Painting gas tanks.

[Timothy McDonald]

Below the cap is the gas tank. This a ’68 Evinrude 1.5 HP. I cleaned the inside with gunk, shaken rocks, and a brush. The outside I used a wire wheel. Rustoleum paints the outside, does anyone paint the inside?

[Timothy McDonald]

Outside paint is “dusty”

• This reply was modified 3 years, 11 months ago by Mumbles.

[sydinnj]

I would not trust paint to stand up against the gas inside then clogging everything up. I have used gas tank sealer on several tanks and never had a problem

[outbdnut2]

There are a lot of products for coating the inside of the tank, most are targeted to the old motorcycle hobby, but also work for outboards. Run a web search on “gas tank sealer” and several should come up. Eastwood and POR-15 are common popular brand names.
Dave

[Timothy McDonald]

Thanks, there should be a permanent thread on this. There is a lot of experience online about the different products. Very controversial as well. Motorcycle and car people have a lot of experience.
What seems to be the case is…
1. Clean your tank well. One guy used soda and a battery charger to neutralize. Everyone who is successful puts a lot of time into preparation of the tank.
2. Examine just how bad your tank is. Seems pin holes and seam leaks require the most work and are the most prone to fail. They also require the right sealer.
3. Follow the instructions verbatim. With every the product, and most seem to involve two or three products, follow the instructions exactly as printed.
4. There’s no cheap and easy fix. Avoid the problem somehow…empty tanks and keep the motor in the house?

[outbdnut2]

Cleaning/de-rusting with a battery charger and baking soda has been discussed a few times, and I think there was an article a few years ago in our magazine. There may be a procedure somewhere here online! I haven’t tried it but that electrolysis procedure makes sense for a badly rusted tank. Anyone here know of a link to that procedure?
Dave

[sydinnj]

Your right there was an article in our magazine but I forgot the issue but I cleaned up a once pressure tank that way and it worked very well

[bobw]

Enclosed is a description of the electrolysis process I had on file.

Bob

1937 Champion D2C Deluxe Lite Twin
1954 Johnson CD-11
1955 Johnson QD-16
1957 Evinrude Fastwin 18
1958 Johnson QD-19
1958 Johnson FD-12
1959 Johnson QD-20

“Every 20 minute job is only a broken bolt away from a 3-day project.”
"Every time you remove a broken or seized bolt an angel gets his wings."

[Timothy McDonald]

I’m using a 1 amp battery charger. Piece of iron pipe.. not galvanized. I’ll tell you in a few hours.

It’s been ten minutes. I had the battery leads backward. the positive is now on the iron rod. the negative now on the Evinrude tank. In just ten minutes the water was dirty and the tank was peeling paint.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 11 months ago by Timothy McDonald. Reason: wrong way
• This reply was modified 3 years, 11 months ago by Mumbles.

[Timothy McDonald]

$4.12 at Walmart. Washing soda.

online: http://www.secondchancegarage.com/public4/gas-tank-cleaning-1.cfm

• This reply was modified 3 years, 11 months ago by Timothy McDonald. Reason: more
• This reply was modified 3 years, 11 months ago by Mumbles.

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