The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk New tank vs resealing/coating?

I've done a bit of research and come to a point where I'm on information overload and can't make a decision.

What are everyone's thoughts on boiling and sealing/coating a rusty tank vs buying a new galvanized steel or Ni-Tern (nickel plated) steel tank?

New Tank
rock auto offers a spectra tank, made in Canada
...rock auto...
$145 plus shipping

If you have the option of a new tank I think that's the way to go. In my case I didn't have that option so I had the larger holes brazed shut then acid cleaned and coated my tank. Eight years later now and no problems. If you go with an acid cleaning and coating be sure to follow the directions. Those who don't have problems.

How much do you value your time? I feel that all the time you spend cleaning and getting ALL the rust out of the tank and then acid washing, drying, and coating it's cheaper to just replace the tank - unless you have a real odd ball tank. But the tank for yours only runs about one fifty. And you don't have to worry about missing a spot and having to re-do it again later.

Just my 2 cents............

new tank

New, if you can. I spent $70 on a reseal kit just to find out afterwards that the fuel pickup broke or rusted out and I'm sucking air now.

Thanks guys! I agree that a new tank is the way to go.

Now, the question is, galvanized or Ni-Tern?
Spectra tanks are Ni-Tern ... I've read that the Spectra tanks rust at the welds.

Tanks for AD trucks run about $150 on up but shipping puts it at or above the $200 mark and I, being in MO, pay tax at Jim Carter and Classic Parts.


PootersPanel - I was reading your post about that, did you get it sorted out?

Some of the vendors tanks are Chinese/overseas made.

Metric threads on bottom and inlets not lining up.
Before you purchase ask a few questions

I'd expect that Spectra tanks are about all you'll find except maybe some Chinese imitation, would like to see some references to the welds rusting, never heard that before ... Ni-Tern [nickel/tin] steel is the OEM approved material nowadays, and I believe Spectra tanks are externally coated after assembly, as well as having a warranty for use with E20

Bill

BLUEMEANIE- not yet. I just ordered a pickup truck sender with built in fuel pickup. Gonna modify it to work.

Whoa. Rock Auto has the Spectra tank for $159 shipped to my ZIP! Case closed, order placed.

...also, just spoke to a couple people at Spectra and they were as nice as can be.

red58 - With all the random links I followed I couldn't link you to the specific comments I read, they were just random posts in longer threads but it came up enough that I noticed. ...but not enough that its something I'd worry about. They all referred to "light rust at the welds."

PootersPanel - Good deal. Hope it all works out for ya.

The PO had the tank "cleaned" and relined but, it only lasted about 5 years and it started to rust through again which created some real problems for me.
I think relining is OK as long as the tank is prep'd properly and you want to do a down and dirty.
As stated previously by others, for the cost, I would definitely go for new.

get a new tank

^ Yup. Ordered yesterday.

Peter_H - I think that's what is happening to me. The PO had the tank relined and I'm seeing the aftermath 5-6yrs later. There's more and more rust showing up in the fuel and it is starting to look cloudy (but not pink/rust cloudy) all the time even with a new filter after the tank.

I ended up finding a discount code and getting the Spectra tank delivered for under $150 from RockAuto. At that price it was a no brainer.

Wow. RockAuto is awesome! I ordered the tank shipped at 4:30p on Thursday for significantly less than any one else had it listed with out shipping and it arrived in two days via FedEx!

Also when I had technical questions they couldn't answer, they three-way'ed Spectra directly!

might be a good idea to inspect that new tank.

When I looked at the bottom outlet of my new spectra tank I found this.
...pic...

...pic...

It not rust but some dried up oil or preservative maybe from the assembly process.

I was able to clean it up easily with solvent.

Just didn't want to introduce any small particles into the fuel system

good luck

DAD, that looks like flux residue from soldering the fitting in, gas would dissolve it the same as the solvent did

Bill

could be flux, I dont know

it was in the packaging also
...pic...
...pic...

didnt want to take any chance so I cleaned it up

BLUEMEANIE, do inspect the inside of the tank as DADS50 said... When I got mine it had flash rust in it from getting wet during shipping... ROCK AUTO had no problem replacing it...

Will do. Mine arrived oily on the outside like DADS50's.

I'm wondering what, if anything, to coat the outside of the tank with... ? What are you guys using?
I was thinking something like a rubberized undercoating or something.

I didnt coat the outside.
...pic...

if you do decide to coat it make sure you leave a spot for a good ground On the sender otherwise your fuel gauge wont work.

^ You're not worried about the outside rusting at all?

the Spectra tanks have a lead/tin coating on the outside, adding anything else will not be an improvement and may not stick for long

Bill

Good info above,


I don't live in an area where rust is a problem. I didn't consider painting it.

the rest of the truck will be dust before the outside of a new tank inside the cab rusts the original rusted from the inside out due to condensation, always keep the tank full in storage to lessen that problem

Bill

Cool. Good to know.