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

[John Gragg]

aquasonic wrote:

Glad to see that you were able to get your tank clean. Be careful using acid on aluminum as it’s very corrosive. I do use it in a controlled manner for cleaning out the oxidation in cylinder head water jackets, and a few other applications.

The Por-15 is usually used on steel tanks with holes in them. Your two-piece cast aluminum tank might be the most rugged outboard tank ever made. If it develops a leak, the leak would likely be at the seam. The fix for a leaky seam is to disassemble the tank halves and reseal it.

Save the Por for a steel tank. Just an opinion. Good luck with the TD-20!

 

Thanks for the advice.  Makes sense. So u actually developed a tiny leak at the seam when I 1st shook the tank before I opened the vent. I tried separating the halves after removing all the screws, but it wouldn’t budge. Didn’t want to make things worse, so I put it back together. Eventually I will want to separate the 2 halves and reseal.  But I can’t figure out how without further damaging the tank. Maybe a heat gun along the seam?

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