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#1161917 04/23/2016 7:35 PM
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 11
F
New Guy
New Guy
F Offline
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 11
I am back working in my chevy 54 truck. after 7 years of being stopped, you can imagine how the fuel tank was.
I cleaned it this weekend. After washing and making sure no more dirt came out, I put it under the sun for hours to dry.

Now the question is should I keep it full or empty of gas if I will not start the engine in maybe couple of months?

Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 4,066
Bolter
Bolter
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 4,066
I think I would just use a little out of a jug before
I got serious about putting the tank back on, do all the preparations for restarting after all this time not running first before you even try to get it running..


Redryder pix
My Hotrod
A veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard, or reserve - is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to The 'United States of America', for an amount of "up to and including my life."
I am fighting cancer and I am winning the fight | Pain is part of life; misery is an option.

Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 7,440
Bolter
Bolter
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 7,440
They sell a product you can spray into the tank to keep it from rusting while you finish you other work. Should be available at your FLAPS.


Martin
'62 Chevy C-10 Stepside Shortbed (Restomod in progress)
'47 Chevy 3100 5 Window (long term project)
‘65 Chevy Biscayne (Emily)
‘39 Dodge Business Coupe (Clarence)
“I fought the law and the law won" now I are a retired one!
Support those brave men/women who stand the "Thin Blue Line"! Hug a cop!
USAF 1965-1969 Weather Observation Tech (I got paid to look at the clouds)

Joined: May 2001
Posts: 7,438
Extreme Gabster
Extreme Gabster
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 7,438
I'd put Red-Kote in it.


"It's just a phase. He'll grow out of it." Mama, 1964

1956 Chevy 1/2-ton 3100
1953 Chevy 6100 "The Yard dog"
1954 GMC Suburban Now with a new proud owner.
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 10,272
5
Renaissance Man
Renaissance Man
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 10,272
Originally Posted by FracFSM
Now the question is should I keep it full or empty of gas if I will not start the engine in maybe couple of months?
To answer your question directly, I would suggest filling the tank completely with ethanol-free gas. I bought my current 1950 3100 with 12 gallons of 15-20 year old gas in the tank. I drained the tank and poured the orange-colored gas into a work truck (not mine)and drove it 120 miles to get rid of it. There was very little sediment in the tank, nor rust on the side of the tank. I am assuming that the old gas was ethanol-free, given the age and that ethanol didn't come to Virginia until 2006.
Carl


1952 5-window - return to "as built" condition | 1950 3100 with a 235 and a T-5 transmission
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 5,096
E
Crusing in the Passing Lane
Crusing in the Passing Lane
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Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 5,096
I have used old gas, non-alcohol, and ended up bending pushrods when the valves seized due to varnish from old fuel, others have had same issues-don't waste energy on old fuel, not worth it.

Ed


'37 GMC T-18 w/ DD 4-53T, RTO-610, 6231 aux., '95 GMC running gear, full disc brakes, power steering, 22.5 wheels and tires.
'47 GMC 1 ton w/ 302, NP-540, 4wd, full width Blazer front axle.
'54 GMC 630 w/ 503 gasser, 5 speed, ex fire truck, shortened WB 4', install 8' bed.
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5
Renaissance Man
Renaissance Man
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Posts: 10,272
Originally Posted by EdPruss
I have used old gas, non-alcohol, and ended up bending pushrods when the valves seized due to varnish from old fuel, others have had same issues-don't waste energy on old fuel, not worth it.

Ed
You bring up a good point, Ed. I would not have used that ancient gas in any of my vehicles. I used up that gas in a truck which was literally on its way to the bone yard.
Carl


1952 5-window - return to "as built" condition | 1950 3100 with a 235 and a T-5 transmission
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,987
R
'Bolter
'Bolter
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,987
I never bent any push rods, but I gummed up the valves pretty good on my F-350 when I first got it running. Ended up replacing the tank. Fortunately I was able to find a used one that was nice and clean.


Rich
1947 Loadmaster
1947 Chev. Loadmaster
1959 Chev. Viking 40

Life is short--eat dessert first!
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 336
C
Shop Shark
Shop Shark
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Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 336
I wouldn't trust just putting it under the sun to dry. I recommend purging the tank with a fan blowing into it.


1959 3100 Apache Fleetside
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,307
K
'Bolter
'Bolter
K Offline
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,307
Put a little outboard oil in with the gas and swish it around to get some oil in the. Cracks. The oil wont hurt the engine might smoke a bit. Will keep the tank from starting to rust inside especially after a rince. The outboard oil is made to. Burnt by the outboard anyway.


1954 Canadian GMC 9300
"The Journey"
Follow in the DITY

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