FUEL TANK

[Mike Hathaway]

What"s the best way to clean out an old Farmall M fuel tank? Lots of gunk in the bottom!

Thank you!

Mike H
 

[rustyfarmall]

[CLYDE MASON]

e 85
 

[S.C.]

I used The Works toilet cleaner with some roofing nails and shook that around for a while. If you don't have a good seal on the cap this will discolor the paint. This won't remove all the rust but it will take all the dirt and gum off. Muratic acid will remove the rust. Do not mix these two chemicals. This is what I used before I lined the tank. Rinse the tank out with water several times after Works and muratic acid. After the acid cleaning, the tank will flash rust. Nothing you can do to prevent it but thats about as clean as it can get.
 

[ASEguy]

If it's rusty too, electrolysis followed by a good power washing at your car wash with wax as a final coating to prevent flash rust. It took mine to bare metal.
 

[Stephen Newell]

If your fuel is diesel you probably need to start with a bottle of diesel fuel tank cleaner. Also if your tank is gunked up your fuel lines and carburetor bowl may be gunked up also. You may need to replace the fuel lines and clean the carburetor bowl also. If the problem is rust you might start with a couple of pounds of screws, nuts and bolts shaking it a lot to break up the crust. Then flush with muriatic acid. The problem with muriatic acid is it quickly rusts back after treatment so use vinegar or oxalic acid to neutralize it. Then rinse the chemicals out with water and dry. Once a tank has started to rust it will continue so a fuel tank liner should be used to coat it. I use Red-Kote.
 

[JMS/.MN]

I mounted an old tank bracket on the cement mixer. Throw in the bolts and let it run overnight!
 

[Dean Olson]

The best way is to send it to the radiator shop. They can boil it out and reline it. That also the most expensive way.

The cheapest way is to remove the sediment bowl, throw it away, then stick the power washer in there and blast it out. I then run lots of water till it comes out clear. Let is sit for a couple days to dry out.

I then install the assembly pictured.

It works perfect!

It's full 3/8" brass pipe that will not plug up. Any big pieces end up in the bottom and can be easily cleaned out by removing the cap.

Filter stays clean and so far I've never had one plug up. I do replace them yearly when I change oil. I have 6 tractors with this set up.

 

[Stephen Newell]

If a person was patient they could also throw the tank in the back of their truck for a few days. I had a fuel tank one time though that the bolts went through the tank. I had to cut the entire bottom out of the tank and weld another one in.
 

[Pappy]

Several of our fuel tanks have scale, sand, etc. in them and can cause trouble with the tank outlet clogging. Here is how I solved the problem.

 

[Mendontractorguy]

acetone works great. just put a couple gallons in
and turn it to let each side soak. Most will be on
the bottom anyway. drain it and throw some nuts and
bolts in when dry and shake it up a bit or as
someone else said just put it in back of your truck
or car trunk for a few days.
 

[showcrop]

You don't say weather on or off the tractor so just in case it is on, and you are not wanting to take it off, I have had very good luck siphoning with one of those transfer siphons that you can get at the hardware store for kerosene.