View Full Version : cleaning gum varnish in gas tank


sewerrat
06-09-2006, 07:08 AM
I'm working on a 88 camaro v6 MPFI with severe varnish in the tank. The car has sat for 3 years and does not run. The previous owner replace the pump once before which failed shortly. I need your input to clean out this severe amount of hard gum and varnish formed in the tank and fuel inlet lines. I'm trying to prevent buying a new tank. If anyone has had this problem, what did you use to clean it? I'm trying to avoid buying a new tank, sending unit cradle and fuel lines. I am replacing the fuel pump again though. I've gotten suggestions from local mechanics like soaking everything with diesel with glass marbles and shaking the heck out of it, to pressure washing. Please give your input. Thanks

mattvogt
06-15-2006, 05:25 PM
How much is a new tank? A new tank should be about as much as a tank of diesil fuel. JK...

illumastar
02-01-2007, 05:34 AM
did you try seafoam it orks wonders at breaking crap up

z28pete
02-01-2007, 01:23 PM
Get a new tank, that gunk and rust will keep coming back and mess up your fuel system.

vanilla sky
02-18-2007, 03:21 AM
i'm with pete. buy a new tank. if a new tank weren't available, then i'd consider chemically cleaning and sealing the existing tank.

at advance auto, they're $200 without the filler neck, and $230 with the filler neck. with a car this old, i think i'd opt for the one with the filler neck.

sewerrat
02-24-2007, 04:56 AM
Yep, you guys were right. The tank just kept on rusting on the inside.Back in Nov. 06 I finally broke down and bought a new tankalong withanother fuel pump and strainer. Since then I haven'thad a problem. Thanks again.