Hi there,
I was having problems for the longest time with sludge from the gas tank getting sucked up and clogging my fuel filter (the truck sat for a few years before it ran... hence, sludge). Well, I finally took it upon myself to yank the in-cab tank out last night, empty it and get it ready to be cleaned. After getting it out I shined my flashlight in and saw some nice sludge.

From what I've heard, there are places that can clean the tanks out by boiling them, checking them for leaks and then coating them with some kind of super snot that keeps the inside clean by coating the inner walls. Where would I begin to look for something like this? I don't know of any businesses in my area that specifically does this. Would radiator shops do this? Is that a good place to start? I imagine this is a job best left to the professionals to get it really clean. I don't want any more problems with sludge. I hate sludge. Thanks,

 

Hi James!

Try calling around a few radiator shops first and go from there.

 

May I just say, your super snot comment is the funniest thing I have heard today. Thanks for the laugh!

 

 

That coating helps prevent corrosion in the fuel system. That sludge, rust, and crud is all thru the system so replace your fuel lines also.

You can clean the tank yourself. There are some threads in the Garage and worksop forum archives re cleaning and repairing tanks. They had some names for some of the tank coatings also. There may also be more info in the fuel systems forum.

 

joadmobile,

Yes, super snot is a frequently used term in my automotive vocabulary, glad I was able to provide a laugh

everyone else,

I called around the local radiator shops. I found one that does the tank cleaning. The tank is getting dropped off tommorrow morning. They do a bunch of stuff to the tank.. including chemicals, boiling and coating with "super snot" for the inside that prevents further rust, sludge and corrosion.

The brake lines are fairly new.. my friend brought his air compressor over and we blew them out. They weren't bad at all. I guess I'll see about replacing the fuel lines, I'll have to take a closer look at that to see what would be involved in bending new lines in.

Another thing, the sending unit has to come out. Is there any way to test and clean this? I know I can test it with a volt ohm meter.. not sure what the readings should give. I tried locating a new gasket via napa and couldn't come up with anything. Can I make a gasket for this?

 

say bud how much are they charging you to clean the tank and coat it with the supersnot?? LOL

 

I think cleaning and coating is gonna cost around 100 bucks here in North NJ.

 

So far so good! I got the gas tank in last week and put the new sending unit in tonight. Put a few gallons in him, cranked it over (this took a little while to get the gas to the carb). It started up fine! Ok.. now for the real test.

I drove and got gas, drove to my in-laws to pick up a few things for my wife, drove to the firehouse to drop off the borrowed 5 gallon gas can (refilled, of course), and drove home. No problems whatsoever! If it had been the gas tank before the cleaning / super snot it would have made it as far as the in-laws and that would have been it.

I'll get a little braver as time goes on. It's due for an oil change soon, so I'll probably pull and check the fuel filter to make sure there isn't any more sludge in the bottom of the filter bowl like there was before. Thanks again everyone! I'm hoping this has solved my problems!

 

cool deal bud i trying to decide if i should do that or buy new tanks seems like the new ones dont cost much more then to have it super snotted LMAO at least round here in florida>.. keep us informed how it runs thanks!