Fuel tank - repair or replace.

[matrixx]

OK so I started tinkering with my car again. This time I wanted to inspect the fuel tank which was new but then sat for years. Pulled the tank and doesn't look too clean inside. Take a look:









What would you do. Buddy of mine used this product called kreem. Harley Davidson sells it and is about $50 and does up to 5 motorcycle tanks. It cleans and has a coating that goes all over to prevent corrosion. What do you guys think?

 

[Machman]

I would try cleaning it as it does not look too bad

 

[matrixx]

Yeah quite a bit of surface rust thought kind of like on the old sending unit.

 

[Tnfastbk]

Tough call if you have the money I would replace but if the budget does not allow not out much by coating it.

Found this on anther site. You never know

How to clean out a rusty gas tank, or clean anything with rust on it for CHEAP.

« on: June 02, 2008, 03:24:25 AM »

Forget about the expensive POR15 or Cream kits that run about $50. I learned this while dealing with old hondas that had rusty tanks. One of the cheapest and best things to clean anything with rust on it is this:

Go to K-MART and buy two bottles of "The works" toilet bowl cleaner. $1.50 a bottle so thats a whopping $3.

Take your tank off your bike. Drain out your gas, pour both bottles of the toilet bowl cleaner in your tank. Every 5 minutes pick up your tank and slosh it around. After 30 minutes, pour that stuff out. Wash the inside out with dish soap and water. Rinse out multiple times with hot water. Get a blow dryer and dry out your tank good, then fog it with WD-40 to keep it from flash rusting. Fill to the top with gas.

I have seen tanks from the 70's so rusty on the inside all you see is orange when you look in. After 30 minutes of the works cleaner it looks like bare metal brand new inside. This stuff also works for anything rusty, pour it in a pan and put your rusty part in.

 

[matrixx]

Thanks for the info. I'm going to take it with me to work. My buddy there has done a bunch of bike tanks and they come out nice. I don't think it looks terrible inside but I sure don't want that rusty trash inside.

 

[OLE PONY]

A new tank at about $150 is not too bad instead of having to put up with rust particles in the fuel system. It would probably cost you more in the long run using the old tank by destroying your fuel pump, fuel filters and carb. A new tank gives you piece of mind.

 

[HighOctane]

A new tank at about $150 is not too bad instead of having to put up with rust particles in the fuel system. It would probably cost you more in the long run using the old tank by destroying your fuel pump, fuel filters and carb. A new tank gives you piece of mind.

I agree with OLE PONY. Piece of mind is worth $150.

 

[matrixx]

Thanks Guys, I Agree It's not too bad but a new tank would mean I could eliminate that equation if things start to run funny. I flushed the lines and they are clean so i blocked them off to keep clean. I will start looking on the Internet today for a tank.

 

[Tnfastbk]

Thanks Guys, I Agree It's not too bad but a new tank would mean I could eliminate that equation if things start to run funny. I flushed the lines and they are clean so i blocked them off to keep clean. I will start looking on the Internet today for a tank.

Call Don @ OMS

 

[73QCodeGrande]

I saw a show awhile back where they used an epoxy sealer for fuel tanks. Suppose to seal it up and stop the rust. I just cant remember the product.

 

[72HCODE]

do not use the tank liner sealer product. over time it peels off the inside of the tank clogs up the filter sock on the sender or little chunks get in the carb and clog it up.

Honestly why play around? when in question just replace with a new tank and sender. lets say you spend 50-80$ more on this tank, 1 year from now your replacing it anyway cause of problems verse 150$ now and your good for years to come. trust me i played this game. Saved 200$ and it cost me 800$ later.

 

[matrixx]

yeah, I will just replace the tank and the sender unit. Peace of mind down the road. I will just save up for a week or two, no biggie. Thanks for all your input guys.

 

[73QCodeGrande]

do not use the tank liner sealer product. over time it peels off the inside of the tank clogs up the filter sock on the sender or little chunks get in the carb and clog it up.

Good to know! ::thumb::

 

[marks73]

yeah, I will just replace the tank and the sender unit. Peace of mind down the road. I will just save up for a week or two, no biggie. Thanks for all your input guys.

Way to go. No sense changing filters for rust or sealer!

 

[matrixx]

For poops and giggles I took some cleaner and let it sit in the old tank and well this....



So good thing I decide to go with a new one.

 

[72MustangSprint]

Thanks Guys, I Agree It's not too bad but a new tank would mean I could eliminate that equation if things start to run funny. I flushed the lines and they are clean so i blocked them off to keep clean. I will start looking on the Internet today for a tank.

How did you flush lines?

 

[matrixx]

Thanks Guys, I Agree It's not too bad but a new tank would mean I could eliminate that equation if things start to run funny. I flushed the lines and they are clean so i blocked them off to keep clean. I will start looking on the Internet today for a tank.

How did you flush lines?

I borrowed a transmission flush machine from my shop and connected each end of the lines and used a cleaner with 6 quarts of tranny fluid through the lines. After that I sprayed carb cleaner in the line and blew through with compressed air about 4 times.

dampened a paper towel and had my wife hold i over the end until only nice and clean carb cleaner came through and all the reddish tint was gone. May have been over kill but i feel confident that they are clean enough.

 

[cazsper]

You have to remove the old one anyways. I would just replace it. Actually I just did. I figured the little extra money was cheap insurance. If nothing more, you can still fix up your old tank. Then you have a spare if you ever need.

 

[mustang7173]

The new 1971-73 gas tanks are Coated to prevent rust and corrosion. Plus the old tank is what, 40 years old.

mustang7173