Tank Cleaning

[Three kings]

It's the next job on the list and a first for me. Have borrowed an electric pump and 3 x 120 litre drums.
Access is through a 30cm square hatch on top of the tank inscribed with the legend - 'cleaned, inspected and tested to 5 psi July 2007'
I presume that plenty of mop heads and cloths should be available, but are there any hints, tips or pitfalls I should be aware of before tackling?

Any advice gratefully received from those who have been there.

 

[[27631]]

depends where the baffles are...and how they are formed...there almost certainly will be baffles in there if you need 3 x 120l drums .....get the plate off...and use a mirror and torch once some of the fuel is removed...have a look.!

 

[prv]

Been there, cleaned out KS's tank by hand after we had a dirty fill of diesel, but can't think of any hidden pitfalls. I just took the lid off, emptied into jerrycans using a 12v pump, then wiped out the gunk with lots of kitchen roll. Could probably have filtered the fuel and put it back in, but since there wasn't that much of it (ie not that much money invested) I gave it to a mate who runs generators rather than bothering to set up a system.

I suppose baffles might stop you getting at the whole tank?

Pete

 

[Gordonmc]

One of my winter jobs.
Disposable nappies were the weapon of choice... Lidl's cheapest.
The baffles were a problem with only an 80mm gap at the bottom. I used nappies wrapped around a long paint-roller handle to get through the gap to scoop sludge back to where it could be sopped up.
Its not a nice job.

 

[pcatterall]

I pumped out the cleanest stuff into one tank then the not so clean stuff into another.
I left a few liters in the bottom and used this for the initial scrub. I used the wifes long handled pan brush for a lot of the scrubbing. ( I did wash it for her!!)
Then I pumped out the very mucky cleaning stuff and disposed, then another rinse with some of the not so clean stuff, pump out and dispose, Then a final rinse with a few gallons of not so clean which I passed through my fuel polisher then everything back into tank via fuel polisher.