How to remove rust from a fuel tank?

[eiret25]

I have a few old east German 2l oil cans. I think they were originally used to carry 2stroke oil for the Trabants or the like. I plan on using them to carry oil for the T3 and fuel for my Petromax's or Petromaxi


I'm just wondering does anyone have a method of removing the rust from the inside?

[Mocki]

i used a strong magnet and moved the rust to the filler hole by the magnet then put it over the hole whilst the can was inverted when I did my jerry can , after gently banging it with a rubber mallet and washing it out with tractor fuel first a few times .

[jamesc76]

you can get a paint stuff that will coat the inside or the can and make it as good as new will see if I can find it!

found a link, this will do loads of tanks!

http://www.rust.co.uk/products/product/ ... tank-seal/

[Ian and Lins]

An old trick which I've used for removing rust scale from motorcycle tanks is to put a bit of paraffin in (about a pint) and a handful or two of sharp, clean, nuts, bolts and washers in and give it a vigorous shake about. You might want to repeat this a couple of times. Drain it all off and it gets rid of internal rust.
I'd be a bit shy of putting tank sealants in as I've heard very bad reports of some of them reacting with the ethanol components of modern fuels and 'flaking' off and forming scales and sludge.

[jamesc76]

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I'd be a bit shy of putting tank sealants in as I've heard very bad reports of some of them reacting with the ethanol components of modern fuels and 'flaking' off and forming scales and sludge.

Thats the old stuff all new sealants have to comply with ethanol!

[Ian and Lins]

You could be right but the VMCC are still a somewhat exercised about this. I'm just sayin' I'd be a bit wary about it.

[what2do]

There's a few clips on youtube where people have stuffed them into a tumble dryer (enveloped in rags of course!!!) and let them run with a load of nuts/bolts inside them. As for me, I tried this with a scooter tank and put it into a cement mixer - didn't work so i ratchet strapped it to thye rear wheel of a tractor for the day, came up like a new pin. However, I appreciate that not everyone has access to a tractor!!!!!!

[itchyfeet]

There's a few clips on youtube where people have stuffed them into a tumble dryer (enveloped in rags of course!!!) and let them run with a load of nuts/bolts inside them. As for me, I tried this with a scooter tank and put it into a cement mixer - didn't work so i ratchet strapped it to thye rear wheel of a tractor for the day, came up like a new pin. However, I appreciate that not everyone has access to a tractor!!!!!!

Jack one rear wheel of the van strap can to wheel with nuts/ bolts/ pea shingle, start engine 1 st gear go and have a cuppa
Never done it but id think it should work

[getunder]

Or put two or three petrol filters in line and keep regualarly cleaning them. Easy peasy. Petrol contains traces of water I believe so it will rust again. I keep getting tiny flakes of something like paint in mine. Usually goes wrong when petrol demand is at its peak on steep hills where you can cause maximum inconvenience to others.

[eiret25]

Or put two or three petrol filters in line and keep regualarly cleaning them. Easy peasy. Petrol contains traces of water I believe so it will rust again. I keep getting tiny flakes of something like paint in mine. Usually goes wrong when petrol demand is at its peak on steep hills where you can cause maximum inconvenience to others.

Thanks for your opinion "getunder", but as described in my original post they are 2l fuel tanks not the actual fuel tank of a van. Putting one filter on never mind two or three is a no go. I wont be putting petrol in them as they are just for engine oil and fuel for my lamps. I want to make sure that the couple I have set aside for the engine oil are spotlessly clean and free from rust and foreign bodies.