The vinegar rust removal paradox

[SeanMora77]

I've been cleaning the rust out of my gas tank for nearly a week now. I really feel like I'm chasing my tail here because twice now I've had the inside of the tank looking clean and shiny only to have it rust up again as I flush it with water. I've followed every instruction to the word but keep ending up with ferocious re rusting and it is becoming a real headache. Just to clarify; I've made positive stops for the petcock port and fuel inlet. I filled the tank with vinegar and a quarter to half cup of salt, let it set 24 hours. I then drain the vinegar(siphon through a towel into a five gallon bucket) immediately fill the tank with water and baking soda to neutralize the acid... Let sit fifteen minutes, flush with water for a good ten to fifteen minutes. Drain as much water as possible. I then added a little rubbing alcohol to get rid of any remaining water, swish it around vigorously, drain it, look inside the tank and it's plagued with rust again. ?

 

[7981GS]

Why are you adding salt to the mix?
Have you tried mixing some 2-stroke oil (several ounces perhaps a pint) with a gallon of gas and swishing it around to stop the rust?

Eric

 

[tkent02]

Using acid will always lead to flash rusting...
There are better methods.

 

[chuck hahn]

Soon as you rinse it, tape a hair dryer or the exhaust side of a shop vac to the filler hole and dry it as quickly as possible. Then use a mix of a pint of gas and 3 ore 4 ounces of 2 cycle oil and swish it around to coat the inside against new rust forming.

 

[SeanMora77]

Why are you adding salt to the mix?
Have you tried mixing some 2-stroke oil (several ounces perhaps a pint) with a gallon of gas and swishing it around to stop the rust?

Eric

I added salt because I read that it creates a slightly stronger acid that works a little harder and a little faster. I will try the two cycle method after this next waiting game.

 

[hampshirehog]

The way i found to stop flash rusting is to empty the vinegar (neat vinegar - nothing mixed with it) then immediately fill with water from a hose and just leave the hose running to flush the gunge out. Stop the hose and pull off the tap and as the water comes out blast the inside of the tank with WD40 (as soon as the water has dropped an inch start the WD40 blasting).

 

[chuck hahn]

How many cans does this take?? Little premix for the weed whacker once its empty and dried is way cheaper I would think. But then again overseas your paying out the wazoo for petrol.

 

[hampshirehog]

Premix might be cheaper and I don't doubt that it works but WD40 is supposed to be (is?) a water dispersant and if you use a new can you get it to spray out as a mist so that it blankets everything. About half a can does the trick - so ?2 -3.

What makes me laugh is that the cheapest way to buy vinegar that I have found is in half pint bottles from Asda (Walmart). You get some strange looks with 40 or 50 bottles in the shopping trolley - I always tell the checkout girl that mixed with orange juice it's a great way to get drunk......

 

[7981GS]

Premix might be cheaper and I don't doubt that it works but WD40 is supposed to be (is?) a water dispersant and if you use a new can you get it to spray out as a mist so that it blankets everything. About half a can does the trick - so ?2 -3.

What makes me laugh is that the cheapest way to buy vinegar that I have found is in half pint bottles from Asda (Walmart). You get some strange looks with 40 or 50 bottles in the shopping trolley - I always tell the checkout girl that mixed with orange juice it's a great way to get drunk......

I'll bet they try it too! :lol:

Eric

 

[chuck hahn]

Just gas being a petroleum product will coat it. The only downfall ( same as with WD40 ) is that it drys and evaporates. The oil in the premix will be left behind when the gas evaporates. And if hes gonna use the tank right away, the little premix will be fine to run thru the carbs.

 

[JEEPRUSTY]

Why not just swish some kero or gas?
Never use water as there is little need if you do not put salt in the mix.

Your white vinegar is mostly water anyway.

An old guy hereabouts recommends horse iodine. Not the prissy stuff in a first aid kit but the kind used on hooves.

 

[tkent02]

I would have told her this:

I always tell the checkout girl that mixed with orange juice it's a great aphrodisiac......

 

[tkent02]

An old guy hereabouts recommends horse iodine. Not the prissy stuff in a first aid kit but the kind used on hooves.

What does the iodine do, eat rust?
Or keep it from re rusting?

 

[hampshirehog]

I would have told her this:

She would have replied affro - dizzy - wot? Our gorgeous Asda girls struggle wen the wurds have more than 2 silly bells in them

 

[SeanMora77]

As I'm on a strict wife imposed budget I will try some premix I have sitting around for my lawn equipment. Adding to the frustration is the fact that the rest of my bike is ready to rock. I soaked and scrubbed the bejesus out of the Carbs, new airbox boots, filter, and weatherstripped. The last piece of this part of the puzzle Is the tank. as soon as it's squared away I'm golden... With the exception of the carb boots to the engine. Wife says I have to wait for those. Thanks for all your suggestions guys!

 

[tkent02]

Since you live in a very humid environment, rusting up again will always be a problem.
In this case I would consider using the POR-15 fuel tank lining kit. You get an acid bath, some stuff to neutralize it, and the paint. It is the only kit of this type I would consider using. A bit of a complicated procedure, but it works.

 

[SeanMora77]

I'm looking at the por15 treatment. I believe my tank is a five gallon tank. Any recommendations on which kit to go with? The cycle tank kit is fourty and change while the super starter kit is twenty and change. Would the super starter kit suffice or should I go with the cycle tank kit?

 

[Nessism]

Phosphoric acid works much better to derust a tank because it leaves behind a phosphate coating which is rust resistant. Chuck Haun recommended this stuff the other day and I fully support...http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...langId=-1&keyword=etch+and+prep&storeId=10051

The only other thing you will need is the Por-15 sealer itself, no need for the kit.

 

[tkent02]

I'm looking at the por15 treatment. I believe my tank is a five gallon tank. Any recommendations on which kit to go with? The cycle tank kit is fourty and change while the super starter kit is twenty and change. Would the super starter kit suffice or should I go with the cycle tank kit?

The motorcycle kit is good for three, maybe four bikes. How much is in the starter kit and does it have all of the different steps?

 

[mmain1]

I used the Vinegar method with great results.

1) Three gallon jugs of white vinegar
2) Filled tank using old petcock and existing gas cap
3) Add handful of nuts/bolts
4) Shake every few hours or just whenever you think about it.
5) Next day went to car wash and drained vinegar (removing cap and old petcock)
6) Wash well with pressure hose
7) Drive home and douse with half can of WD40.
8) Drink beer.