We recently had a local radiator repair shop clean the rust from an older used 1949-72 Chevrolet/GMC gas tank. They submerged it in a cleaning acid tank overnight. The price was over $75.00. WOW! It was expensive!
Several months later we discovered an “old school” method that is a very low cost. Oh well, we live and learn. Thus done as follows: Back in the days of the Great Depression money was a scarce commodity and economical methods were used or otherwise things probably did not get done. It was discovered that granulated (not solid block agricultural molasses or what you buy in the grocery store) mixed with one pound per gallon of water removed rust. Fill your older Chevrolet/GMC gas tank with this combination and wait about a week. Surprise! Your gas tank is shiny clean inside.
You can even put a lid on a five gallon bucket from a hardware store and your small parts covered with this formula will have all the rust removed in less than a week.
NOTE: Agricultural granulated molasses is used to mix with livestock feed. It causes farm animals to eat otherwise less desirable feeds because of its attractive sweet taste.
Retail price at a livestock feed store is about .85 cents per pound.
This data is provided by MIKE RUSSELL of COLUMBIA, MISSOURI.
Another Cleaning Technique!
Several years ago, we heard of a gas tank economical cleaning method that cleans most tanks every time and its FREE!
Attach the gas tank to a farm tractor large rear wheel before a day in the field. Add about a pint of ¼” gravel. The slow rotation of the large wheel will move the gravel continually inside the old tank. Sometimes even by noon, the rust is all removed as the gravel continually moved inside the tanks. Just pour out all contents and the tank is cleaned!
