Coke to clean the fuel tank?

BV · Post by BV » Tue Oct 22, 2002 1:51 pm

Hi. We have heard people using the soft drink Coke to clean out the rust from their gas tank. Is that a legitimate method? Will not the Coke also eat away at the steel?

Bentley recommends filling the tank with a deruster solution– something with Phosphate acid – and leaving it for 40 minutes. I can only find that kind of deruster sold in the small containers– nothing in large quantities.

I was thinking of using the Por 15 gas tank cleaner and treatment until I saw the price tag– $80 Canadian.

I already removed the gas tank (just for preventive maintenance) and it appears to only have a little surface rust inside. Over all I was very pleased with how good condition of the fuel tank.

What do you think, Coke? A deruster solution? Just water shaked around with bolts, nuts, stones, chain, etc?

Thanks for getting back to me. BV

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'70 KG Convertible
1776 cc

Air-Cooled Head · Post by **Air-Cooled Head** » Tue Oct 22, 2002 2:27 pm

Acetone & nuts/bolts or chain should do the trick.

[This message has been edited by Air-Cooled Head (edited 10-22-2002).]

Post by **Marc** » Tue Oct 22, 2002 2:30 pm

Any mild acid will do the same thing as the Coke treatment - you just need to limit the exposure time so that it only eats off the top layer of corroded metal, then neutralize it to arrest the process. Vinegar for a few minutes followed by a rinse and another rinse with some baking soda, for example.

BV · Post by BV » Tue Oct 22, 2002 5:29 pm

As with the other posting, thanks for your help. This forum sure makes this "hobby" a lot more enjoyable!

BV

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'70 KG Convertible
1776 cc

andreas5bmw · Post by **andreas5bmw** » Tue Oct 22, 2002 5:36 pm

Just buy a new gas tank what $50.00 done deal

kubelkid66 · Post by **kubelkid66** » Tue Oct 22, 2002 9:00 pm

Man I was at a drag race a few months back..
When i was setting up for my run..Somebody
Yells to me kill your engine...kill it kill it..
It turned out my tank had sprung a leak..
It was pissin all over the track.I got some help pushing it back to the pits..
The car is a 66 ghia daily driver,
and i drove it to the track..
Anyway the tank is one that you have to pop the hood to fill.
One of the venders thank god,had one brand new in the box..30$ out the tent...
5 minutes l8er I was back in the race..
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Kubelkid66
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kubelkid66 · Post by **kubelkid66** » Tue Oct 22, 2002 9:04 pm

Oh yah the moral of the Story is to check out swap meets and Shows...

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Kubelkid66
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nos14 · Post by **nos14** » Tue Oct 22, 2002 10:00 pm

coke will work to eat away the rust, just think about that the next time you drink a refreshing soda?

Cheers

Travis · Post by **Travis** » Wed Oct 23, 2002 4:40 am

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by andreas5bmw:
Just buy a new gas tank what $50.00 done deal<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

He has a good stock tank and you want him to trash it for a universal tank?! Great!

You will spend at least as much time getting off the "temporary anti-rust paint" and repainting that new tank as you would doing the above mentioned minor cleanout suggestions.

Travis

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