Rust inside 1996 gas tank

I have a 1996 Tacoma that was left parked for around five years and I need to get it running. It has a lot of miles on it, but I want to keep it because it had been well maintained before it was stored.

The fuel pump no longer works so I drained the old gas and removed the tank. I am appalled at the amount of rust I see inside of the tank. It seems like every surface on the interior of the tank is covered with rust. It is rough and scaly so that when you rub your finger over it, flakes of rust come off. Otherwise the tank is in good condition and I am confident that it does not leak. There are no signs of rust on the exterior or the tank.

I hope someone has experience with this type of situation and can tell me what I should do. Is this rust normal for a Tacoma that is 20 years old?

1) Will the rust cause problems if I try to use this tank? As far as I can tell, there is no fuel filter other than the "sock" over the inlet to the gas pump. It seems to me that the fuel line has to have a filter that is fine enough to prevent debris from interfering with the fuel injection system. If that sock provides a fine enough screen so that everything that can pass through it will also pass through the injection system, then it seems like I should be able to use this tank without any problems. Rust or any other debris in the tank would just sink to the bottom.

I could put a magnet in the bottom of the tank to trap flakes of rusty metal so they stay away from the fuel pump, if I can find a magnet that will not be damaged by gasoline. (Or maybe the tank already has a magnet in the bottom?)

2) If I have to replace the tank, what should I do? It seems like I may have trouble finding a used gas tank without rust in it, if they rust so quickly when they are left sitting with gas in the tank. I don't know much about replacement parts for Toyota products, but my experience with other brands is that good used parts are often better than the after-market replacements.

3) Will I have to replace the fuel lines, in case there could also be rust in them? I wonder if there are other problems that I am likely to have with getting the truck running?

Thanks very much for advice from anyone who knows how to deal with this problem,
Lloyd

 

I would put a piece of chain in tank with some water and shake the hell out of it.knock off as much rust as you can. Than get some gas tank coat and coat it per what the bottle says.Then blow out the fuel lines from the fuel filter to tank and replace the fuel filter. Or price out a good used tank . Or last case new.

 

Just get a new fuel tank...not worth the risk of having to pull it off again if it turns out to be bad, not to mention the potential damage caused by running rust particles through the system with the fuel. Got to be tons of viable used gas tanks at local junkyards

 

I spent this past Saturday in 4 junk yards looking for parts for my kids pick up, every toyota was stripped. Frame and cab only,some had wrecked beds. The yard guys said ppl strip tacos as soon as they come in.

 

Fair point, but I still think it's worth the peace of mind to replace the tank. Might find one in a junkyard or on here in the buy/sell/trade section.

 

Were do you live?

 

Around here fuel tanks must be drained so the quick easy way is to punch a hole in the bottom .

If you decide to go new some real hit and miss quality with the aftermarket tanks.

 

I am in Austin Texas

 

Good tanks can be found here in the Phoenix area. If you can figure out a way to get it to you. I don't think a used tank can be shipped.

 

I had one shipped from Ohio to Eastern Pa

Been a few years maybe things changed

Not sure if it was UPS or Common carrier

 

I appreciate all of the comments about replacement gas tanks, but no one has mentioned the main question I asked originally. Does anyone know whether I can use the rusty gas tank, and what would happen if I do??? Is this kind of rust normal for a Tacoma that is 20 years old?

I have continued to search for answers on the internet, and I found a post that claims that Toyota fuel injection systems have fuel filters that are designed to last for the life of the vehicle.
http://www.supramania.com/forums/co...ilter-myth?s=26cf9593b525c9a7f9aa8bb56f6fec8f
I could not find a fuel filter mentioned anywhere in the OEM shop manual, but I found a PDF copy of the manual online that was searchable, and discovered that there actually is a fuel filter (on pages EG-74 & 75 for the 2RZ engine).

So the question is whether the sock filter in the fuel tank will allow enough particles to pass through to clog the permanent filter. There are flakes of rust in the bottom of the gas tank, but not enough of them to cause any concern about clogging the sock filter.

Thanks to everyone for your valuable advice.
Lloyd

 

The filters should stop it. But there's a good chance of it ruining the fuel pump. The sock will keep out the big stuff. The filter will stop the rest. It may plug up quit often.

 

I was getting parts from this Tundra and I noticed the forklift was bringing a new vehicle. To my surprise it was a Tacoma, there was a group of about 3-4 people following the forklift. It was hilarious.

I managed to strip the entire interior, I got mostly all the trim panels and door components. I was impressed the one guy got the engine and tranny out in 15 minutes, albeit he cut the main wiring harness with a Sawzall...

To answer your question OP, you can probably run that old gas tank. Is it a good idea at all? Hell no. It'll work but you'll plug up your fuel filer often and run the risk of damaging your fuel system if rust particles get through.

An engine will work without any oil completely dry. Does it mean you should do it? Not really.

You run the risk of damaging more parts that it's worth - a new gas tank would be cheaper and safer

 

This is one of those personal things !!

Like not Running Antifreeze in Jacksonville Florida till one cold snap froze the blocks on a bunch of engines a personal choice to save money that cost much more then was saved

Most likely why your question was not addressed

If it was me my luck would be the sock would become so blocked the fuel pump would be unable to draw any fuel.

*****Are you sure it is rust ?? Not deposits from crap added to the fuel?

That much rust I would worry about the structural integrity of the tank filled tank hit a hard bump a big mess

By Nature this would happen on the Cross Bronx Expressway going North at 1730 on Friday night.

If you have Ethanol gas OP where you are it will make things worse .

If I had to pull the tank to clean it unless money is really a problem a new or better used tank is going in.!!

If your luck is good by all means go for it