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I need some help on whether i should remove the tank and check it out. The truck has been sitting for 8 yrs. I just bought it and i need some feed back

Siphon a little gas out and taste it.

If it tastes rusty...then get rid of the tank.

J/K...lol

Stick your nose to the filler hole and sniff. If it smells like varnish, then the tank will need cleaned. I had pretty good luck pulling mine and pressure washing it out at the self serve car wash, but you never know. Just be sure to get all the water out when you are done. It helps to pull the sending unit so you can really get in there and blast at it. It also helps to start by pouring a bit of gas into it and letting it soak on the caked on crap in the bottom. Drain that off and dispose of it properly though.

A lot of radiator shops will dip clean them for you for cheap too. Saves effort and does a better job, but I'm cheap and my tank wasn't that bad.

You may find that it leaks once you get it cleaned up too. If it sat with some gas in it, the varnish that the gas left behind would keep it from rusting too badly, but it might have had leaks/cracks in it before it was parked too.


That all said, I've got a truck that sat for 5 years and I just dumped a couple gallons in it and fired it up. I flushed the worst of the gunk out of the lines, then put a new filter on it up by the carb before running the motor off the tank gas. Other than that though, I just ran it and it worked. I wasn't that worried about it being a daily driver right away though.

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95 Isuzu Trooper Daily Driver
86 Isuzu Trooper reliable backup
77 LUV 2wd stock beltway blaster (resting)
79 4x4 LUV project: 2.6L, 5spd, 31s (eventually)

MEPR: Man, my 4x4 makes all other LUVs look good

Not to sound like an advertisement for the stuff but check out P.O.R. 15. They make a fuel tank sealer, it works great.

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'76 MUD project, 1 ton axles, lockers, 20" Lift, Big Smallblock, On board air, 54" Boggers, Hummer Double beadlocks, External Rollcage... in the works.

The best thing you can do with an old gas tank that has been sitting for a long time with old gas in it is....remove it, drain it, clean it out, check it for leaks...and if it doesn't leak...seal it before you re-use it.

If it has leaks...then you better go shopping for a new tank at your local junkyards.

If you decide to replace the tank...here's a suggestion...try to find the largest one that you can that will still fit...so that you don't have to stop for fuel so often.

I have a 18 gallon tank in my 78 Luv...and it works out way better than the old smaller stock one that was shot.

The trouble with old import gas tanks is they were not good enough quality to set for long periods of time with old fuel in them without ending up with the coating eating away or rust holes developing.

My compliments to you for having the good sense to ask...because there are a lot of folks driving around with old leaky tanks or tanks so full of gunk that they plug up fuel filters by the dozens because they never bothered to ask anyone or to check them out.

Good luck!

tumwatertaz: What car/truck did you find a tank out of that is 18 gallons ? That sounds pretty interesting. . .

Austin

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1975 Chevy LUV Rockabilly Stepside:
Satin Black, V-8 Traditionally Named "Dean"