New fuel tank - best coating ?

Post Sat Oct 06, 2007 8:34 pm

Have just recieved my new fuel tank, but as you'll all no doubt be aware, it comes as bare metal. I don't like the idea of needing a new tank in a few years due to corrosion, so what's the best way to protect the tank. I'm thinking waxoyl or the like ?

Mucho thanks

Post Sat Oct 06, 2007 9:17 pm

I would give it a coat of oil based paint, hammerite or similar

Or you could have it galved/powder coated?

Post Sat Oct 06, 2007 9:23 pm

I would, and have, give it a good lashing of Red Oxide primer, then some of that "Under Body sealer"....

Post Sat Oct 06, 2007 9:36 pm

Hi I used a product called Plasticoat from halfords,came in an aerosol can.

Post Sat Oct 06, 2007 9:50 pm

powder coat or stone chip resistant paint if powder coating is too expensive followed by a good paste of grey stripe underbody sealer

Post Sat Oct 06, 2007 10:01 pm

georgen wrote:it comes as bare metal

Mind, if the original-fit tank was the same, they last quite well with no coating on.

georgen wrote:I'm thinking waxoyl or the like

That's probably the way I'll go when I have to do mine.

Post Sat Oct 06, 2007 10:45 pm

I have used some products from;

http://www.bilthamber.com/

Great stuff

Post Sat Oct 06, 2007 10:49 pm

mine came with a galvanised/silver type finish from ECP but not bare metal. we coated it in an underseal type coating as an added protection

Post Sun Oct 07, 2007 11:14 am

I just did my non genuine tank the other week, it had a light coat of black paint on it so i rubbed it down lightly and sprayed it with hammerite 'hammered' paint to give it a good base and then sprayed waxoyl underbody sealant over the top, that was advised by someone who's pretty handy with bodywork.

Post Sun Oct 07, 2007 12:54 pm

I know it's no use now, but for other people...

I got a new tank from GSF last month. Probably the same as Fuzzy, based on the fact he said it was silver. Deffo wasn't galvanised though, it was powdercoated in a matt grey/silver coating, inside and out.

Post Mon Oct 08, 2007 12:24 am

georgen

Give me a shout if you have any probs with the fitting

Post Mon Oct 08, 2007 8:02 am

BadDave wrote:georgen

Give me a shout if you have any probs with the fitting

Cheers ma loon,

I have fitted one before to my old 320i, which was not too enjoyable TBH. This time though, I'm going to pay some poor bugger to fit it for me as work and family commitments mean I have neither the time or patience to do it myself. Many thanks for the offer though fella..

Oh, and many thanks to all for the tips

Cheers

Post Tue Apr 10, 2012 6:17 pm

I'm going to revive this thread because I'm in a similar situation. I've got a used tank on the way (considering the price of new ones) and I'm sure it'll have some scratches and flakes in places. What's the best coating to the tanks these days to make sure they last, and does this include spraying the top side too? (the side that sits up against the floorpan).

Cheers guys.

Post Tue Apr 10, 2012 9:54 pm

Realistically your 10 times better off getting it sandblasted and powdercoated, then waxoil over it.
Will last a lifetime then.

I bought a new GSF tank for my chromie and painted it satin black, had to take the filler pipe off for some reason afterwards and the petrol spills soon wiped off the paint. Wish id had it coated now...

Post Tue Apr 10, 2012 10:00 pm

get that back to the metal (ONLY WHERE THE PAINT IS COMING OFF!!!) prime and stonechip the lot

Post Tue Apr 10, 2012 10:02 pm

I have just had a brand new one powdercoated cost £40 should last a long time !

Post Tue Apr 10, 2012 10:29 pm

I had mine powdercoated but places would only qoute me a price once i'd clarified it was new and unused. None of the powdercoaters would touch a used tank for some reason.

Post Tue Apr 10, 2012 10:36 pm

Tank, petrol,oven, hot, BOOOOOOOM

That's why Dave

Post Tue Apr 10, 2012 10:39 pm

If there was petrol in it yea, if it's been off a car for months and is dry i don't see what the worry is. Surely all fumes would have long since gone.

Post Wed Apr 11, 2012 5:48 am

Yeah, I think powdercoating is a step too far. Layers will be the way to go, it seems: Anti-rust primer, anti-rust enamel paint, and polyurethane stone-chip.

Post Wed Apr 11, 2012 10:22 am

I'm going to weld the seamline shut prior to any coating or paint. This seems to be the weak point.

I've just spent a couple of hours repairing my fueltank, what seems to be the issue with these tanks is the seam line at the back, even though they are coated the slightest damage from a stone seems to allow water into this and they rot the entire length of the seam, probably from capillary action.

Post Wed Apr 11, 2012 5:19 pm

A mate powdercoated mine for £30 or so. Top job. I'd rather have it powder coated than spend a weekend pratting about with layers of paint.

Post Mon Apr 16, 2012 10:57 am

Well, I spent the weekend with a tank from the scrapper. Going rusty in the same places as mine, but not so advanced. There were two pinholes; one in the top tube that runs the length of the tank which is brazed in place, and the other in the top at the seam, just by the second fuel sender.

There was also a bit of surface rust around the stub pipe and vent pipe, so I ground it all down with the angle grinder, melted some solder into the pinholes, covered everything in marine epoxy anti-rust, then used a form of JB-weld to bulk up around the stub pipes and rusted seams.

Then it got a coating of anti-rust enamel paint, and I'll spray it with stone chip this week. That should make the f*cker last for a few more years!

Cost me 20 quid