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MG MGA - storing MGA fuel tank

Looking for suggestions related to storing a very clean fuel tank. Inspected the innards by looking through the sending unit hole reveals a nice clean tank. No apparent rust on the baffles or anything else that I can see by peering through the hole. Since the sending unit was removed by the PO, I made a "cover" for the hole, used a paper gasket under a piece of sheet metal to help seal it up I taped shut the outlet threaded pipe too. Will this help to keep the tank in its present clean condition while I work on restoring the car? Or,do you have other suggestions? Thanks, Mike
Michael Dianna

Condensation is the killer, Michael, if you can keep the tank in a very dry , constant temperature environment with the tank ventilated, that would be ideal.
However, if like in the UK, most garages are not temperature controlled and you get wide swings of humidity and temperature, then condensation will tend to form on the surfaces and cause rust to form.

You then need to make sure that air is circulating through the tank somehow, as airflow over the surfaces will dry up condensation like it does on a car windscreen.
So I would keep the tank opened up, either in a warm dry place or somewhere that will flow air through it and you should keep any corrosion to a minimum.

Colyn

Colyn Firth

Colyn is right about the warm air circulation removing condensation. Alternatives are to put a 25W incandescent light bulb on 24/7 inside the tank. It will gently heat the tank and prevent the condensation in the first place. You might get a appliance or aquarium bulb to fit in the filler tube? If not, just put the lamp under the tank. It should only cost about $2.50 per month in electricity. How many years were you planning on for your restoration?

Chuck Schaefer

Put a 1-pound bag of granular desiccate inside the filler neck, and tape it up tightly sealed. That should be good for years in storage, even with humidity and temperature swings.
Barney Gaylord

Add to Barney's comment - purge the O2 out with dry welding gas, preferably Argon.
Art Pearse

Sorry for overkill in my last comment. 2.5 to 3-ounces of granular desiccate is enough to handle a 10-12 gallon tank. Google "Desiccant Bags" and look for retail quantity of small cloth packets. You may be able to buy the stuff at NAPA. It is common in bulk granular form used in air line driers.
Barney Gaylord

Why not just pour some oil into the tank and roll around until coated - wash out with solvent/fuel when ready to use?
M Wellard

I have read that in rehabbing a tank you can mix rusty metal primer and thinner 50:50 and coat the inside of the tank. No reason this wouldn't work on a clean tank also. Just make sure to get any oil out before coating...use thinner or alcohol.

JIM in NH
AJ Mail


I used diesel fuel in the past. Block all holes on the tank, except the large filler neck and pour in a litre of diesel. Swish it around the inside of the tank, and put it away in storage. If storage time is likely to be rather long, a little swish every now and again will keep the inside nicely coated with oil from the fuel. When it's time to install back in the car just empty it out completely and can be filled with petrol as normal. No need to wash it out first.
F Camilleri

This thread was discussed between 27/05/2010 and 31/05/2010

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