9 replies to this topic

[orac69]

Hello again.

 

'94 spi, just replaced the fuel filter (the one which came off was "motoequip~" brand, no idea how long its been on there) - and the fuel which was inside it was dirty chocolate brown colour.   Is this normal(ish)?     

 

Should I be worried my tank is on its way out?   Its a low mileage car, garage queen, surely it cant be a rusty tank which needs replacing..?

 

tia

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[MatthewsDad]

I have a 95 spi and the same crud came out of an old filter when I first changed it. This prompted me to clean out the tank. Your tank isn't necessarily on the way out, it's just got 30 years worth of corrosion inside it. Clean out with care, replace filter, should be ok. Change to non-threaded filter at the same time.

[Steve220]

Thats corrosion. Tank needs a good clean out!

[DeadSquare]

Without the filter, you'd never have been worried about what goes through your engine.

 

The filter is just doing its job.

 

The best stuff to swill a tank out, is petrol, and empty it through the gauge orifice.  When it is dry, mop any crud that is left in nooks, with slices of bread..

[orac69]

Thanks, will clean it out as suggested.  After searching a bit I found some people use Frosts Tank Sealer / POR 15 kit - but at £100 or so I think I will give that a miss for now...

[MatthewsDad]

I personally wouldn't bother with any products, the tank just needs a good swill out. The new filter will do the rest.

[MiniJosh92]

Not uncommon, people neglect the fuel filters on injection cars, that has probably been fitted for 20 years plus!

[NLinPEN]

I personally would not worry too much about it. As was already said: these filters are often overlooked and stay in the car for much longer than they are supposed to be. Mount a new filter, and check it in one or two years time. If you then again have a lot of crud in the filter you could consider cleaning out the tank.

[Steve220]

Not uncommon, people neglect the fuel filters on injection cars, that has probably been fitted for 20 years plus!

Easily forgotten considering its location! 😆 I replace it every 2 years.

[orac69]

Tank removed, cleaned out and dried thoroughly.  Quite brown, and lots of bits in the bottom.   There was a 6" or so long patch of rust ive scrubbed with a narrow brush taped to a cricket stump, and put some of that rust convertor stuff on it which has turned it black. New filter fitted and hopefully that will do it for the next few years.

 

Also I think as recommended by some, Im going to keep the fuel tank full of the good stuff too in future.

 

Oh, one more thing, my fuel level gauge never read "full" - it never went past 3/4 or so.  I found a rubber ring in the bottom of the tank which should have been around the float of the sender - so hopefully thats fixed now too.  Bonus.

 

Thanks all!

Edited by orac69, Today, 10:10 AM.