Aim in all directions to loosen rust and debris.
Plastic fuel tank cleaner.
Then use a pressure washer to wash out the debris and rust.
Spray the interior of the fuel tank with a garden hose equipped with a pressurized nozzle.
Clean the fuel system.
But for the careful competent do it yourselfer there is another option.
Add a fuel system cleaner to the opening in the fuel tank.
Then drain the tank by suctioning out the gas or turning the tank upside down over a container.
Many fuel tanks are designed to use a vented gas cap to prevent a vacuum or pressure from forming in the fuel system.
Rinse the tank with water and leave it to dry for 48 hours.
Depending on the size of your fuel tanks having a professional clean your tank and dispose of the dirty fuel can cost more than 1 000.
First you need to disconnect the fuel lines.
Then use berryman b 12 chemtool carburetor choke throttle body cleaner part 0117 0117c by spraying it onto the sides of the tank.
How to clean a fuel tank without removing it.
For those sailors whose tanks have reached the contamination point of no return heres a helpful article on diy tank cleaning that accompanied our july 2009 test of diesel biocides.
Focus on the bottom where most rust and sediment collect.
It was thought that making a solid plastic tank would fix this and while plastic debris is not a problem other problems have still arisen.
Next mix dish detergent and hot water put it in your tank and let it sit for 24 hours.
Apply a cleaning solution and leave it for a couple hours.
The main purposes of a fuel tank are to securely store and deliver enough fuel to get a job done and to make sure that the fuel stays clean.
To ensure all your tank cleaning efforts don t go to waste be sure to run detergent based fuel additive through your fuel system.
Drain the fuel tank completely.
Be sure the cleaner covers the entire interior by rocking and tipping the tank as needed.
Prior to the existence of plastic gas tanks the metal ones had a specialized plastic lining that would degrade over several years and fill the inside of the tank with debris.