[Cotten]

Folks,
Each year I test my local fuel by applying the various paints, adhesives, and sealers that I use, as well as some industry standards, to etched glass plates for immersion, and then qualitative observation.
The fuel again this year is Shell Nitrogenated Premium with 10% ethanol (Illinois).
No other brands were tested, nor combinations of brands, that may be more digestive when mixed.

Products used in past years' tests were
JBWeld
POR-15
Caswell's sealer
Pliobond
TNEMEC's Omnithane 530
Duplicolor spray Aluminum, Black, and Cast-Coat
Silathane spray Bronze
VHT spray Black Epoxy

Added this year were:
RedCote
Permatex "Right Stuff"

Anybody care what happened, or am I boring you?

....Cotten

 

[Tony the torch]

I absolutely care !
Gasoline is a major cause of much of the service and repair we do at our shop.

 

[Flatironmike]

speak o' toothless one!

 

[little d]

Information is knowledge, knowledge is power, so ya I for one am interested in your results and what it meens.

 

[servi53]

don't keep us in suspense, give us the straight poop

 

[Skibo]

It will be interesting to see what you found but I have to note that if you really want to be accurate you ought to have done the immersions separately and replicates. We'll assume you cleaned the glass prior to application the same.

 

[kickstarts]

You already took the time to type out your original post, why wouldn't you take an extra second and type the findings?

 

[Goldy]

Interestink, werry interestink. Hard to tell what the photos indicate, please expand.

 

[Cotten]

It will be interesting to see what you found but I have to note that if you really want to be accurate you ought to have done the immersions separately and replicates. We'll assume you cleaned the glass prior to application the same.

Skibo!

As I mentioned at the beginning, this is merely for qualitative observations. Your results may vary.

The glass plates were etched by ALOX blasting, SimpleGreen and hot water scrubbed, and rinsed with Brakleen.

Kickstarts!
Some of you folks don't like long posts.
I hate them.

Meanwhile,

After just a few days of soak, POR-15 was expanding, and lifting from the etched glass as usual (second attachment).

In previous years, it fell off overnight, indicating the fuel is in some way milder.
Caswell's softens to a gel, but stays intact, firming up again when dried.
In previous years, it degraded after several weeks, without gelling.
VHT, on the other hand, gelled and nearly washed off the plate, whereas it showed better resistance in the past.
The Duplicolor paints all showed softening, which re-hardened when dry.
Silathane showed better resistance, although it usually performed equal to Duplicolor.
TNEMEC's Omnithane proved totally inert, as always.
Last year was the first year for JBWeld to degrade.
Two samples were used this year; One seasoned for a couple of months, the other for a week.
The well-seasoned sample is still intact, however the fresher sample lifted from the glass (top in third attachment).

Pliobond contact adhesive was also sampled similarly, and also showed that extended curing is essential for resistance.

RedCote shows only the slightest of softening, which firms up when dry.

"The Right Stuff" is quite soft before immersion, but has not softened further.
It appears to be quite resistant, so far.
(Ironically, it is labeled to not be used with gasoline!)
The samples will be pulled for inspection every few days for more observations,
but my conclusion is that although milder than years past, it digests in a different manner:
The gelling effect is something I have not observed to this degree.

Those samples that do not degrade go back into fresh P4gas after inspection.
I shall post updates as the weeks go by.

....Cotten

 

[servi53]

thanks for the info Tom

 

[slim55g]

I'm perticularly interested in the Red Coat, as i am about to use it on a set of 41-46 tanks. It states that when applied properly to cleaned etched tanks it can even stop minor pin hole leaks. Non of which i have , but it would be nice to know it works.

 

[Cotten]

Slim55g!

All of the sealers are fine products, even the POR-15.
Hundreds swear by it.

Its just that there is a particular additive in my local P4gas that eats it.
Maybe next year it won't.
Maybe next year it will eat everything.

My philosophy in practice is to avoid giving gas as few targets as possible.
With post-soldered-era H-D tanks, the risks do not warrant any sealer at all.
If rust is the concern, please consider a phosphate "pickle", much like the MoCo used.

Any thick compound will greatly confound repairs in the future.

....Cotten

 

[slim55g]

Yes, rust is the concern, tanks are 41-46 look solid but the rust from my experience has caused a number of problems over the years, clogging my carb. The original screen filters in the linkert strainer leave much to be desired . Tell me more about this phosphate pickle you are reffering to. I will do a search in the mean time

 

[buckman50]

Give us the pickle on the phosphate, Cotten, please....

 

[Dr. Benway]

Give us the pickle on the phosphate, Cotten, please....

I just found this post on a hot hatchback board. He took the term way too seriously...

 

[thegreasepit]

I'm very interested in more results.

After reading through this forum, and trusting Tony the Torch's expertise, I recently coated my fiberglass tank with Caswells two weeks ago. So far it's holding up better than anything I've tried so far, and especially over the failed POR-15 I used two years ago.

Not sure how California gas compares to Illinois' gas

 

[buckman50]

Thats classic...great find, Doc.

 

[Cotten]

Folks,

A "pickle", in the context I am using it...
is a residual chemically-bonded layer of a "salt" upon the metal to protect it from further corrosion.

Phoshates are still commonly used in the painting industry,
and the most recognizeable phosphate for vintage motorcycles is "Parkerizing".

I hate paint (oh how I hate paint), so I really haven't a product to suggest.

....Cotten

 

[buckman50]

Thanks, Cotten...I think most of us assumed what you meant.

However, I was curious as to what/which phosphate you were referring to.

 

[Cotten]

I'm very interested in more results.

After reading through this forum, and trusting Tony the Torch's expertise, I recently coated my fiberglass tank with Caswells two weeks ago. So far it's holding up better than anything I've tried so far, and especially over the failed POR-15 I used two years ago.

Not sure how California gas compares to Illinois' gas

The Greasepit!

Why do you feel compelled to use a tank sealer?

....Cotten