Rusty tank to rust free tank using vinegar

RealSaltBlake

RealSaltBlake

Active Member
I recently acquired a new tank for my 1971 Kawasaki G3SSA and the whole inside had surface rust. So I went with the vinegar route (cheaper) to get it clean and it worked brilliantly!

The steps are as follows:

1. Remove the petcock and secure the bottom with tape. Make sure it is done enough to hold liquid.

2. Put nails or screws in a dry tank and shake it around to break up the loose rust. After shaking it on and off for a while pour out the loose dust and the nails/screws.

3. Pour in white vinegar to the brim, tighten the cap, and let it sit for 48 hours.

4. Remove all but about a gallon of vinegar and put the nails/screws in and shake it around for a few minutes.

5. Pour out the vinegar and nails/screws.

6. Rinse out the tank with a hose and swish around the water.

7. Pour out the water.

8. Immediately after pouring out the water, pour in about 40 oz of Coca Cola and swish it around.

9. Pour out the Coca Cola.

10. Rinse out the Coca Cola by adding in about a half gallon of gas and about 250mL of two stroke motor oil and mixing it around to make sure you coat the whole tank.

11. Pour out the gas and two stroke oil mix.

12. Pour in mineral spirits (denatured alcohol) and shake it around.

13. Pour out mineral spirits.

I will also add that you want to be fairly quick when pouring out and pouring in the different liquids. I did not get any flash rust using this method. We also had 100% humidity and I still didn't get any flash rust.

Hope this helps anyone looking to cheaply clean the inside of a tank.

Here is the result:

(About a half gallon of gas is inside)

photo24.jpg
 
Nice result! Planning to do this over the weekend, but was going to leave the leave the petcock in place. Mine seems to be riveted in and I can't see a way of removing it without adding a whole lot of pain to what could be a fairly simple process.
What's the reason behind removing the petcock? I wouldn't have thought vinegar would be acidic enough to do any real damage in 48 hours?
 
If you go the nails and screws inside the tank rout, it's easier is you put chains inside the tank, that way removing them is much simpler.

Another thing if you have a ride on lawnmower or something similar you can jack up the drive wheels, strap the tank full of screws to one of the wheels and let it run for a bit, that you should work, but it's loud.

I for once am in the middle of cleaning a rusty tank but with electrolysis, you just need a battery charger and some baking soda, it's the second day i've had it hooked up and tomorrow i'll be flushing the tank.
 
question about mineral spirits. is their a specific kind I should use? the stuff I used was this white/cream color "odorless mineral spirits" and it looks like it left a residue inside the tank. Should I rinse that out with gas before I use the tank? should I have used the clear kind? there's a little left in the tank and its kinda thick/gooey now. tried to pour as much as i could
 
I would rinse the tank with denatured alcohol. Home Depot and the like have it in plenty of supply.

It will remove all moisture, and evaporate pretty quick, leaving no residue.
 
Wow, didn't realise vinegar was that good at removing rust.
I should give my tank a go.
 
The vinegar is slow acting, but that isn't necessarily bad either. Gives you time cushioned. If you leave it in an extra day, you won't erode good metal. Stronger acids can do damage if left too long.

But the best part is that vinegar can go down the drain with a good conscience. It isn't a hazardous chemical like some of the other acids. Unfortunately, you can't reuse the vinegar as salad dressing though...LOL
 
Muratic acid will do the same job in about 20 minutes ;)
A little more dangerous though (read fun)
 
SONICJK said:
Muratic acid will do the same job in about 20 minutes ;)
A little more dangerous though (read fun)
Click to expand...

I got a tank cleaning kit from Eastwood and you still have to go out and get Muratic Acid and Acetone for the process. Found both at Home Depot and weren't too expensive. I'm just waiting on some warm weather to do my tank.
 
Once the tank is cleaned, do you need to use a sealer after or should it be good enough once its back on the bike and filled with gas?
 
It should be goo assuming you rinse it correctly and hit it with some naval Jelly or some 2 strike oil
 
I used the excact methos except i after rinsing with water i filled and rinsed with methylated spirits (Denatured alcohol).
Worked a charm, I must thank those who posted the method.
 
MechNewb said:
Once the tank is cleaned, do you need to use a sealer after or should it be good enough once its back on the bike and filled with gas?
Click to expand...
this question is one that also have.the tank on my r5 is uuuuugly.
 
Seal it. With a really good (not kream) sealer. Everywhere that was rusted before will flash rust again if moisture gets in there.
 
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