Fuel tank dried gunk / varnish

[jimbouk]

Starting the process of bringing a 1960 Mini Minor back to life....

As a result of sitting idle for the last 20 years, the fuel tank has dried out, have put some fuel in but the exit pipe is blocked, as is the drain valve.

Have taken the tank out and it does not appear rusty inside, I'm guessing the old fuel has just left a residue in there. New fuel has not dissolved it, any suggests on what might?

Wondering about thinners or engine degreaser?

I've already rebuilt the fuel pump and fitted an inline fuel filter before the pump in anticipation of some crud coming out. Tried to poke a coat hanger through the exit pipe but it meets resistance, is there a gauze on the end? Thought I should check before I resort to brute force...

Thanks

J

Any advice welcomed...

[guru_1071]

there is a gauze in the tank, and it nearly impossible to get it out if its blocked - i made the mistake of using some of that tank lining paint on a tank and when it dried it blocked the filter up good and proper!

if i where you id connect an air line to the fuel outlet and with low pressure to start see if you can blow through it, it might take a fair bit of pressure to start if its really bunged up - but once air is flowing you can agitate it a bit - ive also filled a paraffin gun up with thinner / petrol and blown that though with compressed air to try and clean the mesh.

if you try any of these methods make sure you do it with the cap of and outside - the compressed air really does mix the fuel up into a fire ready vapour (it stinks as well)

ive alwasy wipped the tank out the car when this has happened to me - better safe than sorry!. also then you can remove the sender and squint through the hole with a torch and try and see how badly blocked it is.

[jimbouk]

Thanks, I'll try some of those approaches.

As I have fitted an inline filter, I suppose I could as a last resort force a thick piece of wire through the gauze and puncture a hole.

Hopefully it will not come to that!

[111Robin]

Had the same with my Mini 30, stored for the past 13 years but last year the carb jets kept sticking due to sticky brown gunk. I initially cleaned the jets and got everything moving again but a few weeks later it was just the same. Took the tank out and could see the solid layer of rock hard residue inside. Took out the sender unit and it was absolutely solid with the stuff. I put a new tank in to solve it. I was worried about the fuel line but it seems to have been ok with no issues since fitting the new tank. I doubt you could clean it successfully, it's a very hard glazed material,
Robin

[jimbouk]

Just to say thanks for the tips, a combination of an airline and an assault from a wide variety of chemicals, from drain unblocker to thinners got there in the end.

Just need to repaint the tank before I put it back in, then hopefully I will have fuel getting to the front of the car.