Welding Fuel Tanks (re old thread)

[blaze]

Hi All
some time ago I suggested filling a tank with carbon monoxcide and others suggested inert gas. Today I was shown a product called " Silixit", cant tell you any more than I was told 1 litre will wash out a 60 litre tank. Seen the petrol poured out, washed out with 1 litre of silixit mixed with about 40 litres of water, rinsed about, tipped out and then washed with water and then welded. The complete repair took about 1.5 hours.
Has any one else seen or heard of this product, the cost is about $15 a litre
cheers
blaze
ps
our local ali welder sourced it from a local plumber

[blaze]

just bringing this up again as i thought a few of the experts would have made comment
cheers
blaze

[steveb]

Hi blaze
ive welded 1 or 2 fuel tanks both petrol & diesel, and pefer a meter to check the expiosive gas level before striking an arc, but im keen to find out a bit more about this "silxit" as it sounds like it could save a heap of time,
who makes it
steveb

[Blue_Escape]

Blaze,
I work in the petroleum industry and have never heard of this product. If we want to "gas free" something for welding we will blow air / inert gas through it or simply overfill with water to displace any liquid/vapour hydrocarbons. I don't see any benefit to (potentially) complicating this with other chemicals. As long the internal 'shape' is fairly simple i.e. no baffles etc. and you have a 'high point' drain (fuel will float on water) overfilling with water is simple & effective. However as steveb stated we ALWAYS check the LEL (lower explosive limit) with a meter before striking an arc - petrol vapours in an enclosed space are highly explosive