

| Subject: | Gas tanks: Rust removal |
| From: | Don Hanson |
| Date: | Fri, 25 Jul 2008 06:02:51 -0700 |
I see that internal rust and corrosion seems to be a Vanagon gas tank problem sometimes. I encountered a similar problem on an old 356 Porsche I owned..The first problem I found was not only was there condensation of water inside the tank but also mold growing in there after storing the little beast for the winter in the Pacific NW.. Every time I would dismantle the Weber carbs and clean out the jets, within about a mile of driving, the car would start sputtering and popping..Total mystery! Then, I noticed some small hair-like 'filiments' were what was caught in the main jets..What the ____? Looking at the gas, it was a bit cloudy, then I stuck a dental mirror inside the fuel tank through the filler cap and found the 'roof' of the fuel tank was covered with rust and mold.... My fix was to remove the tank and put a few shovels of washed rock, also known as "Pea Gravel" into the tank, then strap the tank onto a paint shaker at the boatyard where I was working. After about 5 minutes of shaking, the inside of that tank was shiny and bright, scoured clean by the rattling rocks. A few rinses and it was good to go again. I will say, I was not too popular with my fellow employees while that tank was a-shakin' with those rocks inside.. Don Hanson
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