a little thicker than STP, I have cleaned the lines and fittings to get the old truck to run, is their anything I can add to the fresh gas to help cut that varnish?

The fresh gas alone will do as much, or more than anything else.

IH2444 · Jun 27, 2014

Acetone will also eat up any rubber in the system.

cole in mo. · Jun 27, 2014

My 49 F-5 was like that, I put a gallon of carb cleaner in it, along with two hands full of 3/8th nuts. For over 3 weeks, everytime I'd walk past it, I'd pick it up and shake the you know what out of it. Dumped that gallon and added another, after that it was clean.

Bob Harvey · Jun 27, 2014

White gas, camp stove fuel (remember that stuff, with the pumping and all). It is highly volatile and kicks off quickly, BUT, if you put a couple of gallons of reg. gas and a quart of WG in the tank, it should thin out the 'varnish' . HTH

Mike Aylward · Jun 27, 2014

I've found that E-85 does a good job of what you are asking. It will seemingly dissolve old varnish that acetone and other solvents won't seem to touch. That's why it's a good idea to use ethanol in your fuel. Once you get your fuel system clean it will stay that way. Mike

Rich_WI · Jun 27, 2014

(quoted from post at 17:23:28 06/27/14) White gas, camp stove fuel (remember that stuff, with the pumping and all). It is highly volatile and kicks off quickly, BUT, if you put a couple of gallons of reg. gas and a quart of WG in the tank, it should thin out the 'varnish' . HTH

Just FYI, white gas (Coleman fuel) is naphtha at 3 times the cost. Naphtha is also lighter fluid and the ingredient in Seafoam that cuts the gunk.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naphtha

http://hildstrom.com/projects/seafoam/

Bob Harvey · Jun 27, 2014

So,..maybe I got something right ? ;^)

Rich_WI · Jun 27, 2014

(quoted from post at 19:20:09 06/27/14) So,..maybe I got something right ? ;^)

At your ratios, you are adding the equivalent of about 8 cans of Seafoam to 2 gallons of gas. Yes, without a doubt, that will work just fine.

I was just pointing out that naphtha is cheaper and usually easier to find that Coleman fuel. Coleman fuel tends to disapear because it gets burned in the camp stove or lantern. Naphtha is always on the shelf with the painting stuff.

Bob Harvey · Jun 27, 2014

Thanks. The thing of it is ; I couldn't remember 'naphtha', hence my easily recognized description ! Yeah ! ! I was almost there.

Varnish in fuel tank

Animal

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Jiles

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Prawn Farmer

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rustyfarmall

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IH2444

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cole in mo.

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Bob Harvey

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Mike Aylward

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Rich_WI

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Bob Harvey

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Rich_WI

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Bob Harvey

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