How To Remove Severe Varnish From Gas Tank With Household Chemicals

Here is a video showing what helped me remove serious varnish build up from my Honda fuel tank. Scooter sat for 3 or so years. I haven’t tried these on a carburetor but it may work too. I hope this helps, make me feel special by hitting the “like” button.

[filmart]

This is why I love YouTube. I have a problem and after a couple of YouTube searches I came across this perfectly explained video. 👍👍👍

[josstark]

Thanks for comparing all the "solvents". Bought a bike that was sitting for 2 years with fuel in it and wasn't sure what would work best. This separates the rumors from the facts.

[timthetortoise]

Awesome and extremely effective testing method. Denatured alcohol saved the most sludged/varnished up motorcycle tank I've ever seen in my life. I used a gallon of denatured alcohol, agitated over the course of the day, emptied, then pressure washed with hot water, dried immediately, and hit it with WD-40. The tank looks unbelievably good. Thanks for this comparison!

[peterverbyla]

In Australia, Denatured Alcohol is called Methylated Spirits ... why? No idea. Anyway, Methylated Spirits from Bunnings (Home Depot equivalent) worked on my Drill Auger tank and I am now de-varnishing my chainsaw, pole pruner brushcutter (all in use), and my project trike (Big Red). TIP: I have found that this summer in Australia (hot!) when I have an appliance that has an opaque fuel tank (like on the auger), the combination of sun and non-use causes gumming (varnish) to build in the fuel. I left the auger for a week (shame) and the fuel went off, the fuel filter went soft and I had to clean the carburetor. The tank bottom was scaled in varnish. All good now, so many thanks.

[tomassmith]

Thank you for this video! I have a fuel tank that sat for 14 years and the outlet was completely plugged. Added about a pint of denatured alcohol, let it set overnight, and viola! Free flowing tank!

[nadanutcase]

THANKS for a clear, simple comparison. I happen to have a good supply of denatured alcohol on hand and it's sure safer to handle than MEK, so you've given me a good, timely tip.

[jackschmelzle]

Just wanted to say Thank You. You saved me from having to buy a new gas tank. I found the denatured alcohol worked really well at dissolving the gummy varnish in my tank.

[donkuwik]

I was tasked with cleaning a steel motorcycle fuel tank that had gasoline in it since 1998 and it reeked of varnish. After watching your video, I used M.E.K. along with drywall screws and a two hour soak and shake. Complete success. Thank You for posting, and your generous sharing of valuable information.

[lyledubois]

I used a gallon of methyl hydrate in my gerry gerry can, with half box (50) 5/16" nuts and shook it up, then let it sit for 15 min, then shook more, rinsed a few times with half gallon more of methyl hydrate, and it came out spotless, remoVED ALL varnish . Thanks for your vid as it gave me proper direction with what to use.

[frankjerseytomato]

HI, ,,, thanks so much the denatured alcohol worked 100 percent, ,,, I had 1974 triumph gas tank that was sitting for 30 years I put in one gallon and some pieces of metal chain and every few hour for 2 days moved it back and forth, , can out spotless, ,, thanks again

[johnmorse]

That’s a lot of work you did I appreciate it, I have a generator tank that is varnished nowhere near that Honda.

[johnpaulgarrett]

Thanks for doing the legwork for all of us. I'm getting the MEK!

[ryry]

Oh wow...so I just went and bought muriatic acid to do my take. Pulled the petcock and since I do glass work I had denatured alcohol and I was blown away at how clean I got it with that. Good video 🤘

[stoolie]

Denatured alcohol works amazingly well at removing old varnished gas from a generator gas tank. 👍 👌

[johnfaris]

Great video! For years I have tried all kinds of chemicals. MEK is what I’m going for

[bobedigi]

Life saver because Acetone was working but not good enough. Thanks

[dieselgeezer]

came here from Dylan McCool
's video. I will give you a sub!

[lilTryhard]

This was extremely helpful!
I just bought an old '79 Suzuki and the varnish buildup in the gas tank is unreal. Not quite as bad as yours though lol

[brucelampe]

That looks like a 1983 Ch80 Honda scooter. 2-stroke. I had the same model. Flipped it doing wheelies, I would sit way back on the seat and punch it and when it shifted to 2nd, up and over it went. I sold it to pay bills, wish I still had it. It was $799 brand new, man I miss those days.

[nathanturner]

Thanks for the help man I’m gonna pick up some MEK today to clean out my Harley tank!