I have a 1951 D4 . It has very bad rust in Diesel tank. I drained the tank and put in RUST OUT a gallon and filled with water. Let set 2 days. Then drained. I got out screen that was in the tank so i can put pressure washer down into tank. I took off the line to the pump. In flushing it out there was lots of rust like in chunks. The tank seems to have baffles on each side so I am not sure if i can get it cleaned good enough. The mechanic helping me said maybe you should think of putting on a auxillary tank. I don't want to do that. If I cleaned it best as possible and put on a fuel filter I wonder if that would work?? Just I have never seem so much rust in a tank. Funny though looking down to the bottom of the tank it looks good. There is a big square area at the back of the tank where someone cut out and then redone it. I wonder it this same problem previous owener had??  I am not sure where to go at this point?  Any suggestions??? Thank You.

Rich  

We have a local radiator shop that cuts the tank open and sanblasts the inside.  They weld it back together and make the outside cosmeticly look like new.  They then coat inside the tank with an epoxy that they bake like a powder coat.   I've sent them several and never seen one have any issues in the last 20 years.

reverse electrolysis works well.
beware dont use stainless or chromium containing metals as the electrode as it creates hexavalent chromium a rather toxic metal and regulated hazardous waste. its particulary toxic to the nervous system.

use plain old washing soda aka sodium carbonate.
a old transformer type battery charger works well as a power source.

but it wont work for seat tank models as the tank wraps around the battery compartment. you would have to cut a hole in it to clean that section. it might be easier to make a new tank.

another method is to chuck a handful of small nuts of light chain in the tank and strap it to the back wheel of a tractor and go mow the grass. changing its postion so all sides are cleaned.

then i would get the por15 or kbs products fuel tank sealer and treat the fuel tank. if it was large flakes of rust its probably better to make a new tank and then treat that with fuel tank sealer to protect it from the word go.

a inline filter such as the cav(delphi)291 would also work and save the filters in the fuel tower.

A filter will save the transfer pump more than anything.

yes it would protect the pump. and as most of the crap is captured in that pre filter it would inturn prolong the life of the main filters. only issue is the glass bowl is a bit fragile though plastic and metal bowls are available. one advantage is its a water separating filter the clear bowl allows you to see any water contamination and drain it off before it gets to the engine

I installed one on my 4G see photo below.

 

regards

neil wrote:

I had the same issue with my D2 tank. I mixed up a batch of citric acid and left it in there a couple of days. I added an inline separator/cartridge filter which has remained clean so I presume that the acid cleaned it up well.

Neil, what was your ratio of citric acid to water? And is muriatic acid a good substitute? If so, can anyone recommend a good ratio for that?

Thanks!