PETROL TANK LINING - POR 15 - What is your experience after treatment ?

[400 Cafe Racer]

Hi Guys,

Hope you are all keeping well.

I am preparing a spare tank for respray, its clean inside and before stored it was washed around with diesel fuel to provide an oily coating inside to preserve it.

It looks clean and solid  inside and I was in two minds just to wash out and use as is. On the other hand with Ethanol now being added into fuels I was considering lining with the POR 15 treatment before any Paintwork is started to avoid damage to the final finish.

I'm interested on your input 

Thanks

Dennis

[sye]

If it's clean inside, why line it?

[Matt_Harrington]

Dennis, I've just had a tank resprayed for my 400 and the sprayer (who only does tanks etc) said not to use POR or similar as I had a good tank. He said if the tank wasn't that good inside then a sealer would be better - who am I to argue!
I try and use Esso Supreme unleaded when I can and I'm sure that helps things.
Matt

[400 Cafe Racer]

Dennis, I've just had a tank resprayed for my 400 and the sprayer (who only does tanks etc) said not to use POR or similar as I had a good tank. He said if the tank wasn't that good inside then a sealer would be better - who am I to argue!
I try and use Esso Supreme unleaded when I can and I'm sure that helps things.
Matt

Thanks for your reply Matt,

Good to hear the opinion of a tank sprayer.

I do use the Esso Supreme thanks, and last ride before winter I always add a very small amount of engine oil to any petrol in the tank and swish around to leave a layer internally. Like the diesel used or 2 stroke mix, this will help to resist rust formation.

I'm interested to find out also because several members in our VJMC club swear by POR 15, but I feel it could overkill on a clean tank and if the treatment delaminates later it could cause other problems. Manufacurer claims seem to say it is OK up to 10% Ethanol content.

We will see who else replies.

Cheers

Dennis

[Johnny4428]

I use Nurse Julie’s endorsement of the diesel wash on the 550 tank and on the 750 tank I have a Frost ethomix addative See what like in the early spring just to compare. Both tanks in similar condition inside. No tank sealer.

[Moorey]

  If the tank is clean and leak free don't use it. I did our 400sf last year with POR15 as it had custom paintwork and at some time must have been
  down the road no doubt just before the paint was done. To remove the dent they had spot welded 3 puller pins and in removing them must have
  just penetrated the tank. Over the years a blister has developed under the paint slowly getting bigger. So it was either get the tank repaired and
  full repaint at x ££££££s or try POR15 to seal the tank and save the paint and live with the blister. The POR15 has sealed the tank and stopped the
  blister getting any larger as the paint has hardened up again. So it has been a success for me.

[JezzaPeach]

My NOS tank eventually had a fine layer of rust. I used POR15 and it has worked well and lasted. Needs to be very carefully applied. For me needs to be done outside ideally and skin covered and a fan to blow fumes away. I came out in hives where my forearms and lower neck were expose, being sensitive!

[400 Cafe Racer]

Hi Johnny, Moorey and Jezza,

Thanks for your valued feedback  its good to see the broader picture from everyone and see what experiences come in.

Cheers

Dennis

[Davelu88]

Hi , I had a small pinhole in a Suzuki TS 250 I did , tank was clean inside but I used the por 15 metal prep and then dried it completely and then used the sealer. Left it 4 days to dry and it was great , sealed the hole and the tank looked mint inside . Patience and prep is key for good results.

[Lobo]

I had a slight seam leak on a SS50, and applied a POR15 type product. LOADS of prep and utmost care, and tbh a good result. This topic keeps rearing its head here, and generally though, the answer is ‘don’t go there unless you really need to’.

To (hopefully) mitigate tank rusting issues I add 2T (ie 2 stroke) oil to my CB750 @ every fill up, at abouts 100:1; it certainly doesn't seem to mind…

[Johnny4428]

I had a slight seam leak on a SS50, and applied a POR15 type product. LOADS of prep and utmost care, and tbh a good result. This topic keeps rearing its head here, and generally though, the answer is ‘don’t go there unless you really need to’.

To (hopefully) mitigate tank rusting issues I add 2T (ie 2 stroke) oil to my CB750 @ every fill up, at abouts 100:1; it certainly doesn't seem to mind…

I used 2 stroke oil in my 750, now on castor oil as recommended by guys here on forum. 100:1, mainly for exhaust preservation.

[JezzaPeach]

Echo Lobo, there seem to be fixes using various fluids, have heard Allen Millyard describing using diesel or brake fluid or something. Worth waiting until really needed. (For any liner) I think I used a ply blank, with an improvised inner tube seal, over the outlet hole screwed down so the liner didn’t get into the threads, and then unscrewed when partially set.
In the case of POR15 it was lumpy in the tin, difficult to mix, and the lid was virtually bonded on, so mine may have been a bit old! If in doubt, sometimes a job left to a specialist!