Cleaning Fuel Tank - Acetone?

[NeedSpace]

I have read a number of places a good way to get out the old varnish gas from the tank is to acetone and bolts and/or chains to agitate. I just want to double check, will the acetone damage the plastic swirl pot in the tank? Thanks in advance. I am hoping to do this tomorrow.

[timmy2]

Maybe? That is why I suggested isopropanol (paint thinner alcohol) in the other thread.
Not as quick but also less harmful fumes to you and it won't hurt the plastics.
I've used it to clean my injectors, did a great job.

[Porchcar guy]

Acetone reacts differently to all forms of plastic. I am in the optical business and acetone is used to clean CR-39 plastic lenses without harm BUT plastic frames of acetate or Zyl plastic will denigrate almost immediately on contact. I would not use it in a tank with a swirl pot without knowing what form of plastic it (swirl pot) is. YMMV

[porwolf]

Originally Posted by NeedSpace

I have read a number of places a good way to get out the old varnish gas from the tank is to acetone and bolts and/or chains to agitate. I just want to double check, will the acetone damage the plastic swirl pot in the tank? Thanks in advance. I am hoping to do this tomorrow.

Acetone is very agressive. I would not trust it not to attack the swirl pot. Denatured alcohol usually does not attack plastics. I suggest to just try to mechanically clean out crude stuff with screws, or that kind of material. Take good care of the small area just around the outlet at the bottom of the tank where the mesh filter srews in. That is the important area. You can access it with the mesh filter removed with l-shaped coat hange wire and rags. Carburator cleaner as cleaning agent works good there too. Coarse stuff in the upper part of the tank will be kept back by the mesh filter.

[Tippy]

We store acetone in plastic bottles at work. Not sure what composition of plastics they are though.

[Targalid]

I would use a hot detergent solution to remove organic deposits. Follow this with hot water to remove the detergent and then finally alcohol to remove the water. None of these things should harm the plastic parts inside the tank. Another alternative is to use Matt Gineo's method of cutting a hole in the tank and replacing the cutout with a marine access port.
Cleaning a Fuel Tank without damaging Plastic Swirl Pot

[Scott R]

Why go to this level of effort? It's $40 to have most tanks professionally steamed cleaned, turnaround time at my local guy is about 24 hours. Save yourself the headache and chemicals.

[SilberUrS6]

Originally Posted by Tippy

We store acetone in plastic bottles at work. Not sure what composition of plastics they are though.

Most likely low-density polyethylene.

Our squeeze bottles in the lab are made of it...

[Tippy]

Good to know

[NeedSpace]

Thanks for your recommendations. I was asking about acetone because I already had a gallon available, I didn't have an isopropanol. I DID have some Purple Power. I decided, let's try this and see how it goes, then if that didn't work, I would go out and purchase some of the paint thinner. It worked like a charm. Thanks for your help!

[NeedSpace]

Oh, scott, btw, in northern nj outside of manhattan, to get the tank steamed is about $100 or more. Labor costs are out of control here.

[matt gineo]

If your swirl pot is anything like my swirl pot your engine will never run more than a minute. After i cut a hole in the top of my tank i reached in and removed the cover to the swirl pot and found the inside of the pot was full of all kinds of Crud. steam cleaning would never get the inside of the pot clean. check out my thread to see how i cleaned it. shes running like a top now! Clean fuel is one of the most important factors of a great running engine.
Good luck
Matt

[timmy2]

Cleaning a Fuel Tank without damaging Plastic Swirl Pot
This one?

[matt gineo]

Yes thats the thread

[911T1969]

Try Marine Clean which is sold by Por-15. I used it to clean out a motorcycle tank full of gunk. Evapo Rust is great for removing rust.

[cuchanonM]

I would not use it in a tank with a swirl pot without knowing what form of plastic it

[matt gineo]

Originally Posted by cuchanonM

I would not use it in a tank with a swirl pot without knowing what form of plastic it

+ I wouldn't use a chain, gravel, nuts bolts etc. or anything else that would damage the swirl pot.

[dfhtrhjn]

A common trick I used in the past was 20 liters of diet coke and a towing chain. The diet coke is so acidic that in a week it converts the rust on the inside of a tank so some tough black neutral layer. Just shake it like crazy once a day for a week, then drain the crap out.

[NeedSpace]

Coke, no kidding? Did you learn that on mythbusters? Who would have thought!

[SmytheAlissa]

I would not use it in a tank with a swirl pot without knowing what form of plastic it