Fuel Tank cleaning *HowTo* clear that blockage

Had a big problem with my car during fast acceleration and cruising  , and having it recently re mapped [its a 20VT conversion but this problem applies to all injected and carburettor cars with similar running problems] bought to light a fuel supply problem when the car had fully warmed up . Fuel starvation causes all sorts of poor running , mine was not picking up and loosing power causing it to jump and stall . The pump when warm would also be buzzing like mad , audible above the engine noise !   

Disconnect the battery and NO smoking or naked lights . Work safely .

First i drained as much fuel as possible using the siphon method and removed the fuel pump . This is the end thats connected to the tank


Blocked solid . In the end is a little filter



This is what came out of the filter



Problem fixed ? Not quite it means the tank must be full of rust and other crap that has found its way in over the years . I didn't fancy taking it off so decided to clean it using another method .
Whip out the back seat and find the fuel sender unit cover



 remove 3 screws under it is the sender unit   



Gently remove the wiring plug then simply remove by twisting the unit until it unlocks from the tank , ease it out taking care not to damage the ball and arm . It should look like this .



Get a torch and peer inside , you will see



Its a filter , long pair of snipe nose pliers pull it gently and it comes out



Torch again , look in the filter holder and you will see the fuel pick up pipe  at the bottom . This should be nice and clean that brown stuff you can see is that rust and other nasty particles that will cause the same problem again .



Drain the rest of the fuel using siphon method




Now for extraction [and i do appreciate i am lucky to own a compressor and various tools for it , but its this or remove and possibly replace the fuel tank] I simply decided to suck out the rubbish using a safe method using air . A HOOVER WOULD OF COURSE EXPLODE AND KILL YOU . By extending a grit blast gun pick up using some old hose .



      


I was able to place the gun in a large bucket and simply suck the rubbish out of the tank using the pick up pipe like a powerful Hoover . Some fuel vapors and fuel remaining in the tank also followed and where safely disposed of . The results are very good for an hours work

Before



After



This is some of the rubbish left in the bucket



Power is restored now that the fuel flows freely .  Assembly is the reverse of disassembly don't forget the 'O' ring on the sender unit .