Gas Tank Issue

[IaFarmBoys]

Got a perplexing question I’m hoping someone can help us figure out. I have a 31 Coupe that when we had it restored; we had sealant put in the gas tank. For some reason now, the gas wants to burp out of the tank. No idea why. The stuff that comes out is very sticky and a brownish color. When this first started happening, we noticed a bit of rust in the tank and flushed it out with vinegar based on several reports that it was good for rust removal. Today we were working on a tractor gas tank we had given the vinegar treatment. It too had begun to rust heavily inside the tank where the vinegar had not gotten to, especially on the gas gauge arms. Went and checked the coupe’s gas tank, same thing with the gas gauge arms and especially around the neck of the cap, which was almost rusted on. So, anyone have ideas what is going on here? Is it the vinegar, or is it because ethanol is the most available gas in our area? One other twist, we have a 30 Cabriolet that has ethanol in it and no issue. Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Gary WA]

Vinegar is bad for fuel tank cleaning it has a corrosive acidic nature especially with ethanol gas. very bad idea!! do a research on mixing the two together on google, all your answers there. Need to re-clean tanks NO Vinegar!!!

 

[IaFarmBoys]

A Google search is how this mess of putting vinegar in the tank got started. Lol. In hindsight I can see how it and ethanol can be a problem. But still that doesn’t explain why it started burping gas before the vinegar treatment and still does.

 

[WHN]

Have you check the seal and vent on the cap?

Vinegar is another issue.

 

[gdmn852]

Hello, don’t believe everything on internet, I saw someone using vinegar for prepping rust on body work , another reaming bushings for kingpin and turning the reamer backwards.Wonder how much damage incorrect information caused. I am not sure if you were to drain tank and treat it with a known metal cleaner like Metal Prep would help, Good luck wish I could help more.

 

[Gary WA]

A Google search is how this mess of putting vinegar in the tank got started. Lol. In hindsight I can see how it and ethanol can be a problem. But still that doesn’t explain why it started burping gas before the vinegar treatment and still does.

Depends on the sealant that was in the tank/vinegar/ethanol- Not a good combination!!!! Don't google it then!!!LOL

 

[Gary WA]

A Google search is how this mess of putting vinegar in the tank got started. Lol. In hindsight I can see how it and ethanol can be a problem. But still that doesn’t explain why it started burping gas before the vinegar treatment and still does.

Depends on the sealant that was in the tank/vinegar/ethanol- Not a good combination!!!! Don't google it then!!!LOL The black is the sealant!!

 

[Gary WA]

Reaction of sealant/vinegar hiding in all the hidden areas in tank causing leak from cap that as stated may be plugged. Thanks to Bob B/ Brent for photo.