Date:         Mon, 21 Aug 2000 07:44:22 -0400
Reply-To:     Christopher Michael Gronski <chrisgronski@hotmail.com>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Christopher Michael Gronski <chrisgronski@hotmail.com>
Subject:      Re: Cheap way to clean rusty gas tank
Comments: cc: Pat Dooley <pdooley@gte.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Sulphuric Acid in a tank that has already lost integrity due to rust, aren't
you just thinning the walls? Did you re-line afterwards, or are you just
buying time before an expensive repair takes it out of action permanently?
It is a bit too radical for my Westy but congratulations on your radical and
cost effective solution, if my winter beater needed it I might try it.

Thanks,
Chris Gronski
Toronto, Ontario,
'80 Westy "Pokey"
'87 Chevrolet Sprint 5-Door
'91 Pontiac Firefly Convertible

----- Original Message -----
From: "Pat Dooley" <pdooley@gte.net>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, August 20, 2000 8:02 PM
Subject: Cheap way to clean rusty gas tank


> I got stuck fixing a friends 84 jetta.
> Had no power.  Pulled the injectors(CIS), did a spray pattern check.  Two
> spraying off at weird angles, the other two nothing.  Pulled the fuel
sender
> to check tank condition.  Rusty, nasty scale.  Completely blocked strainer
> on pickup.  Thats why the fuel pump was so loud...
>
> Anyway, I called some radiator shops to inquire about acid washing the
tank.
> Prices were 50-75 bucks with absolutely no guarantee.  They really don't
> want to touch the things.
>
> I went to Big Lots, a local closeout store.  They carry a toilet cleaning
> product called "The Works".  Basically a mix of sulfuric acid and other
> chemicals.  69 cents a bottle.  Drained the tank and poured two bottles
down
> the sender hole and swished around, being very careful not to get any of
the
> stuff on me.  Had the garden hose handy just in case.
>
> This stuff did a fantastic job eating and dislodging the rust in the tank.
> Looked brand new after about five or ten minutes.
>
> Then filled with water and rinsed out.  Used a shop vac down the sender
hole
> to completely dry it.  Worked great.
> The Merkur tank is next...
>
> I'm sure this would work just as well on vanagon tanks.
> If you burn, bleach or blow yourself up, don't blame me.
>
> Happy DIYing.
>
> FWIW, Pat.
>