The Ford Barn

Conaway2 · 01-18-2022, 09:22 AM

It’s been 35 years since I last cleaned and sealed a Model A gas tank. At that time, I used products from the Eastwood company, and the gas tank has been trouble-free ever since.

I’m ready to clean and seal the tank on my current project - what current products work well ?

Many thanks - Jim

ronn · 01-18-2022, 09:32 AM

I like Hirsch- the white stuff.

they use it in planes........ others will suggest diff products. of course, you can possibly use no sealer, if you put gravel or a chain in it and have it spin for a day or two.
A HF cement mixer can do that or a handy electric motor hooked up to a round piece of plywood.......

Big hammer · 01-18-2022, 09:38 AM

Jim if Eastwood still has the same stuff why change what you know works?

Tim Ayers · 01-18-2022, 10:42 AM

Does Por-15 make a sealer? There is paint is tuff as nails and I'd assume their sealant would be the same. I've never used it.

rotorwrench · 01-18-2022, 10:49 AM

There are several sources for these products and most are the came thing. The kits they sell will generally give enough sealer but they can be short on the cleaning products. If a gallon of cleaning and etching solution seems to be enough then I purchase two gallons to make sure. Most use a zinc/phosphoric acidic solution to remove the corrosion and model A tanks have a lot of nooks and cranies in them due to the internal baffles. They are likely one of the most difficult tanks to clean and seal of all the tanks I've ever worked on. A person can't see inside well enough to tell if the whole thing is coated or not. The corrosion hides in the most difficult areas to get to.

Some tanks are better off if they are opened up along the original weld lines so that a person can repair all the ills that are lurking around inside. They like to crack anywhere rivets have been put in or around stiffeners for the steering column support on early tanks. Severely pebbled spots can be cut out and metal repaired before re-welding the tank back together. There are several threads about this on here if a person does a search or Google searches.

Conaway2 · 01-19-2022, 09:09 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Thanks for all comments. I wasn’t aware POR15 has products for gas tanks. After researching this a bit more, I’ll probably go with the Eastwood products again. As pointed out in post #3, why not use what’s worked well in the past again ?

From a chemistry perspective, cleaning and etching steel with phosphoric acid and zinc salts is well-known chemistry that works. Although I don’t know if the polymeric coating used for sealing the tank has changed, recent product reviews are positive.

Thanks to all - Jim

nkaminar · 01-19-2022, 09:43 AM

Aircraft Spruce has a lot of products for gas tanks that are used on aircraft but adaptable to cars. See https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catal...?clickkey=6859

AL in NY · 01-19-2022, 10:28 AM

I sealed my tank 14 years ago using the three step POR-15 process. It's been perfect since then.

grj · 01-19-2022, 11:40 AM

Rad shop did a couple for me a few years ago back in MI.

Stimeyva62 · 03-03-2022, 11:16 PM

Do I have to remove the gas tank to clean it properly?

BRENT in 10-uh-C · 03-05-2022, 01:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stimeyva62

Do I have to remove the gas tank to clean it properly?

From my experiences, ....Yes.

Tom Foster · 03-05-2022, 02:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nkaminar

Aircraft Spruce has a lot of products for gas tanks that are used on aircraft but adaptable to cars. See https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catal...?clickkey=6859

I noticed that, the first product that came up is the Bill Hirsch cleaners sealer
Fearless

rotorwrench · 03-05-2022, 09:03 AM

Aircraft can't really be compared to automobiles that have steel pressings for fuel tanks. Nearly all aircraft have rubber fuel cells in the modern era. They have large enough access panels to remove the bladders for repair or replacement when the need arises. Those aircraft that have metal pressings are generally older aircraft and they are made mostly from aluminum. Wet wings, are fuel cells that use the wing as the tank but every joint has to be sealed with products like Proseal PS890-B or PPG PR1422-B1/2. There are other brands such a Flamemaster Chemseal CS3204-B1/2 as well. They are all expensive and they have to be applied to areas inside the tank to do the job. This requires access in order to properly clean the area and re-seal it if it ever starts to leak and they all will eventually leak.

aermotor · 03-07-2022, 08:54 AM

A little O.T. but if your tank appears to be clean - no sediment in bowl, is there an additive that will help prevent problems? I fill it to the brim after each drive.

John

rotorwrench · 03-07-2022, 09:09 AM

Removing as much dead airspace as possible in the top of the tank is always a good idea. This keeps condensation from forming in the tank and reduces the area of the tank that can corrode. Keeping a car out of the elements is also a big help. If climate is controlled in the storage area or garage, then the chance of condensation reduced to almost nil and moisture content in the air is also reduced a good bit.

Water in the tank is destructive to motor fuel and especially gasoline with ethanol in it.

01-18-2022, 09:22 AM	#1
Conaway2 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: Mt. Pleasant, SC Posts: 601	Cleaning and sealing a gas tank It’s been 35 years since I last cleaned and sealed a Model A gas tank. At that time, I used products from the Eastwood company, and the gas tank has been trouble-free ever since. I’m ready to clean and seal the tank on my current project - what current products work well ? Many thanks - Jim

01-18-2022, 09:32 AM	#2
ronn Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: NNNNNNNNJJJJJJJJJJ Posts: 6,784	Re: Cleaning and sealing a gas tank I like Hirsch- the white stuff. they use it in planes........ others will suggest diff products. of course, you can possibly use no sealer, if you put gravel or a chain in it and have it spin for a day or two. A HF cement mixer can do that or a handy electric motor hooked up to a round piece of plywood.......

01-18-2022, 10:42 AM	#4
Tim Ayers Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: NJ Posts: 6,177	Re: Cleaning and sealing a gas tank Does Por-15 make a sealer? There is paint is tuff as nails and I'd assume their sealant would be the same. I've never used it.

01-18-2022, 10:49 AM	#5
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,425	Re: Cleaning and sealing a gas tank There are several sources for these products and most are the came thing. The kits they sell will generally give enough sealer but they can be short on the cleaning products. If a gallon of cleaning and etching solution seems to be enough then I purchase two gallons to make sure. Most use a zinc/phosphoric acidic solution to remove the corrosion and model A tanks have a lot of nooks and cranies in them due to the internal baffles. They are likely one of the most difficult tanks to clean and seal of all the tanks I've ever worked on. A person can't see inside well enough to tell if the whole thing is coated or not. The corrosion hides in the most difficult areas to get to. Some tanks are better off if they are opened up along the original weld lines so that a person can repair all the ills that are lurking around inside. They like to crack anywhere rivets have been put in or around stiffeners for the steering column support on early tanks. Severely pebbled spots can be cut out and metal repaired before re-welding the tank back together. There are several threads about this on here if a person does a search or Google searches.

01-19-2022, 09:09 AM	#6
Conaway2 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: Mt. Pleasant, SC Posts: 601	Re: Cleaning and sealing a gas tank Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Thanks for all comments. I wasn’t aware POR15 has products for gas tanks. After researching this a bit more, I’ll probably go with the Eastwood products again. As pointed out in post #3, why not use what’s worked well in the past again ? From a chemistry perspective, cleaning and etching steel with phosphoric acid and zinc salts is well-known chemistry that works. Although I don’t know if the polymeric coating used for sealing the tank has changed, recent product reviews are positive. Thanks to all - Jim

01-18-2022, 09:38 AM	#3
Big hammer Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Land of Lincoln Posts: 3,127	Re: Cleaning and sealing a gas tank Jim if Eastwood still has the same stuff why change what you know works? __________________ Don't force it with a little hammer tap, tap, tap get a bigger hammer tap done

01-19-2022, 09:43 AM	#7
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 3,899	Re: Cleaning and sealing a gas tank Aircraft Spruce has a lot of products for gas tanks that are used on aircraft but adaptable to cars. See https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catal...?clickkey=6859 __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.

01-19-2022, 10:28 AM	#8
AL in NY Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern Upstate New York Posts: 1,160	Re: Cleaning and sealing a gas tank I sealed my tank 14 years ago using the three step POR-15 process. It's been perfect since then. __________________ AL in NY

01-19-2022, 11:40 AM	#9
grj Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 1,415	Re: Cleaning and sealing a gas tank Rad shop did a couple for me a few years ago back in MI.

03-03-2022, 11:16 PM	#10
Stimeyva62 Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2022 Posts: 2	Re: Cleaning and sealing a gas tank Do I have to remove the gas tank to clean it properly?

03-05-2022, 09:03 AM	#13
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,425	Re: Cleaning and sealing a gas tank Aircraft can't really be compared to automobiles that have steel pressings for fuel tanks. Nearly all aircraft have rubber fuel cells in the modern era. They have large enough access panels to remove the bladders for repair or replacement when the need arises. Those aircraft that have metal pressings are generally older aircraft and they are made mostly from aluminum. Wet wings, are fuel cells that use the wing as the tank but every joint has to be sealed with products like Proseal PS890-B or PPG PR1422-B1/2. There are other brands such a Flamemaster Chemseal CS3204-B1/2 as well. They are all expensive and they have to be applied to areas inside the tank to do the job. This requires access in order to properly clean the area and re-seal it if it ever starts to leak and they all will eventually leak.

03-07-2022, 08:54 AM	#14
aermotor Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 1,099	Re: Cleaning and sealing a gas tank A little O.T. but if your tank appears to be clean - no sediment in bowl, is there an additive that will help prevent problems? I fill it to the brim after each drive. John

03-07-2022, 09:09 AM	#15
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,425	Re: Cleaning and sealing a gas tank Removing as much dead airspace as possible in the top of the tank is always a good idea. This keeps condensation from forming in the tank and reduces the area of the tank that can corrode. Keeping a car out of the elements is also a big help. If climate is controlled in the storage area or garage, then the chance of condensation reduced to almost nil and moisture content in the air is also reduced a good bit. Water in the tank is destructive to motor fuel and especially gasoline with ethanol in it.