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I installed a new fuel tank in my 73, about 5 years ago. Yesterday I noticed that the filler neck was rusty, (also new) then I discovered that the entire inside of the tank was covered with rust. Sorry to say that after doing a lot of work restoring the car, it still needs some work, and aside from a few trips around the neighborhood, it has sat in the garage. Is this a common problem, due to gasoline absorbing moisture? Should I complain to the large Corvette parts place I bought it from? Is there a better quality tank available, possibly aluminum, that would not rust? Disappointing to redo work I've already done. As always, thanks for the knowledge shared here, very helpful.
With just a few trips around the neighborhood in 5 years, sounds like the same gas has been sitting in the tank for all that time. Assuming you're still in FL, warm days, cool nights in a presumedly non air conditioned garage, water will collect in the tank under those conditions. Rust is pretty much a certainty.
I've only seen galvanized steel tanks. Supposedly corrosion resistant. They're fine in a car that's get driven but if you are going to continue to just let it sit you might want to coat the tank with one of the tank sealers that are out there. POR15 makes one but there's others. I've used one on a motorcycle tank with good results.
At least keep the tank full so there isn't bare cold steel for water to condense on. Drive it more.
when I bought my 74, the gas tank was out of the car sitting under a tree. It had a dead frog in it too. on closer inspection the top had tiny pin holes where the straps had rusted through.
I bought the por15 gas tank kit for about $50. Washed it several times followed the directions. Dried it with a hair dryer and put masking tape over the pin holes. Then you basically dump a quart of product in and spin it around till it’s all coated.
that was in 04 and this is a shot of the inside today. It's a little work but I've been happy with the solution.
Last edited by johnt365; Jan 28, 2020 at 10:00 PM.
[QUOTE=Franks73;1600867459]I installed a new fuel tank in my 73, about 5 years ago. Yesterday I noticed that the filler neck was rusty, (also new) then I discovered that the entire inside of the tank was covered with rust. Sorry to say that after doing a lot of work restoring the car, it still needs some work, and aside from a few trips around the neighborhood, it has sat in the garage. Is this a common problem, due to gasoline absorbing moisture? Should I complain to the large Corvette parts place I bought it from? Is there a better quality tank available, possibly aluminum, that would not rust? Disappointing to redo work I've already done. As always, thanks for the knowledge shared here, very helpful.
red coat. Buy at O’reillys I have used this many times on bike tanks. Great stuff won’t be Disappointed.
I have exactly the same issue. Brand new LSx tank and pump from Tanks Inc, galvanized inside and out. I does sit inside my building 24/7 at this point. I only put non-E fuel in it. But I popped the cap off the other day when I was sanding around the filler neck and to my horror the inside was completely coated in rust! Not just a little bit either. I'll have to pull this new tank now and see where to go from there. But I thought galvanized would have been way more rust resistant than this. One step forward and three steps back...
Hmmm.... that's interesting. I had my gas tank replaced about 1985 and don't take any special care to keep it full or whatnot. And it's a vented tank. My tank looks pretty much new inside (and outside also). I've lived within blocks from the ocean for like ever....it is garaged but nothing special. I was surprised when you said it had rusted in such a short time. Not much help, but only mentioning because I don't understand how it could rust so fast.
Last edited by carriljc; Jan 29, 2020 at 02:43 PM.
I admit my fuel was sitting in the tank for too long. I thought the tank should have held up better, like yours has. Wonder if I got stuck with a crappy foreign made metal. Still weighing my options.
Started on a NCRS restoration and the cost of the gas tank was the final straw that caused me to change my direction. $250 for an AO stamp; $139 for a Dorman lifetime guarantee tank. I run marine Stabil in everything that sits for a fair amount of time. I tape a baggie filled with air over the smaller equipment I have (mower and snow blower) when Iay them up. This allows for expansion and contraction and limits the amount of moisture that can enter the tank. I'm not sure how the baggie/garbage bag would work with the carbon filter though.
Rust in fuel tank
