Fuel tank varnish remover

[BarnBoy]

Whats the best remover of old (5 yrs) fuel varnish from a gas tank? There isnt a lot of varnish but enough to lightly coat the side and bottom of the gas tank. There is a plastic tub in the bottom of the tank (its not an ATC tank) to hold fuel to cool the fuel pump, so I am not sure if it would be safe to use acetone in it or if that might hurt the plastic. Any ideas?

Thanks

[3 Wheel Drive]

I had 20 year old varnish come out super clean using the 3 part Kreem kit. Part A of the kit is what removes everything, it’s hydrocliric acid...or another acid? You add distilled water to it, but that may dissolve your plastic parts.

You should try boiling hot water, or some MEK. Acetone is kinda like rubbing alcohol, basically worthless for what you want to do imo....

[El Camexican]

Acetone comes in plastic containers, so I doubt it would damage a plastic fuel tank. It kills paint and would likley damage fiberglass though. What’s the tank off of? Can you test a spot on the exterior first?

I wonder if Sea Foam or the fuel injector cleaner you mix in you car tank would clean it up?

[El Camexican]

I had 20 year old varnish come out super clean using the 3 part Kreem kit. Part A of the kit is what removes everything, it’s hydrocliric acid...or another acid? You add distilled water to it, but that may dissolve your plastic parts.

You should try boiling hot water, or some MEK. Acetone is kinda like rubbing alcohol, basically worthless for what you want to do imo....

I always thought acid didn’t affect plastics and have had good results cleaning rusty plastic windscreen washers with muriatic acid. Then a couple weeks ago I tried cleaning a rust stained plastic recoil starter spool and it burned off all the rust, but then it stained the plastic a powder white color.

All I can think of is that the plastic has some lead in it as I’ve never seen it react to acid before.

[BarnBoy]

The tank is off my '96 Toyota Tacoma pickup. Its a metal tank but it has a plastic pot built into the bottom of the tank that holds fuel around the fuel pump to keep it cool. I kinda assumed it would be ok for most solvents but you never know. I dont want to melt it.

Anyone ever tried Pine Sol to remove it? That shouldnt hurt the plastic I dont think. Never used MEK so I dont know if the might hurt plastic either??

Or maybe even lacquer/paint thinner??

[sledcrazyinCT]

I have seen white vinegar clean varnish out of metal tanks

[El Camexican]

I have seen white vinegar clean varnish out of metal tanks

I’ve used it to remove rust as well, but it has to be neutralized with baking soda immodestly afterwards. I wouldn’t recommend it be used pure just for varnish, too great a risk of causing the tank to rust afterwards.

[badasskfx]

Spray it out with brake clean and wipe out what you can reach it will be fine

[Arky-X]

I used apple cider vinegar on mine and it cleaned it out well. Then I used baking soda right after I drained the vinegar. Now I keep WD-40 sprayed in it but it still has rust spots (flash rust?) popping up.

Once you get it completely rid of rust, then what?
Coat it?
Fill full of gas?

[schlepp29]

I've also used apple cider vinegar, and it works but man it flash rust quick. I'd like to know what the factory coats the tanks with. Once it rust bad enough and you clean out the rust with what ever solvent you gotta be quick. I'm with arky x,coat it