Hello
I am new to online forums. I have a 1995 Fiat Barchetta. It needs some work ?
We have removed the gas tank which seemed to be filled with crud it looks like coffee grinds in molasses. We clean the inside of the tank using paint thinner and then using Pine-Sol and hot water the tank came spic and span clean however when we rinsed it out with cold water there was new spots that looked like rust but don’t seem to be rust. Is there some sort of coating on the inside of the gas tank?
Now I’m not sure what to do. Should I just put the tank back in the car and fill it up with gas and hope for the best or should I take us somewhere to have it professionally cleaned and sealed?
I am also looking for a new set of gas tank seals as the one that was in it doesn’t look the best. I have ordered a new pump already.
I am in Nova Scotia Canada
Thanks

Hi and welcome

To save too much confusion with our worldwide forum

You are cleaning out the FUEL TANK
Standard factory tank for liquid petroleum


Im a little surprised that it is metal.. most FIAT of that era have Black plastic tanks.. this COULD be a NA Market thing...


I would just refill it and use it..

The local fuels you will use can be quite different to Europe.. so again our advice may not be 100% relevant

I will try and add a link to the parts fische ePER


https://www.fiatdalys.lt/en/catalog/parts/102/0/0/1/PK/0/0/M1,M2/0/GS/fuel-tank

Charlie

The car sounds like a fun project

Do you know much of this cars history.. Imported via France possibly?

Charlie

varesecrazy said:

Hi and welcome

Im a little surprised that it is metal.. most FIAT of that era have Black plastic tanks.. this COULD be a NA Market thing...
Charlie

Click to expand...

Fortunately I've not had to venture into the fuel tank area on our 2005 "B" but I'm pretty sure the fuel tank is still metal.

The tanks were all metal in Uno, Strada and even the Tempra and Tipo models (I think). Pretty sure our Punto HGT, Stilo Abarth, Coupe 20V had plastic fuel tanks. So Fiat's cut over to plastic fuel tanks would appear to be around year 2000 depending on model.

The 2003 onwards models of the "B" were essentially still small scale, hand built production resurrection jobs with minimal changes and those changes limited to only where legally required for homolagation. e.g. High level ( ... boot level ) brake light and EOBDII port.

Aye, getting back to the OP question regarding should it be used as is, I’m with Charlie, clean as best you can, but I would go a step further by adding a fuel filter that is of the see through type and easy access to change.

Yes the extra fuel filter will do no harm.

One has to be cautious with the clear, semi-clear fuel filters that the one used is suitable for fuel injected engines where the fuel pressure is very much greater than that of a fuel injected car.

The Barchetta fuel rail pressure regulator is 3 bar or 45 psi. Ideally one would want a filter rated ar 4 bar/60 psi or more bar to be on the safe side.

Yes
Great to see what is passing through

But some of the budget clear filters are almost push fits.. not ideal for higher pressures

Thank you everyone for getting back to me.

The car was imported from Italy sometime around 2005

As far as I can tell it is the original tank with the original pump. The fuel pump was completely plugged and the bottom of it was disintegrating.

We are going to just go with it as is.

Thanks everyone.

I am very excited to be on this journey.