Need Help
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Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 39
Likes: 1
From: Near San Antonio
Need Help
So I have a new to me 1989 f150 with a straight 6 with a 5speed manual transmission i got for $250 bucks that had been sitting for 2 years im appearlty the second owner.....so what i have figured out/done so far....the truck wouldnt turn over found out the ignition module was broken repalced it and got it to crank....second sprayed a little starting fluid in to the breather vent and got it to fire up....now i am draining the fuel tank and have really bad/ dark brown fuel coming out.....i know i need to drop and drain both tanks but once i do what can i use to clean the inside of the tanks and i will be replacing the fuel filter as well as the fuel sending units/pumps which im assuming theres two since there are two tanks but since this is my first time dealing with dual tank system what else would anyone recommend i do thank you to anyone who reads and responds
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 5,083
Likes: 868
From: N.W. Alabama
remove tanks, remove pumps, could use simple green, or purple power, to clean them out, if they don't look rusted out, while tanks are disconnected, can try blowing air from top of motor, back towards where tanks would be, that way any crud will be pushed out on tank end, instead of past filter, and towards injectors,
Freshman User
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 28
Likes: 2
My truck also sat for two years and the gas had turned into what looked like peanut butter with Crisco mixed in. I replaced the pumps and lines, and had my tanks cleaned professionally at a machine shop (didn't cost much - they washed them with a solvent and actually media blasted the inside as well). That seemed to fix the problem.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 2,738
Likes: 217
From: Northern VA
If you can afford it, have a shop professionally clean tanks, or if they are badly rusted just replace them with new...trust me.
**This is the cheapest but most dangerous method. Do not mess with lye unless you know what you are doing and take every safety precaution such as goggles, face shield, rubber gloves, boots, full clothing. Lye will instantly blind you. ***
If the tanks are solid but just full of crud, a dangerous but effective way to clean them, is to fill them with a solution of sodium hydroxide (lye) and hot water. Allow that to soak inside for a couple hours. Drain and rinse profusely. then fill the tank with phosphoric acid, commonly sold as concrete etcher at hardware stores. The longer the better (couple weeks if you can, although a day or two should be enough). Rinse again and slosh a little disel around inside.
The lye dissolves the gum, varnish, crap etc
The phosphoric acid dissolves the rust and forms a protective phosphate coating
The diesel prevents flash rusting in any places that did not passivate.
**This is the cheapest but most dangerous method. Do not mess with lye unless you know what you are doing and take every safety precaution such as goggles, face shield, rubber gloves, boots, full clothing. Lye will instantly blind you. ***
If the tanks are solid but just full of crud, a dangerous but effective way to clean them, is to fill them with a solution of sodium hydroxide (lye) and hot water. Allow that to soak inside for a couple hours. Drain and rinse profusely. then fill the tank with phosphoric acid, commonly sold as concrete etcher at hardware stores. The longer the better (couple weeks if you can, although a day or two should be enough). Rinse again and slosh a little disel around inside.
The lye dissolves the gum, varnish, crap etc
The phosphoric acid dissolves the rust and forms a protective phosphate coating
The diesel prevents flash rusting in any places that did not passivate.
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