Rusty Fuel Tank Interior

[Bob_Roller]

One of our members from the UK, mentioned, that he used treacle to remove rust from a fuel tank .

I found two bottles of dark molasses, left over from home-brewing beer, a few years ago, I'm going to give it a try, and see what happens .

Alright, at 1330 today, I put two bottles of dark molasses, and about a gallon of hot water in the fuel tank and sloshed it around a bit .

I'll continue sloshing it around until tomorrow afternoon, and then we'll see if any noticeable amount of rust has been removed .

Surface temp of the tank is 142 F. (61C.), it's still 'summer', here in the northern Sonoran desert of central Aridzona .

[montmil]

One of the guys here in the car club buys molasses from a horse supply, dilutes it 10:1 and soaks metal parts overnight in that. He swears by it...

This removes rust? What's the difference between livestock supply house molasses and grocery store molasses? I like the idea if it really works.

Monte

[Bob_Roller]

Apparently molasses contains an enzyme, that attacks rust .

I drained the solution out of the tank a few minutes ago, and it is quite rusty .

Looking into the filler hole, I can't really see any difference, I'll give it a few days, before I give my final opinion on it .

[Bob_Roller]

After 23 hours, I drained out the solution, and I got about 3/4ths cup of flaked rust .

There is bare metal showing inside the tank .

I would have to say, at this time, that this is a 'plausible' method of rust removal .

Give it a few more days .

[montmil]

What is the brand name of the molasses and where did you get the stuff? Have a Tractor Supply store in town if it is a specific agri biz material.   Monte

[Bob_Roller]

Can't tell you specifics, trash was picked up today, so the bottles are gone .

[Darwin_R65]

goto this Morris car club site in Australia
http://www.moreg.org.au/dissolving_rust.htm

or this iste on old Indian motorcycles that also has pictures.
http://virtualindian.org/projrust.htm#molasses

and it details the process for using Mollasses, they talk about leaving it for a week to ferment before using.

John

[montmil]

...and it details the process for using Mollasses, they talk about leaving it for a week to ferment before using. John

 [smiley=ROTFLMAO.gif] I knew it... I just knew it!  You guys are drinking this stuff. Homemade shine.  

Monte I'll take a jug to go Miller

[Bob_Roller]

I've noticed, that if I leave the small stopper in the hole in the large stopper that plugs the filler hole, that there is a pressure build-up after an hour or so .

I'll definitely leave this project outside in the back yard, it has begun to develop an 'odor' .

[Ed Miller]

I bet it's going to have a metallic taste.

[Lucky_Lou]

I'll definitely leave this project outside in the back yard, it has begun to develop an 'odor' .

So will you and Monte if you start drinking it.
Lou

[Bob_Roller]

I think that a rust taste, would be the least of your worries !!!!!!!!!

Alright, it's been 4 days since I started this 'Myth-busters Episode' !!!!

I drained the solution out of the tank, and sprayed it with a garden hose nozzle, and about 1/4th of the tank is clean down to bare metal .

Looks like areas where the liner still has a good hold, the solution won't remove the liner .

Myth 'confirmed' .

I'm going to fill the tank up , and put 8 more bottles of molasses in this afternoon .  

So that's 10 - 10 ounce bottles of molasses, in a completely full tank .

Can't shake the tank now, I can only roll it onto it's side, then upside down, on an old blanket .

[Bob_Roller]

I drained the 'molasses mystery mix' from the tank,  the rust and the old liner material are gone .

Not a quick process, but it does work .

If I were to do it again, I would mix up the solution, and let it sit for a couple of weeks before filling the tank up with it .

I've got a shop vacuum cleaner with a hose on the outlet of the vacuum,  inserted into the tank filler hole, to blow dry it out .

Once it's dry, I'll have a good look inside the tank with a small telescoping mirror, just to make sure there are no loose pieces of liner left in there, then it's on to the POR 15 kit .

[Crossrodes]

I wonder if Coca Cola will work.  I know it sounds like a myth but I knew a fellow in a boat yard in Trinidad who could not get his through hull fittings to close..they were totally corroded in the open position.  He tried all kinds of rust removers and as a last resort he tried Coke.  He left it 24 hours and voila the through hulls opened.  He then took them apart and they were clean as a whistle.

Has anyone tried coke in a gas tank.  If not I think I'll try molasses if I need to.

(Hey, maybe molasses is the secret ingredient in coke  )

[Bob_Roller]

I don't have any Coke around the house, but if I'm not mistaken, it contains phosphoric acid .

Phosphoric acid is the final prep solution for the POR 15 kit, it's stated in the instructions, that it is for rust removal .

I bet with time, it would work as well .