[Chrysler300] Fuel for thought

[Rich Barber <barber@xxxxxxxxx>]

I somehow recalled that gasoline tanks are internally coated with 
something called a terne coating.  But I never knew what that meant.  
Good old Google provided the answer as follows: excerpts from:

 http://www.tms.org/pubs/journals/JOM/9607/Alvarado-9607.html

This information indicates the issues of corrosion control and cost 
control in fuel tanks is still under study.  I would not expect organic 
solvents, mild acids, water or fuels to attack am intact terne coating.  
Dents or gouges of the fuel tank might crack the coating and result in 
rapid corrosion of the unprotected steel.

Dredging up ancient and not-so-ancient memories, I recall that all sorts 
of foreign materials may be placed in gasoline tanks by vandals--and 
that gasoline stations may also provide you with sand, scale and other 
garbage.  Seems like Standard Oil used to have a final filter, right at 
the nozzle, to catch this stuff, but it probably was a high operating 
cost to keep changing the filters.  I read somewhere that there was a 
fuel filter built into the tank of my C-300.  Any confirmation of 
that--or instructions on how to change it out?

"Historically, terne-coated steel (an 8% tin-lead coating) has been the 
mainstay for automotive gas tanks; however, several issues are changing 
the performance criteria that must be met and, thus, threaten the 
application of steel products. The drivers for a material change are 
legislation, increased required part life to ten years/241,350 
kilometers, permeability, weight, packaging, safety, and cost. In this 
article, the performance attributes of the plastic and steel 
alternatives are reviewed from an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) 
perspective in the critical areas of manufacturability, cost, design, 
weight, safety, corrosion, and recyclability.

North American auto manufacturers are currently supplied with tanks 
comprising a steel substrate coated with either terne or zinc-nickel. In 
all, about 125,191 tonnes of steel substrate per year are applied to gas 
tanks.

Stainless steel tanks have been tested, and although effective in 
flexible fuels, they are difficult to form without severe breakage 
occurring during stamping. Also, stainless steel is expensive, with an 
estimated cost ratio to terne steel exceeding 5:1.

The electrocoated zinc-nickel product is painted on both sides with an 
aluminum-rich epoxy. Industry accelerated tests on the corrosion of 
painted zinc-nickel confirm that it will meet a ten-year life in current 
fuels and flex-fuels and resist external corrosion.

Testing the characteristics of painted galvanneal (zinc-iron alloy 
coated steel) have found it effective for resisting corrosion on both 
the inside and outside surfaces of the tank. General Motors has a 
product undergoing testing.

Hot-dipped tin has also been found to be effective for resisting all 
fuels, but it does require a paint coating for exterior protection from 
road-induced corrosion. This product welds faster than painted terne and 
has a better potential for good solderability than painted galvanneal 
and zinc-nickel coated steel substrates, permitting the attachment of 
fuel filler tubes and other lines."


C-300'ly,
Rich Barber
Brentwood, CA
1955 C-300




larry meixner wrote:

>Hello Group, Don has a very interesting point. To be able to spray
>something inside the tank when empty would probably work, so long as the
>product has a low flashpoint. This would enable the product to ignite as
>gasoline would, since the gas would emulsify the product when introduced
>to the tank when it's time to re-fill.. The answer to that question of "
>What can I use"? Well I do have a suggestion. There is a product
>manufactured by "WYNN'S" called "Viscotene" part # 80608. it is a spray
>lubricant that actually clings to the surface that it's applied to and
>stays there. The big factor here is that it has a flashpoint of 14
>degrees Farenheit making it extremely flammable. Only thing needed to
>figure out here is how to get it to coat the entire tank. It is a spray
>and you can attach a spray straw to the nozzle. Please note that I have
>never tried this application but I figured it may be worth the test.
>Since I have some of this stuff I'm going to give it a shot in the
>future and also notify Wynn Oil Co and maybe they can come up with
>something. I'm sure that a company as old as Wynn's would always want to
>expand the uses of a product!
>What do Y'all think?       Larry Meixner   300G  in miserably hot and
>humid Pennsylvania
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
>On Behalf Of Don Warnaar
>Sent: Monday, August 15, 2005 2:40 PM
>To: Bob Merritt; Chrysler300 Group
>Subject: [SPAM] Re: [Chrysler300] gas opinion
>
>
>Bob,
>
>I would think that unless you create a vacuum inside the tank, and
>ensure that absolutely no air can get in, the air that is in there or
>gets in there would result in condensation in cooler weather.  The
>resulting water would still present a rusting problem.
>
>Might be worth trying.  However, how would one know if it worked?  It
>might take years to know if the tank develops a rust problem and then
>only find out about it if the corrosion gets bad enough to result in a
>leak.
>
>Another thought.  If you could find a way to spray a fine mist of light
>oil into the tank so that it coats the entire inside surface, rust would
>be minimized at least.  Not sure how one would do that however.
>
>You have opened up an interesting thread.  Should get some innovative
>replies.
>
>Don Warnaar
>New Jersey
>  ----- Original Message ----- 
>  From: Bob Merritt
>
>
>  In days of old I stored cars with a full tank of gas with the idea a
>full 
>  tank should prevent tank rust.
>
>  Then the chemistry of gasoline changed and it would sour, so I added
>fuel 
>  stabilizer.......and so far so good.
>
>  Now that gas prices are high I wonder why I can't store cars with
>tanks 
>  empty, with vents and filler tubes plugged?  There shouldn't be any
>rusting 
>  if air can't circulate.....and no gas to go sour.
>
>  Has anyone done this with success?
>
>  Bob 
>
>
>
>
>
>  
>
>
> 
>
>
>  
>




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