Gas tank w/ 3yr old gas

[DenverCruiser]

I am just now getting ready to fire up my cruiser after sitting for about 3 years. I know the little bit of gas in the tank is bad so I would dispose of that but do I need to purge the tank at all. How does one purge a tank?

 

[srgould41]

Don't do it! All that rust and sludge is what is filling all the pin holes and stoping the leaks

 

[Weedhopper]

If you just have a little gas, like 1/8 of a tank or less just fill the tank and you will have almost all fresh gas. I would be more concerned about the carb though.

 

[DenverCruiser]

Thanks guys! Great news!

 

[inkpot]

If you just have a little gas, like 1/8 of a tank or less just fill the tank and you will have almost all fresh gas. I would be more concerned about the carb though.

Howdy! I agree about diluting the fuel with fresh. Probably gonna need to replace the filter a couple of times till it flushes out. If you haven't touched the carb, it may be varnished up pretty bad. Fire it up and see what you get. Couple of squirts of Hot Shot will get it fired up real quick. John

 

[srgould41]

The 40 I bought a couple months ago had sat for over 2 years. It had less than 1/4 tank of gas so I filled it after a carb rebuild. It ran just fine until I lifted the tank to get the hump cover fasteners out. Then the sludge got into the fuel line and plugged the filter.

I plan to flush the tank soon. There is a drain plug in the bottom of mine.

If you just have a little gas, like 1/8 of a tank or less just fill the tank and you will have almost all fresh gas. I would be more concerned about the carb though.

 

[DenverCruiser]

The 40 I bought a couple months ago had sat for over 2 years. It had less than 1/4 tank of gas so I filled it after a carb rebuild. It ran just fine until I lifted the tank to get the hump cover fasteners out. Then the sludge got into the fuel line and plugged the filter.

I plan to flush the tank soon. There is a drain plug in the bottom of mine.

Good point. I have the tank completeley loose and can easily poor everthing out so I think I will do that.

 

[srgould41]

I am sure a search will show lots of hits, but what others have been doing is either cleaning out the inside of the tank themselves with gravel, chemicals, etc... or taking it to a radiator shop and having them boiled out. Then they are coating the insides of the tank with products such as POR 15. I think there are other fuel tank sealers besides POR. If you already have the tank out you might as well seal it so you don't have to remove it again later on.

It's what I would do anyway and plan to soon.

Good point. I have the tank completeley loose and can easily poor everthing out so I think I will do that.