Dissolving gas tank liner

Billy_The_Kid · Jun 27, 2015

I understand MEK is the stuff to use to dissolve a failed tank liner. Can anyone tell me if a quart is enough? (I have to order it from the hardware store). Also how long to you leave it in the tank?

My WD tank has a failed liner, and chunks of it are blocking the gasoline outlet.

Mark-Ia · Jun 28, 2015

Acetone would probably work, or maybe Laquer thinner. Both available at Wally World.MEK might be avilable there also.

Peculiar Farmer · Jun 30, 2015

I used acetone, works best if you let it soak for a day then turn it so the liquid will soak another area and so on. You can hurry the process by using a scotch brite pad and a stick. Even the fumes of acetone will loosen it.

Billy_The_Kid · Jul 1, 2015

After a bit of research and a bit of help from another forum, I found info on the Caswell site. Caswell makes a product for sealing gas tanks. And before you use their product, they recommend this:

"Application Instructions
All traces of oil and gasoline should first be removed by pouring about 1 pint of acetone or lacquer thinner into the tank, and rotating the tank several times to thoroughly sluice the sides with solvent. Dispose of the contaminated solution.

When recoating your gas tank from failed Kreem or POR-15 tank sealers, remove the old, failed coating using a paint stripper containing Methylene Chloride."

Anyway, I did some more searching and I found the paint stores sell a few different varieties of Methylene Chloride in paint strippers. It turns out that MEK is NOT the preferred method. I also put a small piece of chain in the tank; and on the third day of letting the MC sit in the tank. The bigger pieces of expoxy are finally breaking down.

rustyfarmall · Jul 1, 2015

Muriatic acid will dissolve that liner in just a few minutes.

Billy_The_Kid · Jul 1, 2015

I pulled a large hunk of the broken epoxy out of the tank. I soaked it overnight in a glass of muriatic acid, and nothing happened. I also dropped two bolts in the jar of acid for another night and it ate the metal alive. Nothing happened to the expoxy with an acetone soak, either. I guess the folks at Caswell know what they are talking about.

stu (ON) · Jul 2, 2015

BTK has discovered the really potent solvent for this sort of application, but anyone using large liquid volumes of methylene chloride should read the Material Safety Data Sheet and use appropriate respiratory and physical safety equipment.

It'll eat your liver, kid.

Dissolving gas tank liner

Billy_The_Kid

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Mark-Ia

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Peculiar Farmer

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Billy_The_Kid

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rustyfarmall

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Billy_The_Kid

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stu (ON)

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