PURGING, CLEANING AND COATING INTERIOR FERROUS AND TERNE SHEET; VEHICLE FUEL TANKS

TB 43-0212

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY TECHNICAL BULLETIN

PURGING, CLEANING AND COATING INTIRIOR

FERROUS AND TERNE SHEET; VEHICLE FUEL TANKS

Headquarters, Department of the Army, Washington, DC, 1977

1 April 1977

b. Compressed air sources and air hose of sufficient

1. Purpose. This bulletin is published in an effort to

length to reach depth of fuel tank.

prevent fuel tank rust and corrosion, and is to be

c. Sufficient quantity of gas tank purger chemical

performed by General Support (GS) and Depot

obtainable through local procurement. See table 1.

Maintenance activities. Supporting agencies will furnish

d. Clean equipment and solutions. See table 1.

additional skills and equipment, when required.

e. Buna-N coating and Methyl Isobutyl Ketone

(MIBK) solvent. See table 1.

2. Scope. a. This bulletin outlines procedures for the

f. Explosion meters. See paragraph Sc.

elimination of combustible vapors and liquids, cleaning,

and interior painting of fuel tanks. Using a chemical to

4. Recommendations for Maintenance Publications

purge gas tanks saves time, labor, and materials, as

compared to other methods such as steam cleaning.

Improvements. You can help improve this bulletin by

b. These procedures are to eliminate gasoline

calling attention to errors and by recommending

and diesel fuel from the interior of fuel tanks. Fuel tanks

improvements

and

stating

your

reasons

for

on tracked vehicles, and those not readily accessible,

recommendations.

Your letter or DA Form 2028,

must be removed from the vehicle prior to purging,

Recommended Changes to Publications and Blank

cleaning, and painting.

Forms, should be mailed direct to Commander, US Army

c. Cleaning and coating procedures are not

Tank Automotive Materiel Readiness Command, ATTN:

recommended for integral-type fuel tanks or fuel

DRSTA-MTP, Warren, MI 48090.

A reply will be

servicing vehicles.

furnished direct to you.

d. Efficient purging of fuel tanks, pipelines,

pump housings, hoses, and distribution manifolds may

5. Safety Precaution.

be accomplished by strict adherence to procedures

outlined herein.

WARNING

Prior to, and during, all operations outlined

3. Materiels Required. a. Adequate source of water

in this bulletin, all operations must be ap-

with a large diameter hose long enough to reach the

proved by local safety, medical, and fire de-

vehicle or fuel tank

partments to comply with safeguards con-

4. .

tained herein and other applicable directions.

Table 1. Types of Materials

Manufacturer

Type of solvent

Track name

coating or chemical

3M Co. Adhesives Coatings and Sealers Div

EC 776 R (TARCOM) or EC 776 Coating

Buna-N Coating and

MethylKetone (MIBK)

Isobutyl

3M Center

Products Research and Chemical Corp. Chemical

PRC 10056 Coating

Products Div 2919 Empire Ave, Burbank, CA 91505

Redin Strip Co, Inc 2528 Merced Ave S. El Monte,

Rust removal equipment

CA 91733

Product-Sol Inc 2010 Cole Ave Birmingham,

Purging chemical No 913

Product-Sol

MI 48008

a. Disconnect all operations it an electrical storm is

purging the tank using an acceptable explosive meter,

threatening or is in progress.

such as MSA Explosive Meter, NSN 6665-00-664-4650

b. The tank being purged will be statically grounded

or Davis Vapotester, NSN 6665-00-562-8103. To elim-

prior to, and during, all operations.

inate all possible causes of explosion, a combustible

c. Conduct a combustible vapor test reading-prior to

vapor test reading must be conducted immediately after

*This manual supersedes TB ORD 1031, 23 August 1965, including all changes.