WD Motorcycle forum

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Feb 10, 2016 - 5:46PM

Re: Removing rust from petrol tank

nigP

H

You're getting sucked in .... i spent days messing on this subject, not certain what the end result was though .... ?

Yes you're probably right Nig, but it's keeping me out of trouble

The other methods sound good, I don't thing I'll be trying them all.... but saying that I have got a couple of other tanks that will need cleaning out

My shed will look like Dr Jekyll's lab by the time I've finished..!!

I don't think messing about with this stuff is doing me or my family and friends any good...!!

email (option): horror@blueyonder.co.uk

DarrenC

Feb 10, 2016 - 11:32AM

Re: Removing rust from petrol tank

trevor

Washing soda is sodium hydroxide

Sorry Trevor washing soda is sodium carbonate, that is it comes from limestone. My Typo.
However sodium hydroxide is caustic soda, not the same.

DarrenC

Feb 10, 2016 - 11:59AM

Re: Removing rust from petrol tank

nigP

washing soda = caustic soda = drain cleaner = Sodium hydroxide = very alkali

careful when mixing with any acid - such as vinegar/citric/acetic/etc - expect a reaction like foaming .......

Generally any electrolysis process will cause some 'fizzing' as gas's are released from the metals - different from the foam caused by acid+alkyd reaction.

Gases released can be flammable - best to do outside (think exploding batteries....).

Oh yes - a lead acid battery if 'pushed' too hard (asked to give a LOT of AMPS) can also explode.

Enjoy yourself guys experimenting, but please wear glasses of some form - skin burns, more or less heal - eyes don't.

Never stopped me, but then again i have so much metal in one eye (die grinding) i cannot have an MRI ......

Washing soda and caustic soda are not the same chemical, another use for washing soda is to relax muscles. You can bathe in washing soda. Sodium carbonate
However vinegar is acetic acid, I drink it. It is safe, keeps scurvy away as well. As well as pickling foods.Including Rollmops.
Citric acid is used in cooking and again is safe.

nigP

Feb 10, 2016 - 5:38PM

Re: Removing rust from petrol tank

Washing Soda - sorry, you are correct - reading one thing, thinking another.

You still get a reaction with an acid, be it a Carbonate or Hydroxide, only difference is the gas given off - one explosive the other, not.

Tried acetic and citric acid ...... sorry but life's too short for me to wait on something happening - even after chucking a fish-tank heater in to warm things up.
3-4 weeks, i expect the rust killed, the paint applied and the tank fitted and filled with petrol, within that time scale!
Acetic acid fumes get to my asthma so i don't consider it that benign (nice on F & C's though).

The expensive Rust Killer - 5L of EVAPORE or something was bloody slow reacting - i say expensive because it seems to be nothing more than citric acid - see previous thread on the subject.

As for keeping scurvy away - i think Cpt Cook would disagree with you, it had a very limited effect - however it was an excellent disinfectant and used right into the late 19th century by the navy.

Anyway good luck finding a the ultimate solution ... do like idea of electrolysis though - just fitted an old sacrificial anode to my trailer in an attempt to stop it rusting.

NigP

Feb 10, 2016 - 7:11PM

Re: Removing rust from petrol tank

i used to be Lab/R&D Manager for a Centrifuge company and did all the 'dodgy' jobs - mainly cos i've no sense of smell.
I was once dragged out our 'fume-room' after collapsing on Hexane fumes - I think my eyes were like your family ....

Leon KM20.1478

Feb 12, 2016 - 5:48PM

Re: Removing rust from petrol tank

Whatever you do using electrolysis don't use stainless steel. A by product is hexachrome which is highly carcinogenic.

email (option): leonhop3_at_planet_dot_nl

Ron Pier

Feb 12, 2016 - 6:19PM

Re: Removing rust from petrol tank

Leon I sent you an email. But as usual you didn't reply Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com