my tank is rusted so bad on the inside that it blocks the fuel.ive taken it out before & rinsed it with water,now the problem is back.ive read about por-15 & want too know if it is aviable here & if not what esle can i do?any suggestions would be appreciated.
thanks
tank trouble!
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Re: tank trouble!
Metal treated with hydrochloric (muriatic) acid immediately develops surface rust. Not so with phosphoric acid. You should be able to find it at your local auto supply/DIY shop along with all the other solvents and cleaners.
Before the acid rinse you should clean the loose rust out by putting in a handful of nuts (square ones are best) & bolts (short), or a piece of chain, with some lacquer thinner. Then agitate the tank. This will scrape the loose rust and remove the oily gasoline residue. Drain the lacquer thinner and remove the nuts & bolts(chain). Follow that with acetone to remove the lacquer thinner and really dry the tank. You can blow some air through it with a compressor.
Be careful with the acid rinse...you can easily create holes with it. The problem is, you can't really tell when it's done. I figure that 5 minutes is the most you want to leave it in, especially if you've already cleaned out the loose stuff. You might even want to test it on a piece of metal to see how it goes.
After the acid wash be sure to neutralize it with a baking soda solution. Have it ready BEFORE you begin with the acid! I think I used a couple of tablespoons to a about 4 litres of water. After that, rinse with clear water and again with acetone.
Careful with some of the chemicals above. Phosphoric acid is usually found in cleaning solutions, and is a relatively mild acid (compared to sulphuric and hydrochloric acid) but IS still an acid. Use rubber gloves and some face safety wear. Flush with large (LARGE) quantities of water if spilled on your skin. Obviously avoid breathing the fumes, do not use in an enclosed area.
Acetone is dangerous with long or repeated exposure. A one time use is likely not to cause any problems, but again use rubber gloves, and avoid breathing the fumes. It is absorbed through the skin and repeated use can cause lesions on internal organs.
You can also consider alcohol as a water absorber(no not beer!). The same stuff you add to your tank in winter to help prevent gas line freeze. It won't work as easily as acetone, but is more environment-friendly.
Hope this helps.
Before the acid rinse you should clean the loose rust out by putting in a handful of nuts (square ones are best) & bolts (short), or a piece of chain, with some lacquer thinner. Then agitate the tank. This will scrape the loose rust and remove the oily gasoline residue. Drain the lacquer thinner and remove the nuts & bolts(chain). Follow that with acetone to remove the lacquer thinner and really dry the tank. You can blow some air through it with a compressor.
Be careful with the acid rinse...you can easily create holes with it. The problem is, you can't really tell when it's done. I figure that 5 minutes is the most you want to leave it in, especially if you've already cleaned out the loose stuff. You might even want to test it on a piece of metal to see how it goes.
After the acid wash be sure to neutralize it with a baking soda solution. Have it ready BEFORE you begin with the acid! I think I used a couple of tablespoons to a about 4 litres of water. After that, rinse with clear water and again with acetone.
Careful with some of the chemicals above. Phosphoric acid is usually found in cleaning solutions, and is a relatively mild acid (compared to sulphuric and hydrochloric acid) but IS still an acid. Use rubber gloves and some face safety wear. Flush with large (LARGE) quantities of water if spilled on your skin. Obviously avoid breathing the fumes, do not use in an enclosed area.
Acetone is dangerous with long or repeated exposure. A one time use is likely not to cause any problems, but again use rubber gloves, and avoid breathing the fumes. It is absorbed through the skin and repeated use can cause lesions on internal organs.
You can also consider alcohol as a water absorber(no not beer!). The same stuff you add to your tank in winter to help prevent gas line freeze. It won't work as easily as acetone, but is more environment-friendly.
Hope this helps.
VW Enthusiast








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Re: tank trouble!
if its a beetle tank,why not just replace it with a better condition one ?altus wrote:my tank is rusted so bad on the inside that it blocks the fuel.ive taken it out before & rinsed it with water,now the problem is back.ive read about por-15 & want too know if it is aviable here & if not what esle can i do?any suggestions would be appreciated.
thanks
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