How to keep rust out of a metal gas tank?

[Trikey]

I have seen many three wheelers over the years. Im sure like me everyone else has seen the rusty ones.. My question is how does it happen and more importantly how can i prevent it from happening to my three wheeler collection? I have heard that keeping the gas tank full when parked will prevent it from oxidizing..? Is this true? Any help appreciated!

[RapidRick]

That's probably the easiest way, however the blended fuel that we get in California seems to go bad faster than it used to.

It's probably water vapor in the fuel itself that condenses into liquid water and never really goes back into solution again.

After treating 3 tanks, I'm ready to by aftermarket plastic tanks personally. To me it's almost a push money wise by the time I consider labor and the products to redo the tank. Just my $.02

[tri again]

It's a funny topic for sure. I'm trying to keep 10 or 15 machines alive at all times so it's an ongoing concern.
I got an sx, looked brand new. Guy drained the carb and tank, kept it in a heated garage
and you could put 4 fingers through the bottom of this showroom new looking tank, after sanding off the tiny paint bubbles on the bottom of the tank.
Paint was the only thing still intact.
Guess he left the gas cap on so it got to breathe and sweat and cause condensation with the temperature changes.
of all that empty airspace. THE worst I've ever seen.
I've also had some that sat outside for years with full tanks and although they look weather worn,
the insides are like new, as in brand new.

I don't trust the 110 types with no shut off on the tanks (lines can go bad) so they come off and dried
completely, sprayed with marine fogging oil and sit by the woodstove all winter.
I have also seem moisture trapped between metal and oil coatings.
Fuel lines are another fiasco.
I got the most expensive stuff avail and it's great for a month, or a few months, sometimes a year and then they seem to 'melt' a little just enough to leak, clamps or not. Non ethanol, no additives or any combination. Nothing makes sense.
Old fashioned thick rubber lines? Honda oem? It seems to be an ongoing concern for sure.

The ones with actual fuel shut offs, get non ethanol fuel, maybe a splash of 'heet' and then kept full.
I prefer to rinse them out with 'heet' since it evaporates in microseconds.
I experimented with some gas in a glass jar, put a few drops of water in it and then some heet.
The heet seems to grab the moisture and turn it into some sort of oil but it still sits at the bottom, where holes rot out.

An then there are neglected tanks that look brand spankin' new.

x2 with rapidrick. Fuel is getting worse and they say it has a 30 or 60 day shelf life.
Seafoam says it will stabilize fuel for 2 years, 'stabil' says a year or so who to believe?

Survey says, keep them full, out of the sun and drastic temperature changes, maybe stabilizer
and ride them every chance we get.

Always looking for better info if anyone has any ideas.

[oscarmayer]

yea keeping a tank full with fairly fresh fuel is your best bet. also using a super tiny bit of 2-smoker oil in it will help as well. not a lit jsut a suport tiny bit, like maybe a table spoon full in a tank worth when storing for long peroids.

[tulsamike3434]

RED Seal works GREAT!

[yamaha driver]

hey tri agian i use the green gas lines from auto value or a hardware store.... no clamps required they are a see through hose that is really bendable. i never had one leak yet.

[Mr. Clean]

Seafoam says it will stabilize fuel for 2 years, 'stabil' says a year or so who to believe?


Check into PRI-G stabilizer. This fuel stabilizer is for industrial applications (refinery) and is now packaged in small enough quantity for this type of application. I have heard very good things about this. This would allow you to keep the tank full of treated gas to help prevent moisture from forming and rusting the inside the tank.

OR you could move to a drier climate :Bounce

[KgoX]

I have been reading about this: http://mystarbrite.com/startron//content/view/12/34/lang,en/
I picked some up in the boating isle at Walmart and am going to give it a try.