The time has came for you to clean your fuel tank, but you are not sure which are the best fuel tank cleaning products.
Having a clean fuel tank is very important if you want your vehicle to last long. A dirty fuel tank can do a lot of damage to the fuel system and to the engine itself.
Your fuel filter is doing a great job at cleaning the fuel before it is sent to the fuel lines and up to the engine, but there is no part of the vehicle that is designed to clean the fuel tank. That task is on you to do.
The fuel system is a closed system, but it still gets dirty. How? Well, when you open the fuel cap to add fuel, if you leave your fuel tank open long enough, dirt and dust will find their way in and will contaminate the fuel. The dirt will settle on the bottom of the fuel tank and will stay there for a long time.
Then, there is rust. Over time, the metal fuel tank will get rusty. There is nothing you can do to prevent it, only to cure it.
Here are the best products that you can use to clean your fuel tank.
Top 7 Best Fuel Tank Cleaning Products
- Rust Remover By Evapo-Rust
- Fuel System Cleaner by Star Tron
- Fuel Tank Cleaner by Red Line
- Fuel Tank Cleaner by Quicksilver
- Tank Cleaner by Lucas Oil
- Fuel Tank Cleaner by Star Tron Enzyme
- Fuel System Cleaner by Quicksilver
1. Rust Remover By Evapo-Rust
The rust remover is manufactured by a company called Evapo-Rust which is pretty known in its field. To get started, this fuel tank cleaner is environmentally-safe and it is water-based rust remover. It removed rust within minutes, without the need to scrub or sand.
It is safe for skin and eyes, but I would still recommend that you wear rubber gloves and safety glasses, just in case.
You can clean a fuel tank by removing
it or without removing it. If removing the tank is not an option for you, no worries, there is a way to clean it.
This is one of the best fuel tank cleaning products.
Once you see which part of your fuel tank has rust in it, you can soak a rug with the fuel tank cleaner and tie it with a shoelace or something and just place the rug on top of the rust and leave it for a couple of minutes. After that just use the lace to remove the rug.
See how you can clean your fuel tank without removing it.
The best thing about this rust remover is that it is reusable. Once you pour it into your fuel tank and it does its job, you can reuse the liquid to clean your rusty tools, rims, and even pots and pans.
Pros
- Environmentally-safe
- Non-toxic
- Reusable
- Water-based
- No need to scrub or sand
Cons
- If the rust is really bad, you might need to apply it more than once to clean the rust.
2. Fuel System Cleaner by Star Tron
This product was manufactured by a company named Star Tron. Don’t worry if your vehicle uses gas or diesel because this fuel tank cleaner can be used on both diesel and gasoline fuel tanks.
It is safe to use on fuel tanks made from all materials, including polyurethane.
What’s best about this fuel tank cleaner is that you don’t have to remove your fuel tank in order to clean it. Just read the instructions and add the appropriate amount of the fuel tank cleaner into your fuel tank and drive your car. It will do the work for you.
The formula removes the sludge and other debris in the fuel tank, therefore, preventing contamination of the fuel. A single bottle can clean a fuel tank with a capacity of 500 gallons.
This fuel tank cleaner will also clean the fuel injectors and fuel lines. You just need to add 1 fl. oz for every 4 gallons of fuel.
This is a great fuel tank cleaner, especially for vehicles that haven’t been started in a long time.
Pros
- Can be used for diesel and gasoline fuel tanks.
- Removes sludge.
- Easy to use, just pour it into the tank and drive.
- Cleans fuel injectors
- Cleans fuel lines
- Great for cars that haven’t been started in years.
Cons
- It is not reusable
- You might need to use it multiple times to get the wanted results.
3. Fuel Tank Cleaner by Red Line
This fuel system cleaner is made by a company named Red Line. They are a company that manufactures over 100 quality products.
It is used as an additive for gas fuel tanks only for vehicles, motorcycles, boats, and everything that uses gas.
Some might say this is the best-performing fuel system cleaner available today.
This fuel tank cleaner will clean your fuel systems and will prevent corrosion in the fuel lines and tank. You just have to pour it into the fuel tank and drive. It will clean the fuel injections and fuel line, leaving no debris.
Pouring this fuel tank cleaner into the fuel tank will not increase the fuel consumption.
For best effect, pour one bottle per tank.
Pros
- Easy to use.
- Cleans fuel lines.
- Cleans fuel injectors.
- One bottle per tank.
Cons
- Used only for gas fuel tanks.
- Works excellent, but a little bit pricey.
4. Fuel Tank Cleaner by Quicksilver
The manufacturer of this fuel tank cleaner is a company named Quicksilver.
Can be used on both gasoline and diesel fuel tanks.
It will maximize your engine performance by removing the carbon deposits.
The great thing about this fuel tank cleaner is that it will clean your fuel tank, fuel lines, fuel injectors, cylinder heads and injectors.
It will also clean your spark plugs and extend their lifespan.
The only bad thing people are saying about this fuel tank cleaner is the way the container is made. It is impossible to pour it into the fuel tank without spilling on the ground. So, you might need to be careful on that. you don’t want to pour it on the ground.
I consider this one also one of the best fuel tank cleaning products.
Pros
- Cleans the entire fuel system
- Extends spark plug life
- Removes carbon deposits
- Maximizes engine performance
Cons
- It is a little bit hard to pour from the container directly into the fuel tank without spilling.
5. Tank Cleaner by Lucas Oil
This product is manufactured by a company called Lucas Oil which is known for its heavy-duty products.
One container (6 ounces) treats up to 20 gallons. But you don’t have to have 20 gallons in your fuel tank in order to use this fuel tank cleaner. If you have 10 gallons in your tank, just pour half of it.
This fuel tank cleaner will remove the carbon deposits and will reduce the harmful NOx emissions. If your car can’t pass the emissions test, here is how you can get your car to pass the emissions test.
If you have an issue with acceleration or your car is jerking at idle, your fuel system might be clogged. This deep cleaner can help you with that.
This might not be one of the best fuel tank cleaning products but is most definitely in the top 5.
Pros
- Reduces harmful NOx emissions.
- Deep Clean.
- Cleans fuel lines.
- Cleans fuel tank.
- Removes carbon residue.
Cons
- One container treats up to 20 gallons.
6. Fuel Tank Cleaner by Star Tron Enzyme
This fuel tank cleaner can rejuvenate old sub-spec gas and is particularly good at making small gas engines easier to start.
One container weighs 8.6 ounces and can treat up to 48 gallons.
If your fuel contains excess water and sludge, it will be broken down by this fuel tank cleaner and will be burned away during normal operation.
The fuel tank cleaner also helps prevent oxidation and is ideal for outdoor power equipment. The tiny bottles are easy to store.
Pros
- Makes engines start faster.
- Increased engine performance.
- Prevents fuel problems.
- Cleans fuel lines.
Cons
- Used only on gas fuel tanks.
7. Fuel System Cleaner by Quicksilver
Made by a company called Quicksilver.
This fuel tank works on all grades of gasoline fuel tanks. Removes the carbon residue in the fuel lines, spark plugs, injectors, and cylinder heads thus increasing engine performance.
This product is used as an additive, which means you just have to pour it into the fuel tank. You don’t need to remove your fuel tank to clean it.
This fuel tank cleaner can be used on all 2 and 4 cycle carbureted and fuel-injected gasoline engines on vehicles, motorcycles, boats and etc.
One container weighs 12 ounces and can treat up to 5 gallons of gasoline. You can use this additive multiple times.
Pros
- Works on all gasoline fuel tanks
. - works for vehicles, boats, lawnmowers, and more.
- Extends spark plug lifespan.
- Cleans carbon residue.
Cons
- Questionable packaging.
Is a Fuel System Cleaning Necessary?
Depend. Fuel system cleaning is necessary only if you are experiencing car troubles associated with a clogged fuel system. The most common symptoms of a clogged fuel system are: Decreased acceleration, car jerks at idle, engine misfire, increased fuel consumption, and even your car not starting. Without the fuel, the car cannot run. If the fuel system is clogged, the engine won’t get the fuel needed in order to run, therefore, you will experience at least 3 of the symptoms above.
Do Fuel System Cleaners Work?
Yes, fuel system cleaners work. Not all of them, but the ones from the list above most certainly do. You don’t have to buy the most expensive one, just get the one with the most reviews on Amazon. even if you buy the wrong product, you won’t lose anything. You can always come back and order another fuel system cleaner.
How Often Should You Get a Fuel System Cleaning?
It depends on your car model. Most mechanics recommend that you clean your fuel system every 3 years or 45,000 miles. I mean, I would always first check the condition of the fuel filter. If it is all dirty and full of sludge, I would clean my fuel system with an additive. If your car is older and especially if you haven’t started it in years, I would most definitely clean the fuel tank with a rust remover before driving the car.
