halftrackinfo
general discussion => ALL mechanical and technical related questions => Topic started by: Robert Cassin on April 11, 2020, 02:48:55 PM
-
Hi all, Can anyone recommend a sealer or coating to use on the expansion tank? My old tank rusted away. I got a good used one and would like to make this one last. Thanks, Rob
-
Any gas tank sealer should work. POR-15 has a good kit as does Bill Hirsch. I've used both and work great.
Steve A.
-
I just used POR on my original halftrack fuel tank and it worked nicely!! I have also had great luck with Redkote on other tanks which dries very quickly (high solvent content). The POR has a 96 hour dry time. I use a fan to circulate air thru my tanks and this helps both products to dry a bit quicker. One item of note, the POR's silver color makes it easy to see how well the coating is covering the tank. Very helpful if your working on something with baffles. Redkote is very slight blue in color not as visible. Both products work well as long as you clean the item thoroughly before sealing. If you acid wash your tank to clean it (1 to 3 mixing ratio), make sure you use a backing soda wash to neutralise the acid wash. Follow that up with a couple of plain water rinses, and then use a MEK rinse to absorb any moisture left in the tank before air drying. You can find MEK at Home Depot, Menards etc. No fuel tank sealer will work on dirty or damp surfaces.
Good luck with your project.
-
My concern with using these sealers is they are really for gasoline and it seems that they react badly with water or at least too much water, and I know there is more water in coolants that fuels. But maybe I am reading too much into the directions. I only have the read the Red Kote warmings and if it is not completely dry of water, it is not going to adhere. Maybe once its is free of H2O, it will be fine. Thanks for the help.
-
There are also food safe sealers out there that might be a better choice for the overflow tank .. in hindsight fuel tank sealers may not be a good choice for hot liquids .. nothing on their instructions indicate that hot liquid are save to use with them. The tank of course will continue to cycle between hot and cold. Food grade sealers should be designed for that.
-
Boiler sealer would work great:
https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.homedepot.com/p/Hercules-1-qt-Boiler-Liquid-30115/100147992&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwi_iKLk5OfoAhXyB50JHaMqDzoQFjALegQIBxAB&usg=AOvVaw0RVNmoNxjTo5yB3VETQIel