Fuel tank full of crap, keeps blocking filter

[blinky666]

Ok, well before I owned the car it was run on LPG, which was removed.
I finally got everything going on my car and ready for the roadworthy (Only a month or so late ) yesterday and took it for its first run to go fill up with petrol (full tank) on friday. Yesterday it struggled to start, would only run for a few seconds and sometimes would backfire through the carby (Not enough fuel)
Dad came out and noticed my new fuel filter (Which I had replaced months ago because old one was full of the same shit, but has only driven maybe 2KM since) was choc-full with orange gunk, so i went and got a new filter, she started and ran perfect, and I continued to flush my radiator last night.
This morning I went to start it, same problems and yet again a filter full of crap. Then I clicked, the car probably hasn't been run on petrol in years!
Me and dad syphoned about half the tank of petrol out and put it into my ute, and we know we have to pull the tank off and flush it, but what exactly do I use and what are the steps involved? Could it be done in an afternoon after work because I really wanted to get it registered this week as I've had my license for 3 weeks now and not having a car is a bitch!
Thanks in advance

[QldKev]

I think you need to drop the tank and clean it out. There is no short cut from here.

Basically drop the tank
fully inspect the tank, if there is that much orange crap coming out it may be buggered
if stuffed, find one that's been wrecked fairly recently. Don't stuff around here it will only come back and bite you with a leaky tank.

If ok.
drain it
clean using just the hose until all the crap has gone.
drain and dry as best you can
put in 1L fuel, slosh around, and drain. (use fuel in lawnmower; with some metho mixed)
put tank back in car
fill up tank with fuel and add 1Litre metho (the metho will absorb any water left and pass it through to burn it off)

by the sound of it, if it is that dirty I would look for another tank from a car that has been running good and just swap it over. I would still drop in 1L of metho in the first tank to clean up any moisture that may have settled in it.


btw; you have not had much luck with this car.

QldKev

[blinky666]

Thanks, how do I inspect the tank? Like how do I tell how far gone it is? Just by the amount that comes out when I flush it?
I know I haven't had much luck. I've been thinking about selling it latley but I've got to the point with this one that I've nearly replaced everything and I've got a fair bit of an idea of where its problem points are now, and I've poured that much money into it that it wouldn't make sense as I wouldn't get my money back and I'd have to spend money again on whatever it is I buy. But it is my first car and at least I've learnt some valuable lessons about buying cars aswell as learnt a lot about cars and engines and how to fix things, so it's not all negative.

[Tree cutter]

The orange gunk will be rust and water. If the tank is not leaking i would just take the tank off and tip all the shit out then mix a bit of metho with your fuel for a couple of tanks.

[vkberlina]

also it could be stale fuel, it will smell like varnish, I get it with my VK as I dont drive it enough, either if its old fuel or crap in the tank you have a bit of work to do.

You have to clean the tank out was Kev said, dont cut corners, then change fuel filters, I do rubber fuel lines at the same time usually once a year. Its worth flushing your fuel lines esp fuel return line at the same time. if its a carbie there may be a fuel strainer at the inlet to the carb clean that out as well

cheers
Scott

[VR38]

The orange gunk will be rust and water. If the tank is not leaking i would just take the tank off and tip all the shit out then mix a bit of metho with your fuel for a couple of tanks.

May I add that I was doing up a Gemini over a few years and the ethanol in the tank attracted water and caused the same orange gunk problem.

Only fix would be to remove the tank and either flush it and use a reseal kit or just replace the tank.
Don't forget to flush your fuel system too.