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Fuel polishing vs removing tanks and cleaning

Taboma

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Most of my transferring is done either after a semi truck rollover or when one is damaged and needs offloading. I’m not an expert by any means. First time I hunkered down and drilled a 3” hole into the top (which was actually the side) of a rolled 9000 gallon semi tank mostly full of gasoline it brought a new respect for making sure there wasn’t any static buildup.

Uhhh yeah, that would pucker your asshole for sure. Use pneumatic and have somebody hitting you and the bit with a constant spray of water might help. I'll let you know after more testing, if carrying a tile of granite in your pocket renders you static neutral --- portable earth ground, lol ;)
 

DLow

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Uhhh yeah, that would pucker your asshole for sure. Use pneumatic and have somebody hitting you and the bit with a constant spray of water might help. I'll let you know after more testing, if carrying a tile of granite in your pocket renders you static neutral --- portable earth ground, lol ;)
Intrinsically safe pneumatic tools with high dollar bits. We are typically drilling aluminum, so that makes it easier. Grounded and bonded as we discussed then a nice foam blanket down on the ground. No water on us. Drill a hole, pump it out through a grounded/bonded angle cut rigid pickup tube, then move on to the next tank. Sometimes will drill next hole while first tank pumps out. Usually 4, sometimes 5 individual tanks per trailer. All while in full turnouts with air packs on. I’d rather do it in shorts and flip flops. Not like I’d live through an explosion. Rather be comfy.
 

lIQUIDATEDdAMAGES

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Do you use a fuel biocide? Probably a dumb question.

Most of the stuff growing in diesel tanks is anaerobic bacteria.

Yes. Used the valve Tec treatment and also tried Biobor neither touched the issue i had going...


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zermenojr

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Any reason you didn't try cleaning them first?
Once we learned the tanks were coming out it just made sense to replace. The original tanks lasted 30 yrs without any issues. I guess just peace of mind. Check out what the fuel did to the sender. Kenny at Eliminator said it was the nastiest he has ever seen....
 

Big B Hova

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So the guy comes out on friday to remove and discard the fuel & acetone wash the tanks. He says it will take 4-5 hours. I plan on taking some photos while he does it. Curious to see the set up he has.
 

Big B Hova

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Fuckin Boat people. I call today to confirm my appointment for tomorrow morning at 7am. Now he can't make it tomorrow and price went up from 650 to 975. Because its a 3.5 hour drive to my house. Normally when you quote someone and your a mobile business you would research that..... or atleast I would.

Guess tanks are gonna get pulled afterall!!!
 

ham&cheese

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Fuckin Boat people. I call today to confirm my appointment for tomorrow morning at 7am. Now he can't make it tomorrow and price went up from 650 to 975. Because its a 3.5 hour drive to my house. Normally when you quote someone and your a mobile business you would research that..... or atleast I would.

Guess tanks are gonna get pulled afterall!!!

You are getting close to the price point of brand new gas tanks man. I had the same issue with the gunk crushed up walnuts and that sand type debris. Pull the gas tanks yourself and take them to Tank It Inc here in Havasu. He will copy the tanks exactly to what you have now.. For less money then Imco can do them. He's building my tanks right now and they come with brand new sending units as well. There's no guarantee that cleaning them will solve all your problems especially in the future if any of that garbage shows up again
 

Bigbore500r

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You are getting close to the price point of brand new gas tanks man. I had the same issue with the gunk crushed up walnuts and that sand type debris. Pull the gas tanks yourself and take them to Tank It Inc here in Havasu. He will copy the tanks exactly to what you have now.. For less money then Imco can do them. He's building my tanks right now and they come with brand new sending units as well. There's no guarantee that cleaning them will solve all your problems especially in the future if any of that garbage shows up again
This is a good recommendation. 100% new and ready for another 30+ years. Imagine spending $975 and having the issue remain when your done......that would be a pisser!
 

Big B Hova

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Having the tanks removed and boiled at a radiator shop will get rid of all the crud. Once they are removed we will have a look at the condition and decide
 

Kbach

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Having the tanks removed and boiled at a radiator shop will get rid of all the crud. Once they are removed we will have a look at the condition and decide

Not sure if you already have a shop in mind but Marshal and the guys at The Radiator Works are probably the best in the valley, if not So Cal. On Parthenia just east of Reseda.
 

ham&cheese

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Having the tanks removed and boiled at a radiator shop will get rid of all the crud. Once they are removed we will have a look at the condition and decide
When they boil and acid wash them it will also eat away at the inside walls of the gas tanks.. then the shit just keeps coming back out of no where
 

Mandelon

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Is all this debris in the tanks that you guys are posting from dried out gas from a decade or more of boating and evaporation over that time?

Could some of it be from the fuel stations tanks as well? Pumped into your tank from theirs?

Would it be worth it going forward to install some sort of fine screen vent at the filler neck?
 

ham&cheese

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My boat was sitting out in the desert for 10 years so who knows how they got so thrashed. I don't think it was from pumping gas at Chevron haha
 

Big B Hova

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Is all this debris in the tanks that you guys are posting from dried out gas from a decade or more of boating and evaporation over that time?

Could some of it be from the fuel stations tanks as well? Pumped into your tank from theirs?

Would it be worth it going forward to install some sort of fine screen vent at the filler neck?

My boat sat for a decent period of time with no fuel treatment before I bought it.
 

rvrrun

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Is all this debris in the tanks that you guys are posting from dried out gas from a decade or more of boating and evaporation over that time?

Could some of it be from the fuel stations tanks as well? Pumped into your tank from theirs?

Would it be worth it going forward to install some sort of fine screen vent at the filler neck?
Anything fine enough to catch the debris, would have you filling the tanks at a snails pace.
 

Big B Hova

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Tanks are out of the boat. I think I'll be ordering new tanks to replace them. Theres a welded aluminum baffle in the middle of the tank that would make it hard to clean the front half of the tank because filler neck and sending units are in the rear portion.
 
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