Reply To: Best Way To Clean Years Of Sludge From Fuel Tank?

[John Gragg]

Resoaked over night with alcohol.

Drained and rinsed alcohol out, used sidewalk nozzle to rinse out tank especially the gunk in the rear of the tank. It was 3/4″ thick!

Used 1/2 cup muratic acid with 95% remainder of tank of water. Shook like heck, let it sit 30 minutes. Fortunately I opened the vent right after shaking because the mixture was a little excessive on the acid side I guess. No damage, no foul, just a little bubbly.

Drain, rinse, repeat.

Neutralized with two baking soda baths, then lots of rinsing.

Great results!

Clean as a whistle. I’m going to use Por-15 tank sealer on it after it dries really well. I might even use my heat gun just for good measure.

Thanks for all the advice. I might Crack the tank open some day and do a complete restore on it, bit for now it’s just for testing.

Best Regards

John Gragg
RIverside, CA

Just starting in the hobby, please be patient.

48 Sea King 5hp GG9014A. Sold
49 Sea King 5hp GG9014A
48 Johnson TD20. Sold
49 Johnson TD20. Sold
54 Johnson QD15. Sold
55 Johnson CD12. Sold
57 Johnson RJE-19M
57 Johnson RDE-19