Cleaning Kit

• There are several fuel tank cleaning kits on the market specifically designed as an all-in-one solution to restoring a gas tank. These kits will include several chemicals to be used in order on the tank. First will be the cleaner, which will remove grime, dirt and other particles. Then the de-rusting agent will dissolve away the rust that has probably accumulated over time on the inner walls of the tank. Finally, a finishing agent will seal the tank in a protective coat, ensuring that it won't rust again anytime soon. These kits are designed for use at home by yourself, so you can be sure that they will not only be affordable but also will offer detailed documentation on how best to go about the process. You can find these kits at almost any automotive parts shop.
  
  

Profesional Treatment

• Sending your tank off to a professional shop to restore it is another option and one that will guarantee a thorough cleaning and protecting long into the future. Professional shops will be able to clean and de-rust the tank using powerful chemicals such as hydrochloric acid. These are extremely effective chemicals that you wouldn't be able to use otherwise, because they are too dangerous for home use. Even if you could use these in your own garage, doing so would require immediate treatment of the tank for rust protection, since the acid alone would only increase future rusting. At a professional shop, acid cleaning is immediately followed by a hot dip in galvanized steel to protect the gas tank and in essence put it in the same condition it was when new.
  
  

Other Chemicals

• There are some chemicals and tools that you can use at home that will give you a passable result. While not necessarily as effective as some professional methods, it will be cheaper and safer for home use. Use a homemade dilution of citric acid by mixing about 3.5 tablespoons of citric acid with a liter of water. Pour it out into a bucket and neutralize the acid by mixing in baking soda. This ensures that it is now safe for disposal. Rinse the remaining mixture out of the tank with water, allow it to dry and then use a store-bought tank liner to seal the tank against any future rust. These tank liners are available at most auto parts stores and are poured into the tank where it then coats the sides and dries into a protective layer.