Cleaning Gas Fuel Tanks

[daylategeorge]

Has anyone ever cleaned their tanks out (or know of anyone who has) by syphoning out all of the gas and then using a shop vac to clean any residue from the bottom. I've been reading about it online but I'm a bit uneasy about using something electrical around gas tanks... Any info would be much appreciated.
Thanks Guys

[Flyboy]

you should feel uneasy, using a shop vac in a gas tank is asking for trouble of the explosive type. Better find another way. Air pumps that use a venturi are safe.

[comodave]

Boat/US insurance magazine has documented quite a few claims from people trying to vacuum out their bilges. I would not even think about doing a fuel tank.

[prowlersfish]

I would never ever use a shop vac in a fuel tank . Once the fumes got to the vac ... boom

[Big D]

.... Air pumps that use a venturi are safe.

+1 but you have to have the right set up; under the right conditions, fast moving air can generate a static discharge. Can't be too safe here; ground everything and vetilate ventilate ventilate. Please don't use a shop vac.

[daylategeorge]

Thanks Guys. Your responses have confirmed my thoughts on this. Can't agree more and can't believe they put stuff like this out on the net!!! I've drained the tanks and think I'll leave well enough alone.
Thanks again

[larryeddington]

curious, how did you drain the tanks, I did siphon mine but boat was blocked and on the hard and had to use a long hose and was not an easy or pleasant task. If boat in water how to siphon when you cannot get below tank level with a receiving tankage. I have heard some using an electric fuel pump to pump tanks dry to another tankage.

If I were to want to suck out bottom goo would set up a vacuum pump to a receiver and a hose from it to bottom of tank, but would be complicated to use and set up and the device would need to be external to the boat. One could also use a manual crash pump that would be a throw away as the fuel would damage it.

Just saying not an easy task.

I did mine as I was removing tanks and had to get them light enough to lift out.

Just saying gas in vapor form is more potential than dynamite.

[Stripermann2]

I knew a guy at the beach who was having an old, underground fuel tank removed from his place of business 4 years ago. The tank was from an old gas station more than 50 years old. Once the crane had lifted it from the ground, he was on top of the tank and started cutting a pipe or fitting with a sawzall...there was enough stale fumes and it blew him as high a telephone pole and into a neighboring yard. It killed him...it was very tragic.

Sometimes when you assume the best, expect the worst.

http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2010 ... 010/536489