How to clean old aluminum diesel fuel tank?

[garlicbreath]

Hey everyone,
I need some advice on how to clean out an old freight liner round diesel tank.
I want to use it as an aux tank.
I don't know how long it's been sitting but the caps on it and it seems closed up. It doesn't feel like it has anything in it right now.

Eventually I plan on using it for WVO for the conversion on my E450. It's huge, I am guessing 90-120 gallons.

[will_545]

Steam cleaner where I would start.

[catlinB]

we've used a water/acid solution to clean out tanks, 45 gallon drums, both steal and aluminum, we also use the same acid wash once every 3 months on aluminum stock trailers.

if you do a water/acid wash inside, rinse it out with water 2-3 times, then get 5-10 gallon of diesel, and do a few rinses turning the tank over and over with the diesel inside

[garlicbreath]

Like hydrochloric acid and water?
Or lots of sugar cubes from the corner store?
What ratio?

[444e]

Check out any truck stops or International, Freightliner, etc dealerships. If you have a shiny tank, the trailer-brite stuff will clean them but it will always be that dull aluminum look from then on.
It wasn't intended for cleaning algae and the like, inside your tanks, but it does as well as any other idea I've seen. Sounds like you have a 100-150 gallon tank so I would grab at least 3 gallons and maybe you can take one back if not needed.

[garlicbreath]

Originally Posted by 444e

Check out any truck stops or International, Freightliner, etc dealerships. If you have a shiny tank, the trailer-brite stuff will clean them but it will always be that dull aluminum look from then on.
It wasn't intended for cleaning algae and the like, inside your tanks, but it does as well as any other idea I've seen. Sounds like you have a 100-150 gallon tank so I would grab at least 3 gallons and maybe you can take one back if not needed.

It is a 120 gallon tank.

[catlinB]

Originally Posted by garlicbreath

Like hydrochloric acid and water?
Or lots of sugar cubes from the corner store?
What ratio?

sorry for the long response, laptop has been down. i think we used Muriac ?? acid, and water not sure on ratio, say 1/4 of a gallon and a bunch of water.