Gas Tank Vinegar bath

[jetmechmarty]

When I did it, I just dumped out the acid. I filled it with a baking soda solution, then dumped it and rinsed it. I dried it with reverse on the vacuum. One of them I coated with fogging oil and the other got a Caswell liner.

[Bonz]

I did this to a rusted 80G tank a few years back and used Jasco Prep and Prime. Put a half quart of prep and prime in the tank with the rest water to the rim of the gas filler opening. Fill that baby to the max. Sealed the petcock openings with sheet metal strips and orange silicone sealer. I like the idea of the thick rubber strips as a gasket, will do that next time.

Anyway, this won't flash rust, is inexpensive and done in a morning-evening day or less depending on how much rust you have. Swill it around a few times while it's in there.

I did muriatic acid first, but the flash rust was instant and insane.

Yes, Jasco Prep and Prime is the ticket.

[Schming]

nzemke You have 1320g including the weight of the jar.

[aquamantx]

So what do you all think of after the rust removal dump in a gallon of wd40. It was designed to inhibit rust and remove water.

[Bonz]

Ummm... What a waste of WD40? . I tried that (I sprayed WD40 into the tank, like all over inside and hoped for the fog effect as well) after muriatic acid, and it still flash rusted so quick it made my eyes spin. IMO, Jasco Prep and prime is the only way to go, even if you are doing another method, it's easy to switch over and do it.

[nzemke]

nzemke You have 1320g including the weight of the jar.

I tared it before filling it

[Schming]

I tared it before filling it

I knew that, o'course you did


I'm into a Evaporust treatment on a tank for my Stepsons SH ATM, been soaking for a week or so . . . pics to come soon as I can find time to empty and rinse

[nzemke]

So I'm not sure if anyone here has done a volcano experiment in their life time....but the part where you stabilize the vinegar with baking soda MUST BE DONE IN THE BATHTUB!!! I'm just glad I poured a very very small amount in while on the workbench. After that I closed the cap as it started bubbling and ran for the bathroom...needless to say the kicks got a kick out of it as I poured in the baking soda and watched as the majority of the Vinegar sprayed upwards of 5 to 6 inches out of the tank. And I must say the amount of rust that came out during that operation was amazing!



Next I used a gallon or two of water to clean off the baking soda that had caked around the gas cap.

Then I dumped One Gallon of 91% rubbing alcohol into the tank and shook it around really good for about 4-5 minutes. I emptied that out then took to the hair dryer to dry it up. And I have to say it dried up pretty good. The Pic below was taken about 15-20 minutes after the hairdryer....



Now I'm just waiting for the shed to heat up so I can do the sealant in the shed instead of the house...I read on the container lots of warnings about venting the area...and still planning to get the sealant in tonight. Hoping the odor will vent enough tonight that I can drag it in tomorrow morning.

[Bonz]

So, do you need sealant to fill holes? It looks pretty clean in there. If it doesn't need sealant, I wouldn't use it.

[nzemke]

I put the sealant in last night. But wondering if I really needed to like your saying. I checked on it 2 hours after this picture and it still looked exactly like it did in that picture...no flash rusting. That was right before I sealed the tank. Now the 4 day wait. So I'm pretty sure with whatever my next project motorcycle is I won't use any sealant and see what happens. This process appears to work great!

5 gallons of 5% distilled Vinegar 5*$2.59 = $12.95 (topped the .2 extra with water)
1 gallon of 91% rubbing alcohol 4*$2.89 = $11.56
4lb of Baking Soda $2.24

For a grand total cost of $26.75!!!

[Radioguylogs]

That came out great! Nice job. I wish I could see a "before" picture.

I don't ever want a liner because they can peel- I just keep my tanks full of fresh gas.

[timktm]

How much for the sealer?

[nzemke]

The POR-15 8oz of sealer was $18 on evilbay.

And I wish I had taken some photos of the before for comparison :S it seemed like heavy rust at the beginning of this process. I took out enough rust between the bolts, and the two attempts at vinegar to fill at least an 3-4 to 1 inch at the bottom of the pickle jar.

[motoman]

So what do you all think of after the rust removal dump in a gallon of wd40. It was designed to inhibit rust and remove water.

Not a good idea. WD-40 IS misrepresented, even by manufacturer. It is designed to degrade and dissolve metal.

[aquamantx]

Rust remover? Lol