Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

Well, decided to unclog the fuel line and drain gas tank. What I found was astounding. 8 gallons of bright orange gas, lots of rust, sending unit rusted solid, couldn't blow out fuel line. So I drained the gas and dropped the tank out, suprisingly it took about 10 minutes. I started cleaning it out with degreaser and all of a sudden big gummy chunks of what looked like putty and rust started coming out...lots of it. I guess someone tried to put in liquid tank sealer and didn't get a good bond. I got out about a quart to quart and a half of solids. Swept up what I could and took a picture. Anazingly, the rust just fell off the sending unit and it still works, and the inside of the tank is clean now. Will still get it boiled out. REALLY glad I looked
http://www.311s.org/phpBB2/album_pic.php?pic_id=111

and gas tank after soap and water
http://www.311s.org/phpBB2/album_pic.php?pic_id=112

"Put a tiger in your tank!" That's a definite age-marker, hehehehe. And I bet you remember it as Esso, too. Still have one of those flowers on the wall in my old bedroom at Mom's house.

Regarding your gas tank......YIKES!!!

What gives. I just filled up a Esso last night,
and the tiger is still part of the advertizing.

http://www.wildtigers.bravehost.com/News/tessa.html

Exxon replaced Esso, Enco, and the Humble brands in 1972 in the USA. Exxon continued to use the "Tiger in Your Tank" advertising, but I don't remember anything recent.

It's amazing the tangents we all go off on...Now back to the important part of this post...the tiger. Exxon was giving away little tiger tails to put around your gas cap maybe about 1985?, not sure but it was around then. Nothing is new anymore, they just dredge up old stuff and call it Retro.

By the way, the tangents are the fun part, if everything stayed on topic it would be too much like work.

That probably isn't sealer. That is what happens when gas sits for a long time. My tank had about 1/2 inch of that stuff in the bottom. I have seen several other tanks that had that gunk in the bottom. Make sure you get it all out.

Glenn

What it was is best described as thin white putty like strip caulk with rust stuck to it. The metal underneath was absolutley clean, almost like it was acid etched. What rust is left isn't even adhered to the steel, just sitting on top of it. Very strange. I've seen the white powdery sludge before in aluminum tanks. this was strange, tou could roll it up into a ball. No matter, it is out. By the way, does the gas pickup tube in the tank just end about 1/2 inch above the bottom, or is there an inlet screen?

The pickup tube just ends...

Good, then I'm not missing anything! An actual repair without a part purchase, how odd.

Update...What's not in my fuel pump...

The nice old fashioned AC electric fuel pump back under the trunk was making an odd sound and not pumping, so of course it's time to open it up and see why. Well there is supposed to be a diaphram under the cover when you open it up. All I had was a small lump of black goo where the rubber diaphram should be and the electrical section was full of gasoline. Not a good thing, sparks, gas, confined space. So, new pump on the way, will move it up to the engine compartment and replace ALL rubber hoses.

Why not just go with a stock mechanical pump? The last one that I bought I got at Pep Boys. It was ON THE SHELF!!

I like the electric because I can shut it off. Car theft is BAD around here.
I'm hooking it up to the S/Brake switch. I never use the S/Brakes anyway, they are way to strong.