Tank Sealant

shedbob

shedbob

Senior member
The old sealant in my Jota's tank is peeling off in great sheets and clogging up my filters. Just started doing it this year so I presume it's in response to new fuels. It may even have been a factor in my recent expiration when abroad (England).
So I've ordered some excellently named "Slosh" remover & resealer from Draganfly which hopefully will be here by the weekend.

Has anyone any expertise in using this sort of stuff ?
Will it eat the paint if it gets out ?
How do I seal up the orifices ?
Is it difficult ?
Should I get someone who knows what they're doing to do it ?

Your coments please.

Robbie
 
Haven't used that stuff but have treated several tanks with Caswell, which is an epoxy. You need to make sure all traces of the old coating are removed, and I did this by inserting several handfuls of short drywall screws into the tank and then shaking it up. This removed all the loose coating and roughed up the inside. I then used simple green or another citrus based cleaner to clean out the inside and let it completely dry. Then I used two pieces of rubber tubing slighly larger in diameter than the tap threaded opening (of course, remove taps and block end of rubber tube) and screwed these far enough to protect the threads. I then poured in the Caswell, and then covered the fuel filler opening with a sheet of plastic wrap, secured with rubber banks around the neck of the filler. I then sloshed the stuff around to fully coat the inside of the tank. I've tried other coatings that have failed, and now stick to Caswell alone, since in my experience it is unaffected by ethanol, an increasing problem in today's fuels. 
 
its a commonly known fact that for a couple of years the petrol companies have been introducing ethanol into petrol by around 5%, the future is that they are going to raise to 15% , they are getting a big pat on the back from the governments for finding a replacement for fossil fuels. unfortunately, ethanol peelss liner from the inside of tanks, atomised into the inlet system can stick valves into guides after a warm run and cooling overnight.
it has been found to decay, rubber, cork, copper, brass,and most components in car and bike fuels systems, there is talk of having to make special metal needles and carb parts to withstand it. fibreglass tanks go soft (we have experienced one recently) .

the new products on the market are supposed to be ethanol proof, but there will only be one way to tell, and thats over time.

 
Definitive (UK/EU) position is detailed in FUEL NEWS article in the following link (scroll down to get there) 
http://fbhvc.co.uk/2011/01/31/newsletter-no-1-february-2011/

There's a lot of info, including summary of a report by Qinetiq into the effects of E10 fuel (mooted for introduction 2013). 
The report found that:

    * The majority of vehicles 10 years old or older will not be compatible with E10 due to fuel system material incompatibility issues.
    * Carburettor vehicles and powered two wheelers will suffer problems due to material incompatibility, corrosion, and driveability issues.
    * Field experience has demonstrated that vehicles and petrol fuelled equipment fitted with glass fibre fuel tanks may suffer catastrophic failure due to the incompatibility of the glass fibre resin with petrol ethanol blends.
    * Based on vehicle age, approximately 8.6 million vehicles will be unable to run on E10? Based on average vehicle life of 13 years very approximately half these vehicles will still be in use when the proposed phase out of E5 takes place in 2013.

The report also has a recommendations section which makes interesting reading.

    * Vehicles ten years old or older, carburettored vehicles (including powered two wheelers) and first generation direct spark ignition vehicles should not be fuelled on E10 unless the manufacturer can state the vehicles are compatible with E10.
    * E5 should not be phased out in 2013, its widespread availability should continue for the foreseeable future.
    * Consideration should be given to maintaining a specification for E0 fuel for historic and vintage vehicles.

FBHVC conclude -
One area where there seems to have been a softening of attitude is in the life of E5; at the Stakeholder meetings the position was quite firm, E5 only until 2013 and then it would be phased out to be replaced by E10. The statement that E5 is likely to be around until at least 2015, backed up by the suggestion of provision of low ethanol (whatever that is) fuel for historic vehicles is a positive development and one in which we feel the FBHVC can claim to have made an impact.
 
E10 was introduced in Germany earlier this year, but E5 seems to remain available (at a higher cost of course) for some time to come.
Eco Nazis all over the EU, eh!
 
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