Fuel tank clear out

[bt80k]

Hi guys I own a 1991 B3 16v quattro that's not moved for about 12 years and I've decided it's time to get the old girl back on the road, my first point of call is the fuel system so new pump and filter but would like to clear the system of all the old stuff. What would be the best way to go about this before I start on the other fluids. 

Thanks

 

[cliffcoggin]

If the fuel tank is steel there's the potential for a lot of rust to have formed in it during 12 years of inactivity. If it is possible, which I do not know, I would want to remove the tank and vigourously slosh a gallon of fuel around before pouring it from the filler neck, then repeat until no more rust is seen. The fuel guage will have to be removed so that is the ideal opportunity to test it.

If the tank is plastic there will naturally be no rust, but there may well be condensed water which needs to be removed somehow. I doubt there is a drain plug so maybe a syphon pump down the filler neck would do the job.

[bt80k]

Cheers for that seems straight forward enough to get the tank out, it's metal. Any suggestions on cleaning fuel lines & pipes.

[cliffcoggin]

A blast of compressed air should shift any crud/water/fuel in open-ended lines. If you don't have compressed air I don't know what to suggest.

[bt80k]

Ok that's doable cheers

[cliffcoggin]

We'd be glad to hear of success.

[bt80k]

Yeah will update you as I progress, I'm sure ti be popping up for a while I was always on Audifans back when mine was on the road and I've a fair bit of work to do thanks.

[bt80k]

On 5/20/2025 at 10:49 PM, cliffcoggin said:

We'd be glad to hear of success.

Well I'm sorted with the fueling injectors singing nicely but no spark 🙄 so back to fault finding, I hate electrics 🤣

Edited yesterday at 12:17 PM by bt80k
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[cliffcoggin]

2 hours ago, bt80k said:

 I hate electrics

Me too. I could cope in the days of points in a distributor, but electronics are beyond me.

[bt80k]

45 minutes ago, cliffcoggin said:

Me too. I could cope in the days of points in a distributor, but electronics are beyond me.

Luckily it's fairly old so I hope it won't be over complicated🤞

[daveyboy1967]

The old trick for cleaning the inside of a fuel tank was to throw in a handful of nut (the ones that go on bolts, not the KP variety!) and then shake your moneymaker like your life depended on it, obviously removing anything like fuel sender etc first.