Getting sludge out of oil tank?

jaydee75 · Jul 28, 2018

I was changing my oil today, and looking into the oil tank with a flashlight, I saw quite a sludge build-up on the bottom. I flushed it a couple of times with clean oil, but the sludge remained. I scraped it with a long 1/4 inch wooden dowel and it brought up a big blob of congealed grease (sludge).

Can anyone come up with a way to get that sludge out without removing the oil tank? Flushing agent?
I can't scrape it from above at all and I'm afraid attempts will just stir the sludge up and circulate it.
Has anyone else noticed this?
Jaydee

Mr. Rick · Jul 28, 2018

Well, you have already loosened a bunch of nasty stuff, by scraping on it.
It's not a nice job, taking the tank off, but it's not a killer, either, and gives you a chance to check the tank bottom for cracks and provide some real support underneath.

ashman · Jul 28, 2018

Take the tank off and block all the holes and fill it with kero spashing it around a bit and let sit over night, next day empty it with all the sluge and refill it a few times to flush all the sluge out, this is the best way to do it flush it till nice and clean and blow out with compressed air each time you do it to remove all loose bits, have fun.

Ashley

grandpaul · Jul 28, 2018

It's got to come off. I use a flashlight and long screwdriver to scrape out most of the sludge, then take it to a carwash and use high pressure wand set on hot soapy water for a full cycle. Let it air dry a bit, then old gasoline and a rag, checking with the flashlight, till it's totally clean. One quick flush with 1/4 cup fresh gas and let it dry out, reinstall.

RoadScholar · Jul 28, 2018

Remove the tank and take it to any auto/motorcycle service facility and pay them to flush it in their Safety-Clean solvent sink, it won't cost you much and you won't be spreading that highly carcinogenic heavy metal in your house/yard or on your body. The sludge won't get into the environment and the tank will be completely clean. When you get it home wash the tank with hot soapy water, rinse it with Isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol, blow it out with compressed air.. Remount, refill, go worry about something else.

The tip about giving the lower mounting boss a hard look, if you still have one, is important.

I'm sure glad I don't live in Laredo, Texas....

Mr. Rick · Jul 28, 2018

Very good advice from RoadScholar.

jaydee75 · Jul 29, 2018

OK guys, I guess there isn't an easy way out. I didn't want to remove it, but I guess I realized it was really the only good way.
Thanks for all the encouragement. Out it comes, and then she'll be ready for another 43 years.
Jaydee

marshg246 · Jul 29, 2018

jaydee75 said:
Can anyone come up with a way to get that sludge out without removing the oil tank? Flushing agent?
I can't scrape it from above at all and I'm afraid attempts will just stir the sludge up and circulate it.
Has anyone else noticed this?
Jaydee

Since the feed to the engine is higher than the bottom of the tank, the sludge doesn't really hurt anything. Since the drain isn't at the very bottom, getting it all loose won't let you get it out once loosened.

So, as other's have said, the tank needs to come off to get it out. Now that you've messed with it, you really should get it out! Kerosene and nuts and bolts and a bunch of shaking works well. Diesel fuel works, but not as well. Gasoline works even better.

If you REALLY don't want to take the tank off:

Put in enough kerosene or diesel to cover the bottom well
Use a long brush to loosen it.
Drain.
Repeat until it comes out fairly clean.
Use a turkey baster with an attached hose to suck out the rest. If there's a tiny bit of kerosene or diesel left, it won't hurt anything.

jseng1 · Jul 29, 2018

Every time I change my oil I use a long 3 prong spring loaded parts grabber to hold a wad of tissue paper to dab around the bottom of the oil tank and remove most of that crud.

grandpaul · Jul 29, 2018

RoadScholar said:
I'm sure glad I don't live in Laredo, Texas..

The car washes all around Texas are required to have significant traps due to heavy every day oil field truck use. An occasional Norton oil tank is small beans.

jaydee75 · Jul 29, 2018

Well, I got the tank out this afternoon. I think I'd rather pull the head! That bottom bolt is almost inaccessible.
I've got it soaking in gas and will attack it tomorrow.

N0rt0nelectr@ · Jul 30, 2018

Don't replace the bottom bolt! Check for cracks around the boss at the bottom, have it cut off and a metal plate welded in place of the boss. Use a gas tank mounting pad under the tank to support it. This is a way better way to support the oil tank and it won't crack.

cliffa · Jul 30, 2018

N0rt0nelectr@ said:
Don't replace the bottom bolt! Check for cracks around the boss at the bottom, have it cut off and a metal plate welded in place of the boss. Use a gas tank mounting pad under the tank to support it. This is a way better way to support the oil tank and it won't crack.

Hi N0rt0nelectr@,
It's difficult to envisage. Do you or anyone else on here have any pics of this mod?

Cheers,

cliffa.

Bob Z. · Jul 30, 2018

Here is a quick way to do it.
I placed a stud in the boss, it will locate the tank in the hole in the battery carrier/frame without putting stress that a bolt will.
A softer rubber grommet in the carrier helps too.
A small piece of foam with a hole for the boss and a little thicker than the boss and the size of the bottom of the tank is used as a vibration cushion.

Another good reason to clean out the tank is to remove the corrosive sludge that can eat through the steel tank bottom.
Also a great chance to re-paint the tank.

cliffa · Jul 30, 2018

Thanks for that Bob! All is clear now.

Cheers,

cliffa.

jaydee75 · Jul 30, 2018

I was thinking of doing a locating stud and pad too. Nice to hear someone else did it. Plus it will ease installation and removal immensely.
Jaydee

N0rt0nelectr@ · Jul 31, 2018

Bob Z. said:
Here is a quick way to do it.
I placed a stud in the boss, it will locate the tank in the hole in the battery carrier/frame without putting stress that a bolt will.
A softer rubber grommet in the carrier helps too.
A small piece of foam with a hole for the boss and a little thicker than the boss and the size of the bottom of the tank is used as a vibration cushion.

Another good reason to clean out the tank is to remove the corrosive sludge that can eat through the steel tank bottom.
Also a great chance to re-paint the tank.

N0rt0nelectr@ · Jul 31, 2018

A well thought out modification, and as long as the tank isn't cracked a less expensive way to mount the tank.

maylar · Jul 31, 2018

jaydee75 said:
I was thinking of doing a locating stud and pad too. Nice to hear someone else did it. Plus it will ease installation and removal immensely.
Jaydee

It's not as easy as you might think. I tried using a stud and couldn't get the tank mounted - it seems the frame makes you have to tilt the tank inward to clear the filler neck and you can't get the stud in the hole. Still have to come up from the bottom after the tank is in position.

Fast Eddie · Jul 31, 2018

The stud is an improvement for sure, but if you have a side panel, you just don’t need the stud at all.

Getting sludge out of oil tank?

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