Fuel tank - Clean and/or line?

Hi All,

Took the fuel tank off the Dodge intending to check for snakeskin. I'm assuming this is not an original tank but something someone's had made from steel - so no snakeskin, but some rust..

What's the view of people who've dealt with this sort of thing before:
Can I get away with a damn good clean and put a filter before and after the electric fuel pump OR should I attempt to line it after cleaning?

Only thoughts with some of the tank lining kits is there's more to go wrong and it needs some care to pick one that copes with the increasing amounts of ethanol.

Any recommendations for products, I've seen the following

Clean kit :

Clean and seal kits :
 

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Strap it to a cement mixer and throw some nuts and bolts into it. Alternatively... fit one of Tim's (commeracer) aluminium tanks.
 
Try some CLR (Calcium, Lime scale and Rust remover) A litre costs about £6 from Screwfix, pour that in and fill the tank with warm water and leave it for a week and the rust will dissolve. Even better if you use a couple of litres. It will need a good swill out later but that will be the case with any treatment.
I did an experiment with it last week, I'll post the results in a separate thread.
 
Time tanks are very reasonable, by the time you’ve messed about there’s little difference. Only issue I guess is that the tank you have might have different setup
 
Cheers all - Looks like it's getting a clean at first then! There's a screwfix close by so I'll try a couple of litres of CLR in there.

Tim's tanks look to be great (I've a battery box from him) but I hate chucking usable stuff and this tank at least doesn't have the snakeskin issue.
If she runs this year she may get treated to a Tim tank in future!
 
Nice tank:)
I would run it as is (with a filter). Maybe some white vinegar in the one corner overnight.
You could pick up more swarf from the forecourt tanks than you'll get from that.
 
Yup - The lack of baffles is another good nudge towards a Tim Tank!

Spent a while "fishing" in the tank with a telescopic magnet so most of the loose stuff is now out :)
 

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Could sell the rust to a model railway builder, perfect to use on the scrap yard in a layout..
I used genuine toyota rav 4 cross member on mine :D
 
I gave my tank a wash out with thinners and I have an in line fuel filter before and after the (mechanical) fuel pump. This has done the trick for me.
 

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Currently soaking up 2 litres of CLR and a lot of water - I'll update in about a week!

Stripped the outside as well using "yes I'm trade" paint stripper.

My other half liked the rust suggestion and has claimed it for her theatre models.
 

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Excellent. Worth saving some of the solution to use on other rust busting projects - or engine flush.
 
Good results after the soak. Thanks Panky for the recommendation.

Currently coated in WD40 on the inside and aquasteel outside. Enamel coat outside later this week and then it can go back into its freshly prepared home.
 

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Glad it worked OK :)
Be careful using Aquasteel on bare shiny metal, it's great for rusty surfaces but doesn't adhere very well to good metal. Give it a good scrub with a wire brush and make sure it doesn't flake off before painting.
 
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