Painting new gas tank

[shadango]

So what have yinz used to paint your (new) fuel tanks before installing?

I picked up a spectra at Carlisle and its raw steel.   Dont want itt o rust, so figured I would paint it.

I have some of the stainless steel paint left over from painting my LCAs a while back....that would help stave off corrosion right? Can I paint black over that?  Not sure I want a silver tank drawing attention....

What was the "stock" color?  My old tank is black, painted by the body shop that did the car....

[72cudamaan]

I think "natural" unpainted was original. How about some galvanized paint. Then paint over the top if desired. Or
epoxy primer then your color of choice.

[Topcat]

RPM from ECS.

[Bullitt-]

I always thought they were galvanized steel....manufacturers site states rust resistant, some forums refer to them as being galvanized. If this is true there would be no need to paint but if you do it will need special preparation. http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/home/how-to-paint-galvanized-metal.htm

[burdar]

Do not paint it. It will look like you painted an old crusty tank. They look great the way they come. I've heard people just wipe them down with WD-40 every once in awhile. RPM would also work great.

Even if you don't do anything, it will still look new for a long time. Salt exposure is what will change the appearance. Don't drive it in the winter.

[4Cruizn]

I put a coat of clear on my new tank prior to installation . . . I wanted something on it to help resist rust.   

[spamtank]

I tried to apply clear as well.  I wiped the tank down about 4 times with lacquer thinner.   It ended up peeling before the end of the summer. 

I'm thinking RPM will be my next attempt.  I applied that to some of my suspension parts on the new challenger using a heat gun to liquefy it and get it to flow.  Not too thrilled about heating the gas tank.  I actually heated the surface of the RPM product in the container and used a rag to apply it from there.  That didn't work too badly, and should work okay for the gas tank.

[72cudamaan]

  I applied that to some of my suspension parts on the new challenger using a heat gun to liquefy it and get it to flow.  Not too thrilled about heating the gas tank.  I actually heated the surface of the RPM product in the container and used a rag to apply it from there.  That didn't work too badly, and should work okay for the gas tank.
[/quote]

I tried this method on some parts. They are still sitting a plastic coffee can with rust forming on them. I glass beaded the parts first
so I know there was no rust when I applied the stuff. Not very impressed.

[anlauto]

I've never painted a new tank nor have I ever had problems with them rusting.

[burdar]

When you heat the part and then apply the RPM, it melts down into the pores.  If you heat the RPM and wipe it onto a cool surface, you are just applying it to the highest spots.  Rust will form in the low spots and continue to grow.

[shadango]

SO I know this thread is a couple years old....that is because I FINALLY got around to swapping the new tank in.  LOL

Decided to install as-is, no coatings.  Turned out nice.....and no leaks from the reinstalled sender gasket which I was fearing...SOOOOO much easier  to install that sender when the tank is on a table in front of you, but even then tricky......and I had the benefit of the special lock ring tool i bought at Carlisle 2013 as well!

Old one.....



New one



Then washed her down and shined up the new tires........felt good to do some work on the fish after a long drought last year!!!!!!!