Rusted fuel tank

[fabricio]

This is the  third time that oxidizes the fuel tank.
Please, anyone can tell me how to clean it or apply a treatment to remove the rust?...
What kind o sealant is used as they mention in the fuel tank tour, i am in venezuela so i need to know the componentes of the best type please.

[Witt]

.........speaking from personal experience, I wasted my time with two tank rebuilds and one "good" used tank.
Finally ended up ordering a new one from the Classic Center in Irvine California.

Witt

[66andBlue]

Fabricio,
did you study the "fuel tank tour"? See: http://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=1712.0
Also read these topics:
http://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=8100.0
http://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=8694.0
http://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=3415.0
and there are many more.
You are better of buying are new one.

[mdsalemi]

Glad to see Witt; Alfred and in the past, Al Lieffring on board the "replace the old fuel tank".

MOSTLY, (not all the time) a 40+ year old fuel tank can not be made to work properly or reliably on these cars.  Witt discovered it; I discovered, and so did Al Lieffirng.

Time spent on trying to repair a tank is time wasted; usually money wasted too.  While this waste is going on you don't have access to your car, and while your back is turned the price of a new tank (or repro) is going up...

The choice is yours.  After struggling for several years with the nasty results of an old fuel tank I took the advice of a "Meistermechanik" here in Michigan who worked on the Pagoda assembly line, and replaced it.  Have not looked back.

There are so many OTHER things to worry about!

[fabricio]

 Thank you all.

I got a used tank, a 280 SE (W108), in very good condition, now I have to make the job of changing the inlet, the only thing that does not have  the flower pot,
 is there a problem with that?

[mdsalemi]

Yes, Fabricio, there is a problem with no flower pot, it has to do with the continuously-circulating fuel; where it it drawn from the tank, and where the excess is replaced when it comes back from the FI pump.  There is a reason why this tank, is this tank, and why they put the flower pot there...

Possible problems include fuel starvation under certain conditions.  I'm sure others will suggest other issues.

[hands_aus]

It sort of makes me wonder how the 280SE sedans got bye with out a 'flower pot' in the fuel tank.

[glenn]

You sure there is/was no flower pot?? 

[fabricio]

yes, I'm sure, because I see it with my own eyes and the tank has never been opened.
What I will to do is put that without the flower pot, we'll see how it works, I hope not cause me problems.

[ja17]

Hello,

The 280SE with V-8 engines may not have had a flower pot.  The 280SE with the M130 engines did have a flower pot. Look through the fuel tank tour, as all the tanks did have an intricate intake manifold in the bottom of the tank which sealer will clog. Your 280SE flower potless tank will work fine however during hard cornering with low fuel in the tank your engine may starve for fuel. Most likely you will not notice a difference. Some experts feel that the vortex swirling action of fuel in the flower pot also cools the fuel (less chance of vapor lock). Jury is still out on this aspect.

[fabricio]

Thanks very much to all of you for your responses, specially Joe alexander!

[Raymond]

At the PUB, Joe gave us a tour of a tank that was cut open.  It convinced me that it is never a good idea to try to seal one of these tanks.  The flower pot is a big issue and the ceiling of the tank has a very small vent tube that would easily be plugged up by the sealer goop.