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Surface rust in gas tank

Discussion in 'XJ Technical Chat' started by eigenseca, Dec 18, 2018.

  1. eigenseca

    eigenseca Member

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    So there was some slight rust in the gas tank of my 82 maxim 750, I filled it with 3 gallons of white vinegar and let it sit for 4 days. I would regularly go out and shake it around a lot making sure the vinegar touched all surfaces. Today I emptied it out and then added baking soda to the tank to neutralize the acid. I flushed the tank thoroughly with a high pressure water hose and emptied as much water as I could. I then fogged the hell out of the tank with wd-40. I came back around 5 hours later and while the tank still looks shiny for the most part it has picked up spots of rust and a brownish hint to some surfaces in the tank. I know this rust will come off very easily but is there any way to keep it from forming at all after the removal process? I thought fogging it with wd-40 would prevent it but it did not completely. I assume the presence of rust indicates that the galvanization is gone from the tank which makes me feel that some surface rust is inevitable.
     
  2. cgutz

    cgutz Well-Known Member

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    I understand that any clean tank will rust very quickly. Fogging immediately after cleaning/drying should help prevent.

    I don't think the tanks were galvanized from the factory, I may be wrong.
     
  3. 1965soda

    1965soda Member

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    Sure sounds like you took the correct steps. Just a guess here....

    I am wondering if there was some residual moisture still on the surfaces in the tank before you sprayed it with oil and that resulted in the oil not fully coating the surface. Not sure how well WD-40 would "cling" to moist metal.

    Hope that helps and good luck in resolving this!
     
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  4. Polock

    Polock Well-Known Member

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    the tanks are bare steel, there going to flash rust. more important is to get all the water out of the seams, rubbing alcohol and kerosine will do that, then just leave it until your ready for gas
     
  5. eigenseca

    eigenseca Member

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  6. Colin 85 700

    Colin 85 700 Active Member

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    After vinegar, soda, water
    I rinsed my tank with about 250 ml of half/half gas and 2-stroke oil.
    I add about an ounce 2-stroke oil to every second or third tank,it seems to be keeping the rust at bay.
     
  7. XJ550H

    XJ550H Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    gas fumes in the tank keep tank from rusting when tank is not full,(tank is never really full)
     
  8. Colin 85 700

    Colin 85 700 Active Member

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    Oh, i just noticed over the years that dirtbikes and sleds that run mix gas seldom get rusty tanks...
    Where ATVs are straight gas and the tanks seem to rust more and more often.
    Why i add bit of 2-stroke once in a while, maybe ill stop doing that, maybe not. ;)
     
  9. XJ550H

    XJ550H Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    marvel mystery oil works too.
     
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  10. eigenseca

    eigenseca Member

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    Thank you all for the feedback!
     
  11. Abaton6

    Abaton6 New Member

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    My method to keep a tank rust free? I dump some good ol Marvel Mystery Oil in the tank at every fill up.. It lubes the carb slides and leaves a film in the tank. I had a 2K Kawi Concours for many years. When l sold the bike, the inside of the tank looked brand new.
     
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  12. tabaka45

    tabaka45 Well-Known Member

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    How much MMO do you put in the tank?
     
  13. XJ550H

    XJ550H Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    1 oz should be all you need. the mixture concentration will build as you continue to use it
    http://www.marvelmysteryoil.com/faqs/
    Tests indicate that 4 oz/ 10 gallons of fuel is the optimum level to use in fuel according to engine tests. Using more may increase vehicle emissions or trip a check engine light in emission sensitive vehicles.
     
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  14. Jetfixer

    Jetfixer Well-Known Member

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    Use Marvel all the time great stuff . Add about 1 to 2 oz at fill up
     
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  15. Abaton6

    Abaton6 New Member

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    I never measured. I just carry a small, (6oz bottle) with me and tip it into the tank for a short second. It won't hurt anything if you do too much. Since i have been doing this, I have never touched a carburetor. I've had my 1999 Suzuki 1500 Intruder for 8 years, and I've never even SEEN the carbs! lol
     
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  16. Polock

    Polock Well-Known Member

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    I put that stuff in my Cub Cadet all the time, mainly to see the gas thru the plastic tank.
    but there's no rust in there either :)
     
  17. Door dude

    Door dude Active Member Premium Member

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    You are too funny polock
     
  18. JetmechMarty

    JetmechMarty Active Member

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    I have a tank that I stripped. I sprayed fogging oil in it. It's still fine after at least a couple of years.

    The tanks had some kind of liner in them from the factory. Whatever it was, it stands up less well to ethanol fuel. Tanks with a few small rust spots, I treated with Metal Rescue, then drive on. The bad ones, I remove the rust with a solution of phosphoric acid. I have used the electrolysis method, but I prefer the acid. Once that's done, I prefer the Caswell epoxy liner.
     

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