Cleaning fuel tank?

[PetiteFleur]

I always understood that one should steam clean a diesel tank to thoroughly clean it but cannot find anyone local who can or willing to do it. So what does one do instead? The tank is fairly small, about 40 litres at a guess and the tank is now out of the boat - it was badly contaminated with diesel bug.

 

[Fimacca]

I used a jet washer on mine, left it to dry out completely over winter in a warm cellar, then fitted it.
No issues since. 5 years ago now.

 

[Caer Urfa]

I always understood that one should steam clean a diesel tank to thoroughly clean it but cannot find anyone local who can or willing to do it. So what does one do instead? The tank is fairly small, about 40 litres at a guess and the tank is now out of the boat - it was badly contaminated with diesel bug.

Getting the nozzle of the jet wash inside to the corners of the tank is not so easy, I first went to one of those car washes where you can use the jet wash and got a lot out with the 'hot wash'.
But ended up washing out again by hand with soapy water and washing out four times, when dry I wiped over with thinners to make sure then rinsed again, no further problems.

One tip do not wash a diesel tank out on your back lawn like I did, it will kill the grass almost forever, took the misses( a keen Gardner) a month before we spoke again

 

[Poignard]

I hired a wallpaper stripper and steamed the tank for two or three days.

 

[lw395]

What's the tank made of?
A kettle of boiling water, a good measure of degreaser and a handful of gravel, then give it a good shake?
Some tanks end up with very sticky residue, others stuff that comes out more easily.
If it's a metal tank with sharp corners, finishing off with a litre of old petrol may help get the last bits out of the corners.
This time of year there's normally somebody asking what to do with outboard fuel from 3 years ago....
Wallpaper steamers are cheap to buy, possibly you can get a used one or borrow one?

 

[sarabande]

I agree with lw395.

Any solid deposits stuck on the tank walls must be removed by a combination of solvent and e.g. limestone gravel (sharp points) and a good shake.

Then flush out the solvent with a degreaser or a biological cleaner (try Oiltechnics.com for some excellent non-harmful products).

Repeat the flushing ad lib.


While the tank is out, install an inspection plate so you can check/clean when it's back on the boat ?

 

[prv]

Is there an inspection hatch so you can reach in by hand? If so, hot soapy water and a pan-scourer will be fine. It's not a case of sterilising the thing to eradicate every last bug so they can't grow back - as soon as you fill up from a typical fuel barge you'll most likely pick up a few anyway.

Pete

 

[thinwater]

Getting the nozzle of the jet wash inside to the corners of the tank is not so easy, I first went to one of those car washes where you can use the jet wash and got a lot out with the 'hot wash'.
But ended up washing out again by hand with soapy water and washing out four times, when dry I wiped over with thinners to make sure then rinsed again, no further problems.

One tip do not wash a diesel tank out on your back lawn like I did, it will kill the grass almost forever, took the misses( a keen Gardner) a month before we spoke again

I suspect doing that at a car wash is illegal unless you recovered the water. FWIW.

If it is your own power washer, it is easy to hit the corners by putting 90s on the tip. I've cleaned all sorts of refinery equipment in all sorts of geometries. Standard practice.

 

[[70521]]

as soon as you fill up from a typical fuel barge you'll most likely pick up a few anyway.

Interesting point. Thankfully, I only use white diesel from a reputable source.

 

[sarabande]

The addition of a fuel biocide or improver is important unless you know the supplier is using one. Boat tank environments are quite different from car ones.