Gas Tank restoration products

[Bob G ✝︎]

My subscribtion to (Car Collector) has given me a great deal of help and information in restoration of older automobiles. In a column writen by Jeff Shade (Restoration corner) I found some good resources that could come in usefull to all of us. For a copy of the articla on gas tank retoration contact car Collector magazine. Here is a list:

1) Eastwood company
www.eastwood.com ) (800) 345-1178

2) Quanta Products
www.gastanks.com ) ( 800) 235-8788

3) Gas Tank Renew
www.gastankrenu.com (800) 932-2766

4) multi Mender
www.ez-poly.com (877 729-2738
finally for car collector
www.carcollector.com

Bob Geco

[rogerh113]

I would suggest considering a new tank rather than refurbished.  I refurbed mine (Gast Tank Renu, I think) and it failed after a year or two - not a hard failure initially, but stalling and poor performance.  I then put in a new tank, and have had no problems since.  With the complex 'flower pot' and input and return lines into the tank, I can understand how a coating over these would be a problem.  This was 6 to 8 years ago, so maybe technology has improved - I cannot see how coating and reducing the capacity of these lines would be a good thing, since fuel flow and delivery capacity is critical to engine performance.

Just an opinion based on my experience.

Regards -- Roger

[waqas]

I recently had my tank soaked in the corrosive bath used for removal of rust by a local radiator/gastank shop for about two weeks. When they removed it, they found a leak and welded it shut. Then I painted the outside with POR-15, installed it and filled up with gas!

I think coating the inside of the tank will not prevent a rusty tank from falling apart. If the tank is already solid, keeping the tank filled with gasoline should avoid rust issues.

On another note, mine was the third tank I've seen develop rust-holes around the corner near where the exhaust pipes are placed (front right). Could this be a design flaw, where some additional exhaust shielding may be required?

Waqas in Austin, Texas

[mdsalemi]

Bob Geco and others,

The "flower pot" (registered trademark of Dan Caron) inside our W113 fuel tank makes the fuel tank a most interesting beast.

While I am sure there are exceptions, I'll offer a general rule of thumb: if your gas tank is rusting/corroding/self-destructing in any manner from the inside--enough for you to warrant considering some of these "renew" products, you might have enough sludge and what have you built up in and around the flower pot (which has plastic parts in it mind you...)that makes it difficult if not impossible to renew with any of these products.  I've heard of some success--but I tell you, the local gastankrenu franchise was familiar with this flower pot and would NOT do it on my car.

JA17 Joe Alexander has posted pictures of this flowerpot before.  If you think of some kind of coating sloshing around the inside of the tank, and you think of how this flower pot works with the fuel delivery and return, you should conclude it's probably not a good idea.

I had a bad gas tank and struggled for 3 years trying to find some OTHER problem.  When I think of all the time, energy and money I wasted trying to circumvent buying a new gas tank, I cringe.  At the time this was happening nobody suggested the fuel tank except one mechanic.

If your tank is original and you are having problems, replace it.  Keep your tank full particularly when in storage.

If you want to inspect the inside of your tank, consider something like this:

http://www.ridgid.com/Tools/SeeSnake-micro

It's a $200 tool--a solution in search of a problem.

Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red 568G w/Black Leather (Restored)
President, International Stars Section
Mercedes-Benz Club of America

[Shvegel]

As a counterpoint, my tank had been sitting with fuel in it for 23 years. I cleaned the sludge and rust out with a variety of cleaning products including the reccomended Marine Clean then coated the interior with POR 15 being carefull to clean the lines out and remove the fuel filter in the tank.

That was 5 years and 20K miles ago and it is still working very well.

[Bob G ✝︎]

Ok guys:
But if your gas tank is just in need of a  good old fashion cleaning and recoating then that was my point of reference to these recommended suppliers from Car Collector magazine. If you really want to see if it is worth the efford just buy a Bore Scope and pop it in and take a look.
I do not know the price of a new gas tank for a 280SL mine work oK no problems I use Cheveron High grade fuel  and fuel injection cleaner. I am just the messenger passing on what I saw in a publication I receive. I am not an expert.
Bob Geco