HELP! Gas tank lining/sealer...

[stu4u3]

I was told I need to get a liner on the inside of the tank so it won't rust again since today's new gasoline has a "shelf-life" of about 45-60 days.

There are 3 pipes that come out of the tank and go to the fuel evaporation system. The liner that will be applied to the inside of the tank has the thickness of honey, it dries to that consistency of plastic.

Here's my dilemma. It will most likely clog up the pipes that are inside the tank and make the evaporation system useless.

Has any one had experience with this before? Has anyone disconnected their fuel evaporation system? If so, what effect (if any) did it have?

See image below for the pipes that attach to the fuel evaporator. Thanks.

[te51levin]

Originally Posted by stu4u3

I was told I need to get a liner on the inside of the tank so it won't rust again

Wait a second here. Who's trying to sell you something?

Originally Posted by stu4u3

...since today's new gasoline has a "shelf-life" of about 45-60 days.

Uh-huh. I smell horse poop. Let's hear the full story before you start pouring pancake syrup into your fuel system.

[stu4u3]

well, the people that took all the rust out of my tank suggested it. My dads 74 mini cooper had a similar issue and his was coated with a liner. I'm surprised you guys have never heard of this. My tank had so much surface rust it was crazy.

[scottohno]

**scratches head** isnt gasoline petroleum, like oil based paint, which "stops" rust?how often do you drive your 2?

[te51levin]

Coming into this raw, my angle is this: I often see young guys who think they have a problem, handing money to shops because they think the shop's product or service will fix their problem. And of course the shop isn't going to tell them not to buy their product or service. So a lot of people get led down the wrong path and waste a lot of money on things they don't need, fixing "problems" they may or may not even have.

The comment about gasoline having a 45 to 60 day shelf life especially caught me by surprise. It's common in marketing to use a line like "in times like these" or "in these troubled times" as a scare tactic, suggesting that the world is not as it used to be, and that the consumer needs to buy something (for example, life insurance for an infant) as a reaction to a situation they don't understand (a temporarily depressed economy). It's obvious that gasoline goes sour over time, but I've started engines on gasoline that is several years old. When I hear dubious claims offered, like a 45-day shelf life on gasoline, my BS filter starts to twitch a little.

It's not that "you guys" (i.e. me) have never heard of rust, but keep in mind, I don't do fuel tank restoration. I do new parts. Since I haven't personally had to deal with a rusty fuel tank - ever - I'm not as well versed in the process or the products as those who have.

A 35+ year old Mini is entirely different than a 23-year-old Toyota. Toyotas are built very differently and they tend to get driven more often, so they don't often face the same corrosion issues that a seldom-driven special interest car (or one that sits for a few decades before being restored) sees. Some MR2s do end up with incredibly rusty fuel tanks, but most people replace the tank rather than pour a chemical liner into it.

Now, that said, are you concerned about clogging the evap lines because they look too small, or because the people applying the liner told you it might happen? If they're telling you it's a possibility, ask them how to avoid the problem. If you're concerned because of what you see, ask them whether it is likely that those lines will clog, and if so, how to prevent or correct it.

[scottohno]

not to mention, if you do this thing, which i dont think you should, just run a drillbit a little smaller than the hole on the evap ports down into the hole. you can cet an 18" long 1/4" wide drillbit somewhere out there. you can prolly get the right size if you look hard enough. after you run the bit in there, shake it out of the big hole, run water in there, shake that up, swish it out, and let it set for a few days to completely dry. when you put has in it throw a bottle of heat in there to avoid moisture.

this does not sound like a good idea though.....a piece can break off and clog a fuel filter. that would be a fun day. not to mention im sure a new gas tank is 2x as much money and 1/100 the aggrivation of this liner thing.

[te51levin]

I don't think a small chunk of liner material would be near enough to clog a filter, but you'd want to do things as neatly as possible, whatever approach you take.

[muffinman]

i once had motorcycle gas tank coated with a ceramic type material to prevent rust but that was a long time ago and it was really thin. i haven't seen this done that much any more though.

[scottohno]

Originally Posted by te51levin

I don't think a small chunk of liner material would be near enough to clog a filter, but you'd want to do things as neatly as possible, whatever approach you take.

well i know sometimes i have brain farts and i would do something like drill, install and fill with gas. just a reminder. one piece wont clog it, but hundreds and thousands of little pieces will clog it.

[Macgyver5]

So just jumping in here as I've been down this road and seen how it ends and it isn't pretty...

First I will start with this quote...

"The comment about gasoline having a 45 to 60 day shelf life especially caught me by surprise. It's common in marketing to use a line like "in times like these" or "in these troubled times" as a scare tactic, suggesting that the world is not as it used to be, and that the consumer needs to buy something (for example, life insurance for an infant) as a reaction to a situation they don't understand (a temporarily depressed economy). It's obvious that gasoline goes sour over time, but I've started engines on gasoline that is several years old. When I hear dubious claims offered, like a 45-day shelf life on gasoline, my BS filter starts to twitch a little."

Well I used to feel the same way... but then after having to remove my tank for a 2nd time I did a little homework... it just so happens that in "times like these" gas is mixed with 10% ethanol and this is a joining that neither is happy about... so with a little down time they separate (as little as 2 weeks!) leaving you with plain gas and straight ethanol... the gas part is fine but the ethanol part will eat it's way through lots of things... Meaning anything not metal... unfortunately your new tank liner as well... believe me as I've been down this road with my car and motorcycle... so while te51levin was off about a few things he was right about replacing your tank or just cleaning it out really well and driving it often as I have personally seen "today's gas" eat away at fuel tank liner and reduce it to a powder that clogged up the whole system... So good luck and I hope this helps!!!

-B-

[te51levin]

Originally Posted by Macgyver5

... but then after having to remove my tank for a 2nd time I did a little homework... it just so happens that in "times like these" gas is mixed with 10% ethanol <SNIP> the ethanol part will eat it's way through lots of things... Meaning anything not metal...

For whatever it's worth, anything I've contributed to this discussion is based on my own experience, not on what I've read. I ran my car on E85 (85% ethanol) for two years, on the original fuel system (tank, lines, pump, etc), and suffered no ill effects, so the commonly spread notion that ethanol will eat everything it comes in contact with is clearly not universally true. What that suggests to me is that, assuming relatively frequent use, no additional liners or chemicals are necessary, even in the presence of a very high percentage of ethanol.

People are up in arms about water mixing into their fuel and causing problems, but does anyone remember what we used to add to gasoline when we had water in the system? We used HEET - which is methanol! So, to eliminate water, we add alcohol to the fuel - an alcohol far more corrosive than ethanol, incidentally - yet adding alcohol to the fuel causes water to separate from the fuel. Huh? Seems to me that the smarter approach is to either run the tank dry or keep it full. With no fuel in the tank, there will be no phase separation; with a full fuel tank, there will be far less airspace from which to draw moisture.

I'm also very skeptical of claims that ethanol and gasoline will separate and immediately destroy everything. While separation can occur over time, I'd be really curious to see how long it takes in an automotive application where the vehicle is not left alone for weeks or months at a time.

None of us here are petrochemical engineers or metallurgists. That being the case, the best guides will be common sense and practical experience rather than hearsay or internet rumor. The best source of information is certainly not marketing or advertising copy intended to sell products or services.

Just be careful of scare tactics and sales pitches, that's all. Not everyone who tells you something knows what they are talking about or is looking out for your best interests. My , offered for whatever anyone can get from it.

Now, this being Christmas and all, I am off to study the effects of ethanol on the lining of my glassware and stomach.