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Cleaning the fuel tank????

S

slvrbullet77

Member
I decided to start a new thread since im think of doing somthing different. I belive I have junk in my gas tank. Has anyone been able to clean it them selves? I was think of using a shop vac thru the sending unit port. What do you guys think.

My motor is still staving for gas at idle. All i did to fix this was change filter and spark plugs and the problem went away completly. After 3 trips out on the water the symptoms came back. Im assuming that is I clean the spark plugs and change the filter again the problem will go away again until it comes back after a few trips.

Thats why Im thinking its gunk in my tank.
 
I would clean or replace the fuel filter again but leave the plugs alone and see what happens. By doing both at the same time you aren't eliminating fouled plugs or fuel delivery as the source of the problem.

I had a similar issue with my one jet ski. The previous owner left it sitting for about 10 years with fuel in it. It was so bad the fuel pickup screens and gauge sender pretty much dissolved. Not to mention the foul mess the fuel itself was. I was getting crap in my filter and carb every hour or so. One of the guys on the ski forum suggested draining all the old fuel, mixing one quart of acetone with a gallon of fresh gas and shaking the ski all around to loosen **** up and then pump it out. I pumped it out into a gas can, poured it through a wadded up piece of cheese cloth in a funnel into another gas can to filter out the crap, dumped it back into the ski, and did it again. I did this over and over until I didn't get any crap in the cloth anymore. It was a hassle but it was better than removing the motor so I could pull the tank. If it was easier to remove the tank I would do the same thing with the acetone and just have a friend shake the tank with me. I would not use a shop vac to clean it out, there are sparks inside the electric motor and that would get ugly.

John
 
What kind of fuel filter do you have? I highly recommend something like a Racor filter/separator which will let you see and drain any crud or water that get's trapped.

Also, DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT USING A SHOP VAC ON A FUEL TANK !!!!! :eek:
 
Take the gas line from the motor, remove the end fitting and put the end in a gas can, pump the ball a few times till you get a syphon going, that will empty the tank,
If you can. take the first 8-10 ounces and put in a clear plastic or glass jar and let it sit for about 5 min. then look at the bottom of the jar to see if water has droped out. Water sinks to the bottom of the tank. then you will know for sure if you have water in the fuel. and once the tank is empty pull the sending unit, the one with the allen bolts around it, and dry the tank compleatly using a rag taped to a clean peice of dowel or something similar, and as ATC said replace the fuel/water separator filter. BE CAREFUL NOT TO CREATE SPARKS!!. Or you could blow youself up,
It soulds like you are running well until your filter fills with water and starts to give you issues again. you will probably need to drain you carbs and flush them as well.
Let us know what you find.
 
A

I have a mercury fuel water separator. I just emptied the filter in a plastic container.

Ill check in the morning if there is water in the filter
 
B

I just checked the fuel in the filter. There is a tiny bit of black debris loose in the fuel. I don't see water though.

Can there still be water in the system if the fuel filter is clean if water?
 
Hey SB-77, If you can, remove the sending unit from the fuel tank. Remember to observe safty at all times while working on fuel system. Completly remove battery or batteries from vessel. Remember also that fuel vapors will find the lowest point in the hull and lie there. No open lights or sparks or any other sources of ignition. Have a couple of fire extinguishers rated for fuel fires handy. I have an old electric fuel pump that has a length of rubber hose on it. AT the end of the rubber hose is a piece of brass tubing about 16 inches long to probe the bottom of the fuel tank. I can usually completly empty a tank with this setup. Back in the day We used to add a few things to the fuel to go faster and some of this stuff has to be removed from the tank before bad things happen. This setup works good. If your fuel has gone bad or has some water in it you will have to clean and dry the tank then move toward the engine, otherwise the problem of moisture or gunk will keep coming back. Also I'm not aware of what type of fuel tank you have, but I have seen some fiber glass and plastic fuel tanks that have been badly affected by some of our wonderful new types of fuel. Had to replace tanks on these to cure problem. Hopeing this may be useful to you. Thanks for looking.
 
A

I have a plastic tank.


I checked the contents of the container I used last night to empty the fuel filter. I still can't see any water but there is bits of debris.

I should empty and clean the tank next right? If I don't have an electric pump I would assume I can use an old primer bulb with fuel line hose.

Is the anything I can pour in the tank to loosen any garbage up.
 
How do you fuel lines look? the E-10 can effect fule lines too, causing them to degrade from the inside out. that could explain the black debris.
Also, if some junk made it into the fuel bowl of the carbs in will give you intermitant trouble by settling out when you let the boat sit for a while then once the fuel starts flowing again it gets sucked up and blocks one of the jets, it will drive you crazy.
I just went through it with my sons 25 hp, it had some crap and water in the bowl. I pulled the carb, emptied and cleaned the bowl, made sure the jets were clear. runs like a champ now.
 
a

I replaces the line from the tank to the filter. So the debris has to be in the tank or the pick up.

I was in able to remove the pick up out of the tank so I'm going to clean the tank the best I can but I just don't know if I will do a good enough job. Best I can imagine to do is remove the tank empty out the fuel and get a rag through the sending unit hole and wipe it. I just don't think that will get everything. Should shoot a hose through it since I'm removing the tank?

Also I will admit that I'm nervous about removing or messing with the carbs. I would think I need new gaskets if I do remove them.
 
When I pulled up my tank out of my 92 starflite, I used my electricians tape (snake) (wire thingy) what ever you want to call it. just pushed down and around. 2 seconds up and out.:cheers:
 
Please go back and read my reply to your original post. I explained what to use to loosen the junk up that is in the tank. Since the tank is coming out anyway maybe when you're done cleaning it you can hook a garden hose to your hot water heater and hose the hell out of the inside. Then let is sit with a fan blowing into it until its dry or if your in a rush pour a gallon of fresh fuel in, swish it around to collect the water, and then dump it back out.

John
 
thanks

Ill try to take it out today and start cleaning it. I would like to be back up by saturday since the weather is going to be nice.:drool:
 
Looks like I'm going to have to cut the breather and filler line in order to remove the tank. The lines are stuck on the tank. I'm going o try and find the line at west marine tomorrow.
 
d

atc250r said:
If I didn't think it might work I wouldn't have suggested it. :)

John
Click to expand...


Im not sure I can shake the boat enough to clean the tank. My thoughts are to take the tank out. Empty it then pour some acetone in it any shake it around. Im afraid that leaving it in the boat is just going to do a half ass job.

I want to get it in the sunlight and really wash and clean it out. Im going to west marine after work. Im going to buy a new filter and see if they have the hoses I need. If they do I will buy them just in case I cant take the hoses off. I would like to get out on the lake tomorrow afternoon.:surf:
 
On my Predictor I cut the fuel fill hose. Pulled the tank. Emptied all the old gas out. Took a stiff flexable stick and a rag and wiped out what I could. Sprayed it out with a can or two of brake parts cleaner. Swishing around and emptying. Put a new sender in. Went and bought a new 1 1/2 fuel fill hose w/ some new stainless Tbolt clamps. Added a new fuel line to motor. With a new inline filter

Easy as that. hardest part it setting the tank back in and getting the filler hose, tank and outside fuel cap all lines up. Atleast with the way my Predictor is setup

Boat ran when I got it from the guy. i am not one to trust some old gas in a tank. better safe than sorry IMO
 
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