Painting alum fuel tank

[doman]

Hi!<br />I was wondering what would be the best way to protect aluminium fuel tank from corosion ..im about to put the floor back ..i will no longer have access to the fuel tank once the floor is in place so i wanna make sure there will be no problems in a year or 2 ..Can i paint it with truck bedliner paint? or should i use something different..Any help is really apreciated<br /><br />Thanks

 

[Winger Ed.]

Re: Painting alum fuel tank

Originally posted by doman:<br />[QBwanna make sure there will be no problems in a year or 2 .[/QB]

An epoxy primer first, then epoxy paint would be best.<br /><br />But boat manufacturers normally don't do anything to them before the plop them in a hull. Its common for them to last 30 years like that without anything.<br /><br />I remember Ballard hoisting an old TBM bomber out of the Atlantic off Florida that they thought belonged to Flight 19. Shoot, it was in pretty good shape too, for a Aluminum airplane that had been submerged since WWII. It had some corrosion, but most of the pannels & sheet metal looked pretty solid, and its about the same alloy as they use for those gas tanks.

 

[Rainmaker]

Re: Painting alum fuel tank

Just replaced the tanks in my boat. Used zinc chromate as a primer with Rust-Oleum as the top coat.<br /><br />It is more important to consider how to mount the tank. Aluminum corrosion happens when water gets trapped up against the aluminum. For boat tanks, this is usually on the bottom. To stop this, bond some rubber strips to the bottom of the tank with 5200. Make sure the strips are well sealed to the tank so water can never get between the strip and the tank. Also make sure water can't get trapped under the mounting straps etc.<br /><br />Good Luck!