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Petrol Tank
Cleaning.
by Alan Billington
I read Brian Shaw's account of his Austin 7
holiday to the north-east, and his petrol tank problem, with great interest.
About 17 years ago, I was also faced with the problem of cleaning the inside
of the petrol tank whilst restoring my 1929 Chummy, and I was given the
following tip:
1. Drain and remove the tank from the car.
2. Put a shovelful of gravel inside the tank and replace the cap.
3. Shake and/or rotate the tank in all directions so that the gravel abrades all internal surfaces.
4. Finally, empty the gravel and wash the inside of the tank using clean petrol.
I was absolutely amazed at the amount of filth that came out of mine.
When thoroughly dry, apply Petrol Tank Sealant.
Chummies have a gravity feed petrol system and there aren't any baffles
inside the scuttle mounted tank. Later box saloons and Rubies have a pumped
system with a rear mounted tank. I do not know if baffles are fitted in a rear
mounted tank, but if they are, there may be a problem with moving the gravel
around internally. Can anyone comment via these columns, please?
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Finally, a word on Petrol Tank Sealant. I used it about 17 years ago and it has
been excellent. I note that Brian had a problem at about 20 years, so I will
keep an eye on my tank in the near future, although we may not have used the
same product.
There are several brands available, the one that I used is called POR 15 Tank
Sealer, and it is available from:
LB Restoration Services, Tel/Fax: 01208 269 746 Bodmin, Cornwall
E-mail: sales@lb-restoration.co.uk
www.lb-restoration.co.uk
A small tin, 1 pint, is more than adequate for an A7 tank and costs £15.50 +
post and packing. Do check prices before ordering as it is an import and the
exchange rate at present is rather volatile.
I was very careful to follow the instructions on the tin, because a minimum
temperature is required for the sealant to cure. If this still applies,
ensure a warm, flame-free environment for best results.
LB Restorations attend most major car and bike shows, so a direct purchase
would obviously save the postal costs.
Footnote: When I cleaned my tank, I did not have any gravel to hand, so I used
a tin of old nuts, bolts and washers of assorted sizes, which worked very well.
The above method worked for me, so I hope it also works for you.
LB Restorations produce an excellent booklet on petrol tank restoration,
give them a call, ask for Geoff.
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