cleaning the fuel tank

[dylan5084]

I'm suspicious of a dirty fuel tank, is there a good fuel tank additive that works? I'll obviously be putting a new fuel filter on afterwards... Any tips?

[bobhatton]

I'm suspicious of a dirty fuel tank, is there a good fuel tank additive that works? I'll obviously be putting a new fuel filter on afterwards... Any tips?

Remove fuel tank and clean out.

[dylan5084]

Was hoping to avoid that... How big a job is it?

[rgb]

theres a drain plug on the bottom of the tank ,you don't need to take the tank off.

[ashley]

theres a drain plug on the bottom of the tank ,you don't need to take the tank off.

Not on the later revision, just Rev1 from what I recall...plus once you pull it out you destroy the plug and need a replacement don't you?

[C35Rob]

theres a drain plug on the bottom of the tank ,you don't need to take the tank off.

Not on the later revision, just Rev1 from what I recall...plus once you pull it out you destroy the plug and need a replacement don't you?

definitely no drain plug on my Rev 3. and having removed and refitted a tank before it's not something I'd want to do again in a hurry, not on axle stands at least.

[thomp1983]

Strangely rob i did mine about 6 weeks ago on stands and didn't find it a bad job, admittedly a spare pair of hands was useful when refitting.

Definitely make sure it's as empty as possible before removal

[C35Rob]

Strangely rob i did mine about 6 weeks ago on stands and didn't find it a bad job, admittedly a spare pair of hands was useful when refitting.

Definitely make sure it's as empty as possible before removal

I did mine alone, it was about 5 degrees outside and it was half full of fuel when I dropped it out it took about 7 hours start to finish, that was changing the fuel pump for a 255lph too. if I was to do it again I think it'd take a lot less time.

[Slarty]

It's very unlikely that you actually have "dirt" in your fuel tank. When I restored my Mini years back, I took the tank out and at the time it was about 20 years old. Absolutely spotless inside, not a trace of any contamination.

Also, you have a fuel filter to protect the injectors against any "dirt".

[thomp1983]

Sadly that's not true, woodsport recently replaced a mk1 fuel tank that had corroded internally and took a walbro out with it and my mk2 is showing some signs of internal corrosion albeit not flaking off yet

[masterbateson]

I reckon a lot of it comes down to if car is regularly filled to the top for the majority of its life.
I bet the cars who just get a tenner a week and very rarely are filled to the top are the tanks that corode.

I bet if tanks full most of the time the fuel will help prevent rot.

That could be a load of rot i just talked about though.

[thomp1983]

It's not so much the fuel stops the tank rotting but the lack of airspace, when there's a big airspace the air condenses and the moisture causes the rust, obviously there's always some airspace to allow for fuel expansion.

[dylan5084]

I usually fill it to the top but the car has Sat with it on the reserve for the winter, I'm going to throw a additive in to it and change the filter, was out for a drive yesterday Woo I love that car

[StevenstonWullie]

forte gas treatment added to a full tank deffo works