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Post by m38mike on Jul 29, 2018 6:35:17 GMT -5
Since I added EFI to the Blue Mule I have been plagued with fuel filters getting plugged with all kinds of sediment from my gas tank. I decided I needed to clean the tank out completely. I started by using electrolysis to remove rust and gunk from the inside steel. That worked very well for the bottom and sides of the tank, but not so well for the top of the tank. I think the bubbles from the foam created by the electrolysis must have insulated the top rust from removal.
So I took it one step farther and decided to tumble some rocks inside the tank to mechanically scrape the rust and gunk out of the inside. Here is a video of that happening.
The rocks did a great job of scraping out the rust on the top of the tank. Next step is to apply a liquid gas tank liner to it so it stays rust free.
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Post by btinsc on Jul 29, 2018 7:34:23 GMT -5
That's a great idea. What grade of gravel did you use, something like chad or pea gravel? What was the cleaner you first used? This is a job I need to do to my m38a1. I was planning to take the tank to the radiator shop and let them do the cleaning. Have you used the liner before? I heard mixed opinions. I'm sure proper prep is a key step. What is EFI? Electronic Fuel Injection? My Duramax diesel has a performance program called EFI. Did you put a chip in your m38. lol
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 29, 2018 8:59:53 GMT -5
Mike gets a "Blue Ribbon" for creativity .... My motorcycle friends use a cement mixer or an old gas clothes dryer with no gas..... Also they used 1/4" squair nuts as aggregate, well done! 👍🏿... Id bet that most folks having fuel delivery problems at FCT would find that if they did clean there tanks like this would have far less trouble 😯... Lee
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Post by m38mike on Jul 29, 2018 9:38:40 GMT -5
btinsc, I used Arm and Hammer detergent to do the cleaning when I did the electrolysis. Here's a photo of the set up. The gravel I used was 1/4 to 3/4 crushed rock, so it is very angular. Lots of edges for scraping rust. Some of the excess stones are on the floor under the tank in the video. I spun the tank for over 1/2 hour until I got tired of listening to it. When I dumped all the "clean" rock out it was filthy with rust. It makes me wonder if I had tumbled the tank first, then used the electrolysis to finish cleaning it if that would be a better combination. I have used liner before and it's working well. It's in a different project. Yes EFI is Electronic Fuel Injection. I got tired of fussing with the carb on that Pinto engine and wanted a change. I'm very happy with it so far, but it has created some problems for me. Not the least of which was the dirt from my fuel tank plugging up my fuel filters. But I am glad that I made the change in that jeep. When it's all running, it runs so much better. Lee, I suspect you're right as long as the problem was fuel line sediment. I think gas tank maintenance is something we all just take for granted. We don't do it, then wonder why we have problems with plugged fuel filters. I doubt I've cleaned this tank in over 4 decades of use. I hope it's good for another 4 decades. In addition, the tank itself needed a good recoating with paint, and so did the tub underneath the gas tank. And it gave me the chance to clean out all the dirt and crud that has collected between the tank and the tub over the years.
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Post by brucew on Jul 29, 2018 13:44:56 GMT -5
I've found in my limited experience with electrolysis (mostly transmission & t/case cases) that it loosens the rust but doesn't take it away. I've still had to brush or bead-blast the part, but it did clean much (much!) easier than without the electrolysis. I think your electrolysis-then-tumble sequence may have been the right idea. There is, to the best of my knowledge, only one liquid tank liner that is certified for aircraft use. That's the one I would use. B-dubya
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oilleaker1
Full Professor
Full Professor
Has Jeep Disease
Posts: 1,982
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Post by oilleaker1 on Jul 29, 2018 15:52:56 GMT -5
Mike I like what you did. I am not a fan of gas tank liners. I pressure mine after blasting the inside and outside in my commercial blaster with 235 cu. Ft. Per minute big blaster. I use soapy water and 2-4 pounds of air pressure and check for leaks. If I find leaks, I solder the holes shut. Then paint the outside with epoxy primer/sealer. Then colored paint of your choice. I leave the inside alone. Condensation is a problem in humid climates, so store it full of gas or empty dry.
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Post by m38mike on Jul 29, 2018 21:37:13 GMT -5
I used the Por15 tank liner in the tank. I bought a quart and after thoroughly mixing it there was still some of the filler material in the bottom of the can. That's OK because I'm mostly interested in coating the steel to keep it from rusting again. I laid the tank down on each side for about 2-3 minutes, then turned it onto another side. I repeated this twice to be sure that the liner got into every corner and across every surface. I drained about a pint of liner back out of the tank. Then I set up a small fan to blow air through the tank to help the liner dry faster. I checked it at about 4 hours and it's dry to the touch. And it looks great inside, very shiny and silvery. Fortunately I didn't have any holes in the tank that weren't supposed to be there. Now that it's super clean and lined, I shouldn't have any more plugged filters unless I get some dirty gas.
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Post by rickg on Aug 2, 2018 11:55:33 GMT -5
Hey Mike today I ordered a new in-tank filter for my M38 (stainless steel) and it got me to thinkin about yours we tried to clean in camp @ncr. I talked to John B. @ MWM and he said the fibre type was designed to be throwaway/replace. Once plugged then cleaned they become ineffective (but better than nothing) . Here's a pic of the later cleanable steel mesh filter. Attachments:
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Post by m38mike on Aug 2, 2018 15:13:10 GMT -5
Thanks Muley, this is exactly what I need. In fact I've already ordered one that will replace my other filter as soon as it comes.
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Post by rickg on Aug 2, 2018 15:41:07 GMT -5
Thanks Muley, this is exactly what I need. In fact I've already ordered one that will replace my other filter as soon as it comes. Glad that was helpful Mike! I pulled and flushed my tank this weekend and was surprised by the junk in it even with the steel mesh screen in the filler neck. There was sand in the exterior if the filter and it had become egg-shaped. While I was at it I made up a canvas welt for the strap and discarded the rubber pads I stuck in there years ago.
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Post by m38mike on Aug 6, 2018 7:29:01 GMT -5
Yup, that's just what my in-tank filter looked like too. Full of junk. I've got a new one in there now. I'm anxious to see what it looks like when I replace it with the steel screen filter. I looked at the in-line filter after our all-day ride yesterday and it was still clean. So the tank cleaning, then lining it has worked to get rid of the crap. I'm glad for that.
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