Cleaning out fuel tanks

[fields_mj]

I'm going to have to drop the tanks on my truck and replace the fuel pick up tubes. I'm sure they are in pieces at the bottom of my tank, so I'm just going to replace them with some good fuel line so that they won't rot away again. While I have them off, I'd like to clean any gunk (bacteria, fungi, or what ever it is) out of them. Any suggestions on what techniques I can use to do this? I know that I can get Biokleen locally (TSC), but the directions for it want me to fill the tank with fuel, then add the biokleen, and let it set for a while. I'm looking for something I can do with the tank off the truck so that I don't send any more junk than I have to through my fuel filter. I'm also hoping to add an inline filter to help protect the expensive one under the hood.

Thoughs and recomendations are welcome.

Thanks,
Mark

 

[Simp5782]

Take it to a radiator shop and have them dip it in their vat tank. It should be fairly cheap. Or a machine shop if you have one locally.

 

[icanfixall]

Why are you thinking that some stuff is growing in your tanks.... Be careful dropping these tanks. They will have fuel in them as much as 1/4 tank.... Thats heavy and as you move the tanks it will slosh around causing you untold balance issue. The front tank is really easy to remove. Just reach up and remove the supply and return lines. Then the electrical and drop the tank.... The rear tank is really tuff. Be sure to cut loose the lines from the frame cross member first. Then as it drops down some just reach in to remove the supply and return lines. Then the electrical lines. Of course you need to remove the tank fill line from the tanks so it will drop down easy. With them out is a good time to modify the fill necks with the new vents. Then you can fill at any fill speed and it wont vent out all over you and your shoes. Some members that have done this can fill at the big rig high flow pumps without any issues and its really fast. Usually less that 1 minute for both tanks....

 

[fields_mj]

Taking the tanks somewhere is out of the question. The only way I would have to transport them is my truck, which will have the tanks removed. Not to mention, that I will need to put them back on before it gets dark out so that I can drive it to work the next day.

My primary reason for taking the tanks off is to replace the fuel pick up lines. I can only get down to 1/4 tank and then I'm out of fuel. I'll siphon most of the fuel out before I drop them so that they will be lighter and there won't be as much of a ballance issue. I figured that while I had them down, I'd clean them out. I'm going to start running a lot of WVO blends and biodiesel and I figured that for the sake of my filters I'd clean them out now. Maybe that's not needed though? I plan on adding a cheap in-line filter too, so maybe that will be good enough? Either way, the current pick up lines are gone and I'm going to replace them with a piece of fuel line.

Thanks,
Mark

 

[jim x 3]

Mark,

You can do 1 tank at a time and still use the truck with fuel from the remaining tank.

Regards,

 

[icanfixall]

Exactly... Removing either tank wont shut down the truck. Do the front tank first. It doesn't even need to be dropped to repair the fuel pickup. Just reach up and remove the suply & return lines. Then the sender wires. Then knock loose the retaining ring and lift out the sender pickup from the tank. Its just that easy. About the hardest part is removing the line clips so the fuel lines slide back off the pickups. Then struggleing to get the electrical wires off. Then your into the tank easy... Doing the fill neck modifications is a whole nother story if you felt you wanted to "Harpoon the Tanks"...

 

[fields_mj]

I've had the front tank off before. On my front tank, I can't pull the pick up lines out with the tank still on the truck. Not enough room to rotate the lines around and get them out. Not too bad though. The rear will need some PB or some Kroil to get the skid plates off...

 

[david_lee]

are you sure it wouldnt be easier to just unbolt the bed and lift it off with a hoist and and a tree limb? thats how i pulled the bed off mine without any help.

 

[RLDSL]

If you are goung to go through the trouble of messing with the things, then it will be worth it to take them one at a time to a radiator shop and have the things tanked. Fuel tanks get a waxy buildup over time and if you suspect critters in there, that buildup can be way heavier than you can remove easily . It can be done with additives run through the system but you will end up clogging a LOT of $35 filters. It' winds up being cheaper to have the tanks done up at a rad shop and they will come back sparkling clean just like new, and remember to treat them regularly with biocide after that

 

[Simp5782]

yeah, or just run a fuel line from ur lift pump to just a 5 gal jerry can in the bed. just make sure to have a few of em.

 

[fields_mj]

I don't really have a good tree branch that's available. I'll take a look around and see what I can come up with there.

The nearest Rad shop is over 20 miles away and in the wrong direction. Having them dipped is just not an option. I wish it were. I hate ignoring good advice. This is also why I started a thread asking bout cheap in-line filters which eventually migrated to Goldenrod filters. I don't have any reason to believe that I have critters other than the fact that I doubt the tanks have ever been cleaned. I think they've always had regular diesel from the pumps run through them. I ran a little Bio Diesel through them last fall, but it too was from the pump, and I don't know what the percentage was.

Thanks,
Mark

 

[Simp5782]

If you need some help im going to be in Indianapolis for a few days from Thursday to Sunday. Ill have my 250 and could transport em for ya if you can get em out on your own. The only other thing I can suggest is a Pressure washer using a suction pickup with some type of industrial cleaner, parts cleaner(safetyKleen) and use it to let it sit for a few hours FULL of the safety clean and then use the suction tube on a pressure washer to get down in there and try to wash a lot of the stuff out. Or if your just feeling like spending some cash. There is a junk yard is Columbus, IN that has diesel 19gal midship and After axle tanks for $50 a piece. Buy em and have them vatted and swapped at your leisure. might run ya $150 for the replacement tanks and vatting but itd be alot less stress time if its ur only mode of transportation. Also check trucks inc in Terra Haute

 

[icanfixall]

I think your worrying about something you don't need to worry about. I have an 89 crewcab and the tanks never have been cleaned out. I run stanadyne performance formula in every tank fillup. I have had both of my tanks out for very differant reasons. They are clean too. So I'm thinking why worry about something you are not gonna find....

 

[fields_mj]

I like that answer. Best bet is probably to take a look at them once I get them out and determine then what I need to do.

 

[david_lee]

if you dont have a good branch to lift the bed with thats ok. i have had a friend help me move my bed from where it sat under the tree to the shop about 30ft away. the two of us were able to carry it with no problem. with that said, if you could get a friend or three, depending on how big ya'll are, it shouldn't be hard to lift it off by hand.