Diesel Contamination of water tank in a Westfalia

[jona]

My wife put diesel into the water tank..... I know... Very stupid... i've almost forgiven her for it...

Anyway we did not realize this had happened for about 1 month. When i realised we drained the tank. I refilled the tank with water and drained again. I refilled again with hot water with washing up liquid and took it for a drive to slosh it about. Then drained it again. I then used pure alcohol and a scrubbing brush. Drained it and filled it with hot soapy water and drained it again. I left it for a day or so to see if it would stop smelling but it stills smells..... Gutted...

I tried removing the tank so i could get to it better but after an hour or so of dismantling the cupboard i gave up.

Can anyone advise what i can try next?

[DIESEL DEMON]

replace the tank......

[R0B]

and the pipes and the tap.i doubt very much you will ever get rid of the smell otherwise..

[T'Onion]

Have you got a friendly Landlord that you talk to?
Ask him for some beer line cleaner (the stuff he cleans his beer pipes out with) , It's mighty strong, mix it up and fill the tank and the pipes with it , leave it for an hour and then rinse and rinse and rinse , worth a try


This is the stuff line cleaner

[grumpyoldgit]

Being a homebrewer I use the standard sterilising solution available from any homebrew shop. The pot says it cleans, sterilises and deoderises. £3.99 for a pot. I have used it to clean out my water container and the pipes. If water is left for any length of time, you can get green stuff growing in your tank! I just left it overnight and then flushed several times the next day.

[Stefvan]

You find these tanks on ebay.de, there is one on there at the mo but check its the same style as yours..
item no 260420391944
Replacing the tank is obviously a major job, the r+r must be removed, and the whole kitchen unit has to be slid far enough out and forward to drop the tank in behind it.
It wouldn't be pretty, but would it be possible to get one of those bag type water carriers from a camping shop made of flexible pvc and use it to line the tank ? You could seal the filler around the vent that goes to the sink.. and around the vent at the bottom...
Try speaking to Cak Tanks http://www.caktanks.co.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; about your dilemma they must have some suggestions...

Stefvan

[chickenkoop]

i used to clean my tank with miltern, (baby bottle cleaner/steriliser). are you divorced yet,

[ricp]

Had the same happen. Got the tank out using bad language, brute force and time. Then washed with v.hot water and strong washing up liquid, bleach, milton and repeatedly flushed through. That cured the worst of it however I always leave the tank empty with the lid under the seat off when not in use. This stops the water going all green anyway (as it did before when not used regularly) but has also allowed the smell to eventually disappear. It did take about a year. I don't, and never did, use that water for drinking, only washing etc.
I was too tight to pay for a new tank but feel vindicated now.

[Grantourer]

Hi Jona. Where are you? I have had to replace our water tank for other reasons, if you are near me. I would be happy to help you. Oh and we got our "new tank" from Eabay.de.

Regards, Graham