| Author |
Message |
curtis4085 Samba Member

Joined: July 22, 2011 Posts: 4806 Location: Colorado
|
Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2013 10:12 am Post subject: |
|
|
| ivwshane wrote: |
| I just used evaporust on my ghia's gas tank, I rotated it every few hours. I then washed it out and dried it with compressed air, I then coated it with master coat. I let it sit for three days. We shall see how it goes but if it starts peeling I'll be buying a new one:( |
I was told if you get all the debris out and use evaporust there shouldn't be a need for a sealer. Guess it all depends on the condition of your tank.
I have a 71 tank and plan to just use evaporust and a chain to clean then its a good flush and fill with fuel. _________________ Special Thanks to:
Headflow Masters - Vista, CA
www.headflowmasters.com |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
obx71super Samba Member
Joined: December 16, 2012 Posts: 342 Location: Outer Banks NC
|
Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2013 10:51 am Post subject: |
|
|
That's right, unfortunately I decided to seal it and it was a mistake. I used muratic acid to clean it. 1 gallon of acid, fill the rest of the way with water and let it soak overnight. Shaking/moving it around to get all surfaces. Dumped it out and the tank was spotless. Wish I had stopped there! _________________ 71 super auto stick basically original minus a couple resprays
73 Westy automatic with a 2 liter gex, soon to be a 1.8 liter Headflow masters
Newest Addition!! Solid straight 74 thing totally disassembled!! YEEEWWWW |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
raygreenwood Samba Member
Joined: November 24, 2008 Posts: 23398 Location: Oklahoma City
|
Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2013 12:56 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| guitarman63mm wrote: |
| busdaddy wrote: |
| guitarman63mm wrote: |
I will never understand why people use muriatic acid. Hydrogen chloride gas is one of the most corrosive gases in existence - the moment you remove rust in one spot, you're creating it in another.
|
Because it gets the rust out in a hurry and it's cheap and easy to use, TSP is a strong base and neutralizes it if you are lazy on the rinsing but I like the phosphate treatment right after myself followed by a drying and oiling.
Any better options you can suggest for home use? |
I use electrolysis to remove the rust and paint on all my parts, followed by an acid etch for 20 minutes or so with ospho to remove loose iron and any residual rust. Then I wire brush and rinse it off, hand dry with a towel, and toss it in the oven at 175 or hit it with a heat gun for a few moments. This is time-consuming, but I hate rust.
Knowledgeable motorcyclists use electrolysis to clean their tanks. It's easier on that because you can just stick a piece of rebar with some pipe foam around it right into the tank, where as we have awkward curves and a much larger volume, but when I get around to doing my tanks, I'm doing the electrolysis + phosphoric acid treatment. |
You don’t understand why people use Muriatic/Hydrochloric acid…because you don’t understand the chemistry involved here.
Hydrogen chloride gas….so what? Corrosive is whats required here. Virtually every automotive machine shop that works cast iron heads and blocks uses a barrel of Muriatic acid to derust heads. It works perfectly.
Let me list the chemistry here: The original question about a gas tank sealing job going bad…..and the subsequent and probably correct answer that the metal was too clean:
1.The primary ingredient in both primer and sealant for POR-15 (and most similar sealer systems)…..is phosphoric acid. Read the MSDS sheets.
Why Phosphoric acid? Because it converts rust….to iron phosphate on ferrous metals.
Why iron Phosphate? Because hands down it is THE very best primer for epoxy and many other finishes….far better than Zinc dichromate.
2.What is required to produce iron phosphate using Phosphoric acid?……
RUST
Preferably thin rust under .001” thick. The Phosphoric acid must have some rust to convert to be able to leave a nice primer coat of iron phosphate.
Back to the hydrochloric acid:…..hydrochloric/Muriatic acid dissolves rust like butter…right down to bare metal.
BUT…and here is where the REAL chemistry comes in….yeah…it creates minor hydrogen embrittlment of the surface….yeah…so what….its REQUIRED.
Why is this required? Because it allows FLASH RUSTING….in minutes. This flash rust will be less than .001” thick (typically about 5-7 microns thick)
Why is this flash rust needed? ……So the phosphoric acid in POR-15 primer and sealant coat can convert it to iron phosphate …..so the sealant (usually an epoxy base)….to have something to stick to.
So…back to YOUR original question….why use Muriatic acid?….because Phosphoric acid does not have the solution strength to eat through crusty rust more than about .003”-.005” thick. Muriatic acid DOES have the solution strength and its cheap.
Rust neutralizes any acid as the acid oxidizes it. Crusty rust will requires large quantities of phosphoric acid.
And no….the Muriatic acid does not leave an residue. It is no more or less an acid than Phosphoric acid. It just has a higher solution strength.
You can do this same type of treatment any items such as heat exchangers by using Muriatic acid…then allowing flash rusting…..then treat with a phosphoric acid product like Ospho.
Your exchangers will last for ages. Once the surface of virtually any ferrous metal is treated in this manner and then sealed with paint….it will not rust for ages.
Things you want to be careful with using Muriatic acid are brake parts and anything with a plated surface.
For instance….on old Teves calipers….the acid will remove the cad plating…which is actually under the gray factory paint. No big deal if you plan to repaint them with VHT paint or similar. The pistons have a very thin chrome plating.
It will remove that….which is also no big deal. Its about 5 microns or less. Just polish them starting with 2000 grit and end with 3000 grit. They will work awesome.
Ray |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Red Fau Veh Samba Member

Joined: September 07, 2012 Posts: 3037 Location: Prescott Az.
|
Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2013 1:24 pm Post subject: |
|
|
That's a great post, I have heard foks complain about por 15 before and in most cases it was because they didn't prep the item correctly. There are folks that sand and remove all the rust before slapping the top coat on and they wonder why it doesn't adhere well, it needs the rust people! _________________ 1971 Deluxe Sunroof Bay 1905 stroker, dual idf40's, 74mm Scat forged crank, engle 110 cam. CB 044 heads, AutoCraft rockers, chromoly push rods
1973 Orange transporter stock type 4 with dual 40 Dellortos and Empi single quiet pack
1969 Adventurewagen blue whale Gene Berg 1776 built by Dave Kawell dual 36 DRLA's, Vintage Speed exhaust, Bosch 019 screamer
1961 Swivel Seat camper, L345 grey
| Touch Nicks Thing wrote: |
Swivel Seat panels are for people with no friends  |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
obx71super Samba Member
Joined: December 16, 2012 Posts: 342 Location: Outer Banks NC
|
Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2013 2:17 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Yeah I had a nice layer of flash rust and I think a weeks prep time should have been enough but thanks anyway Red Fau Veh! _________________ 71 super auto stick basically original minus a couple resprays
73 Westy automatic with a 2 liter gex, soon to be a 1.8 liter Headflow masters
Newest Addition!! Solid straight 74 thing totally disassembled!! YEEEWWWW |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Red Fau Veh Samba Member

Joined: September 07, 2012 Posts: 3037 Location: Prescott Az.
|
Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2013 3:30 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I didn't say it was your fault that the tank wasn't preped perfectly, it is a tough job to get right. I have had the same thing happen before to me with a product called Kreem tank liner. If the tank looked clean and useful after you cleaned it, most folks here would have told you not to line it. That is what they told me when I first came here and cleaned my tank. _________________ 1971 Deluxe Sunroof Bay 1905 stroker, dual idf40's, 74mm Scat forged crank, engle 110 cam. CB 044 heads, AutoCraft rockers, chromoly push rods
1973 Orange transporter stock type 4 with dual 40 Dellortos and Empi single quiet pack
1969 Adventurewagen blue whale Gene Berg 1776 built by Dave Kawell dual 36 DRLA's, Vintage Speed exhaust, Bosch 019 screamer
1961 Swivel Seat camper, L345 grey
| Touch Nicks Thing wrote: |
Swivel Seat panels are for people with no friends  |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
obx71super Samba Member
Joined: December 16, 2012 Posts: 342 Location: Outer Banks NC
|
Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2013 4:18 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Didn't say you did, just stating the facts anyway, lesson to everyone else out there. If your tank isn't like a piece of Swiss cheese, don't seal it just get it to clean bare metal and run it. _________________ 71 super auto stick basically original minus a couple resprays
73 Westy automatic with a 2 liter gex, soon to be a 1.8 liter Headflow masters
Newest Addition!! Solid straight 74 thing totally disassembled!! YEEEWWWW |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Fiatdude Samba Member

Joined: April 20, 2009 Posts: 1217 Location: now in MO.
|
Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2013 5:48 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Been looking forever for this picture --- this is what was going through my 40 micron filter after I coated my tank --- OH, and this chit doesn't like injectors either
|
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
obx71super Samba Member
Joined: December 16, 2012 Posts: 342 Location: Outer Banks NC
|
Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2013 6:33 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Aye, that's no good!! That makes me feel even better about getting another tank that's bare metal. Yuck, don't want any crap like that getting to my new 40 IDFs!!💩 _________________ 71 super auto stick basically original minus a couple resprays
73 Westy automatic with a 2 liter gex, soon to be a 1.8 liter Headflow masters
Newest Addition!! Solid straight 74 thing totally disassembled!! YEEEWWWW |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
raygreenwood Samba Member
Joined: November 24, 2008 Posts: 23398 Location: Oklahoma City
|
Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2013 5:00 am Post subject: |
|
|
Working with inks and coatings for a living...I can tell you that this whole process is over-simplified. Going of memory here....but I "think" POR-15 is either an epoxy based or possibly polyester based.
Things these products are snsitive to:
Humidity
Temperature
Textur of surface to be coated
Oils
Fairly exact mixing
Time factor during application
Contamination by residual minerals left by water, specifically minerals that can change PH (sodium, calcium etc.)
Age of the products...ie: has it been sitting on a dealers shelf for months...and then on your shelf for months
Having ever been frozen or overheated while sitting on the shelf.
With all of the items these types1 of adhesive and sealants can be sensitive to...its amazing they sometimes work ata all.
Ray |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Wasted youth Samba Member

Joined: July 06, 2012 Posts: 5175 Location: California's Hot and Smoggy Central Valley
|
Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2013 5:31 am Post subject: |
|
|
I decided to follow Ratwell's POR-15 step by step, and I did two tanks. That was a few weeks ago, and neither has been installed yet. I only have seen one issue thus far; the 1968 has a glob which looks bubbled, cheifly due to the fact I got busy doing several things and forgot about the tank draining out, and left it in a position to where it allowed about a large tablespoon of the sealer to coagulate near the filling neck. I tried to chip it out, but it was pretty solid. Hopefully, it won't decompose and foul the suction screen.
I was able to clean out both tanks very well, down to bare metal using muratic acid and water. I decided after rinsing out the acid wash to follow up with a baking soda and water solution to neutralize any acid activity, then did the phosphoric treatment 'Metal Ready'.
My reason for coating a clean tank? Eliminate rust from condensate formed with ethanol blends and normal condensation. Although I consider myself a 'Stock Nazi', I wouldn't mind a bit changing out metal fuel tanks with modern composite materials.  |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
obx71super Samba Member
Joined: December 16, 2012 Posts: 342 Location: Outer Banks NC
|
Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2013 6:39 am Post subject: |
|
|
That would be nice if you could get a poly tank that was the right size and accepted the right sender. _________________ 71 super auto stick basically original minus a couple resprays
73 Westy automatic with a 2 liter gex, soon to be a 1.8 liter Headflow masters
Newest Addition!! Solid straight 74 thing totally disassembled!! YEEEWWWW |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Wasted youth Samba Member

Joined: July 06, 2012 Posts: 5175 Location: California's Hot and Smoggy Central Valley
|
Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2013 12:27 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| obx71super wrote: |
| That would be nice if you could get a poly tank that was the right size and accepted the right sender. |
Yes, that's me. Dreamer... Maybe one day... |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
obx71super Samba Member
Joined: December 16, 2012 Posts: 342 Location: Outer Banks NC
|
Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2013 12:48 pm Post subject: |
|
|
🍻 _________________ 71 super auto stick basically original minus a couple resprays
73 Westy automatic with a 2 liter gex, soon to be a 1.8 liter Headflow masters
Newest Addition!! Solid straight 74 thing totally disassembled!! YEEEWWWW |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Red Fau Veh Samba Member

Joined: September 07, 2012 Posts: 3037 Location: Prescott Az.
|
Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2013 1:21 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I will send you a 72 or a 76 tank if it will help, not sure what years would work. _________________ 1971 Deluxe Sunroof Bay 1905 stroker, dual idf40's, 74mm Scat forged crank, engle 110 cam. CB 044 heads, AutoCraft rockers, chromoly push rods
1973 Orange transporter stock type 4 with dual 40 Dellortos and Empi single quiet pack
1969 Adventurewagen blue whale Gene Berg 1776 built by Dave Kawell dual 36 DRLA's, Vintage Speed exhaust, Bosch 019 screamer
1961 Swivel Seat camper, L345 grey
| Touch Nicks Thing wrote: |
Swivel Seat panels are for people with no friends  |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
obx71super Samba Member
Joined: December 16, 2012 Posts: 342 Location: Outer Banks NC
|
Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2013 6:27 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I appreciate it but I e got one on the way already _________________ 71 super auto stick basically original minus a couple resprays
73 Westy automatic with a 2 liter gex, soon to be a 1.8 liter Headflow masters
Newest Addition!! Solid straight 74 thing totally disassembled!! YEEEWWWW |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
HerrMahnenschmidt Samba Member

Joined: July 22, 2011 Posts: 94 Location: WY, NoCO, NoCA, here, there, elsewhere...
|
Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2014 6:20 am Post subject: tank sealing idea |
|
|
Resurrecting this thread...
Could a tank be either copper or nickel plated as an alternative to chemical coatings? Expensive, perhaps...
Also, discounting liability concerns for the present, what might folks be willing to pay for a stainless steel box that just might happen to be the same shape and size of a late bay fuel tank, and just happen to have all the holes and tubes in all the right places?
I wouldn't be willing to risk the liability exposure fabricating fuel tanks for ANYTHING, but I can certainly fabricate boxes that an owner could (against my advisement) use for a fuel tank...
Ideas. _________________ 1977 Westfalia --
- rebuilt stock-spec 2.0l FI engine; 002 tranny w/stock gearing with 215mm flywheel/clutch/pp |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
obx71super Samba Member
Joined: December 16, 2012 Posts: 342 Location: Outer Banks NC
|
Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2014 6:50 am Post subject: |
|
|
They aren't cheap but bus depot has brand new tanks for sale now. Wish they would have had them 8 months ago cause I would have bought one! _________________ 71 super auto stick basically original minus a couple resprays
73 Westy automatic with a 2 liter gex, soon to be a 1.8 liter Headflow masters
Newest Addition!! Solid straight 74 thing totally disassembled!! YEEEWWWW |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
BUSBOSS Samba Member

Joined: January 21, 2009 Posts: 2161 Location: Northern California
|
Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2014 11:01 am Post subject: |
|
|
I had no problems with my POR15 tank reseal.
If you need a new tank, here is the Bus Depot link:
http://www.busdepot.com/211201075l _________________ All the redemption I can offer, girl, is beneath this dirty hood
1976 Westfalia
1970 Karmann Ghia Convertible (sold - but not forgotten) |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
SGKent  Samba Member

Joined: October 30, 2007 Posts: 42901 Location: at the beach
|
Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2014 11:53 am Post subject: |
|
|
new tanks are now available thru BusDepot in the USA and Just Kampers and VW Heritage in the UK. Just clean yours and deal with the rust with phosphoric acid. Forget the resealing. There is also a new product from Stabil that stops rust from ethanol. _________________ George Carlin:
"Most people don't know what they're doing, and a lot of them are really good at it."
Skills@EuroCarsPlus:
"never time to do it right but always time to do it twice"  |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
|