mmm I think yer bud is blowin smoke - it's possible the 'staining' is from over flows, but most likely from leaks under pressure, I'd take it to the shop and have them pressure test it and get their advice .... and skip the vinegar, it's extremely corrosive, it's not "CLR kitchen cleaner" - you could do as well to clean it off with a scrub brush and garden hose, but I'd count on it coming back in time

Bill


Moved over to the Passing Lane

"When we tug a single thing in nature we find it attached to the rest of the world" John Muir
"When we tug a single thing on an old truck, we find it falls off" me
Some TF series details & TF heater pics & Rust-a-holics Unanimous parking lot