Best way to clean out a diesel tank?

[Exfarmer]

Its recommended to leave a diesel tank filled with water for 2 to 3 weeks before applying anything that might ignite the diesel inside ...........

WHat is this going to achieve apart from more oxidation?
Diesel does not explode unlike petrol fumes.

 

[Mursal]

Has it not got a flash point?

 

[TheTallGuy]

Flash point is around 52°C, auto ignition occurs above 256°C subject to oxygen levels.

 

[Zebbedee]

Cut a hole in it preferably on top or side where it's easy assuming you have a drain plug, then power wash out it will dry out no bother especially if it's hot wash then weld it back up, the only guaranteed way to get it properly clean

 

[mar]

Not possible in this case but if the tank can be removed half a shovel of clean pea gravel and a gallon of diesel through the filler followed by a good shaking then rinsing with diesel can work wonders. Only problem is there may only be rust stopping it leaking but better to find out this way than when you are busy with the machine.

I have a problem starting the digger so I ended u taking the diesel tank of the digger this evening and it is full of bits of rust. I was reading through this thread and saw this idea , if I used nuts used on bolts instead of pea gravel would it work?
I will be able to take out the nuts afterwards with a magnet if any get left inside or tie a string through them in a loop and fish them out.

 

[Exfarmer]

I have a problem starting the digger so I ended u taking the diesel tank of the digger this evening and it is fell of bits of rust. I was reading through this thread and saw this idea , if I used nuts used on bolts instead of pea gravel would it work?
I will be able to take out the nuts afterwards with a magnet if any get left inside or tie a string through them in a loop and fish them out.

As long as it is a plastic tank, but if it was it should not have rust in it!

 

[mar]

As long as it is a plastic tank, but if it was it should not have rust in it!

It is a steel tank and I want to remove and rust stuck in it, would using the nuts inside the tank not work

 

[Zebbedee]

If it’s rusty inside really it’s only fit for scrap you will never stop it rusting once it starts

 

[spanners and hammers]

sure i remember there is a liguid that you swill round in a rusted tank to seal it think the classic car boys use it

 

[astra]

 

[astra]

Don't know how much ya will need for a big tank but motorcycle guys swear by it...

 

[Dry Rot]

As it happens, I recently had my bladder flushed out! The medics simultaneously introduce fluid under pressure while letting it drain, so two tubes. Presumably the fluid going in causes turbulence agitating any solids which are then flushed out! Anyway, it worked for me.

Using a similar technique, I would fill the diesel tank to over flowing with water, then introduce a pressure washer lance. Hopefully, the water being forced in under pressure would be enough to keep any rust particles in suspension until they flowed out with the overflow.

Then use the sealer recommended above after drying.

(As the Chinese say, "All is one". The principles involved in flushing a human bladder are really no difference to the effective flushing of a fuel tank!? Knowledge is where you find it).

 

[mar]

I got the tank of and swilled diesel around inside and let everything settle to one corner and used a magnet on the end of a stick to remove all the rust

 

[Still Farming]

Sponge on a stick

 

[mar]

Sponge on a stick

I tried that as well but it wouldn't lift the small bits of rust, if it was silt it would do the job

 

[Thick Farmer]

@Thick Farmer is your man

Swan Vestas

 

[Kidds]

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[tinman]

might sound mad right now but id say when you've faffed about trying to clean out a dirty tank with rust in it possibly, that's never really going to stop rusting into the future because of condensation would you not be as far on to just make a new tank?

if funds allowed and the tank is an integral part thats going to be used quite a bit, or better again if its only going to be used now and again why not make it out of stainless and be done with it.