A perforated or damaged motorcycle gas tank? And probably you are thinking of getting a new gas tank, right? Hold on. You have an alternative that may sound complicated but is a more affordable way of fixing this issue. Instead of replacing the entire tank, you can simply seal the motorcycle gas tank and cure the damaged areas. Yes, you heard it right!
Sealing the interior of the motorcycle gas tank can heal the damages. In fact, it makes the tank long-lasting by putting an extra layer inside the tank. However, if you have no or little idea about it, this article is for you. After thorough research, I have found the best way to seal a motorcycle gas tank and I am going to share all of it here.
In this article, I will talk about how to seal a motorcycle gas tank as well as solve some commonly asked queries. So folks, get ready to fix all the tank problems with me in the easiest way possible. Let’s begin!
7 Steps To Seal A Motorcycle Gas Tank: Fix The Issues In The Easiest Way
See, sealing a motorcycle gas tank is not only about sealing it. You need to go through many more steps to ensure that the sealant settles on the gas tank. The preparation and cleaning take a lot of time and need you to have patience. On that note, let me tell you the entire process of sealing a motorcycle gas tank:
Step 1: Remove The Tank And Wax The Exterior
Before you start working, you need to remove the gas tank. The gas tank can be removed by disconnecting the hose that connects the tank to the motorcycle. Now seal the opening of the tube and then unscrew the screws and bolts. After that, use a suction pipe, blow it once just to start the flow of gas into the pipe. Now hold the pipe into a bucket to let the gas drip in it. Drain the remaining gas by holding it upside down.
Note that you should pass the gas through a filter paper. This will help you to filter the gas and hold back the residues and rust particles. If the gas tank is severely rusted and damaged, you would see particles on the filter paper. This shows how dirty and vulnerable the tank is.
Now you must be wondering why waxing the exterior is needed. It is needed to protect the tank body from chemicals like adhesives or sealants. To make the surface tougher and resistant to chemicals, wax the tank body, especially near the gas cap and the petcock valve.
Step 2: Clean The Tank By Pressure Washing
Before sealing, cleaning is necessary. In fact, while filtering the gas, you may have noticed particles on the filter paper. But the tank has more rust particles and residues than that on the filter paper. Now if you want to see how unclean the tank is, you can tie the mouth of a trash can with an old cotton cloth and a band. After one wash, pour the dirty water into the trash can and the cloth will hold the residues.
For pressure washing, take a hose and speed up the water force. Rinse the entire tank thoroughly putting extra effort into the corners and gaps. Keep washing the tank and then pour it into the trash can. Similarly, give at least three to four washes to remove any sort of dirt and particles.
Step 3: Seal The Openings
At this stage, Before you seal the motorcycle gas tank, sealing the openings is another task to do. This is done because otherwise, the sealant will leak out the holes. So you have to seal all the openings before you start working.
For sealing, using gorilla tape is the easiest way. Dry the surrounding of the holes with a cloth. Then seal the holes with a gorilla tape about 1” thick. Rub the tape around and on the holes so that it adheres firmly to the tank body. If some adhesive leaks out the tape, wipe it away immediately. But keep rubbing until it sits on the tank.
Start with the petcock hole and the screw holes. Then seal the gas tank cap with tape. After sealing, wait for it to dry.
Step 4: Apply Marine Clean And Metal Ready
Now is the turn to wash the interior of the tank once again. For that, pour hot water and marine clean into the tank. Rotate the tank well so that the solution reaches every corner of the tank. Watch if the liquid is leaking from the sealed areas or not. If yes, you would need more layers of gorilla tape on it.
Now take off the tapes and let the marine clean drain out. Then rinse the interior with water and pour the metal-ready solution into it. Just as you did with the marine clean, spread it all over the tank interior and rotate it well. After rotating, drain out the metal-ready liquid. Note that the metal-ready liquid protects the metal from corrosion and rust. It strengthens the metal and makes it ready for sealing.
Step 5: Dry The Tank Well
As the metal-ready liquid is just applied, you need to give time for it to dry and adhere to the gas tank interior. And this can take around 2-3 hours.
For drying the metal-ready liquid, first, give another rotation of the tank for the liquid to spread all over the tank really well. Now through the gas cap, insert a hairdryer. Seal the dryer with gorilla tape so that it doesn’t move. Hence, the air is now directly going across the center of the tank, not around the walls.
Turn on the dryer and let the hot air blow inside the tank. This process can continue for between 2 to 3 hours. But after every 30 minutes, switch off the dryer once so that the tank doesn’t get excessively heated. Turn it off for 5-10 minutes and then turn it on. Inspect after an hour to see the progress. By 3 hours or a maximum of 4 hours, you can expect the interior to be completely dry.
Please ensure that the interior is dry. Otherwise, the whole project will be messed up and the sealant won’t work on it.
Step 6: Apply The Sealer
The interior is dry now, right? Okay, so once again, you need to tape the petcock and the other holes except for the cap hole. Next, shake the sealer container well and open it. Use a paint stirrer to stir the liquid really well. The consistency should be fine and uniform for easy and effective application. Therefore, stirring the sealer in the can is important.
To ensure that the sealer drips just into the tank, you have to play a trick here. Around the sealer can open, tie a latex glove and tape all the fingers on the can body. Just keep the birdie finger open and cut the fingertip. This is the pathway through which the sealer will be poured inside the tank. Now carefully, keep pouring the sealer in the tank through this opening. If it spreads on the tank exterior, wipe it away.
After applying the sealant, seal the gas tank cap hole tightly with the gorilla tape. Now that all the holes are sealed, start rotating the tank well to ensure the sealer reaches every corner of the tank. You should rotate it for around 1 to 2 hours ensuring that the liquid spreads evenly throughout the interior. If you don’t move it continuously, the sealer can leak. So keep rotating and put a stubborn coating of sealer inside the tank.
Step 7: Drain The Excess Sealer And Dry It
After you rotate the tank for around 2 hours, drain the sealer out of the gas cap hole and petcock hole. Slowly tilt the tank and pour the excess sealer out of the holes into a container. Pour the last drop of sealant in the container as no excess sealant should stay inside.
Now place the tank upside down and clean around the holes. Keep it like this for at least 3 to 7 days. Yes, you got it right! It takes a long time for the sealer to settle and dry inside the tank. So have patience and let it dry inside the tank. In fact, you can blow hot air inside the tank several times a day to fasten the process. An electric pump can help you in blowing air.
And that is it. As the sealer dries out, reinstall it on the motorcycle.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What Can You Use To Seal Your Gas Tank?
A variety of sealants are used to seal a gas tank. You can ask a seller to know which one you can use. But commonly, acetone is used to clean the tank and Red Kote sealant is used for sealing a gas tank.
As this sealant is semi-liquid, it easily spreads all around the tank and dries out fast. It is pretty effective in sealing the tank making it a suitable choice for gas tank sealing.
How Do You Seal A Rusty Gas Tank?
A rusty gas tank needs to be cleaned first before sealing. The sealing process is the same for all tanks. But in the case of a rusty gas tank, you have to clean it thoroughly by pressure washing. After rinsing the gas tank, you will see the rust particles on the filtrate paper.
Next, apply a marine clean and metal ready liquid to coat the interior of the tank. This protects the tank from rust and corrosion. So basically, clean and make the tank anti-corrosive if you have a rusty gas tank before sealing.
Does Fuel Tank Sealer Work?
For any minor damages and rusty areas in the motorcycle gas tank, a fuel tank sealer works pretty well. Cleaning and sealing the tank removes the rust and dirt and cures the damages inside the tank.
In case the damage is major, you need to apply epoxy filler to heal these areas and then seal them. This is very effective in healing the damages. So yes, it works!
How Do You Get Rid Of Rust In A Motorcycle Gas Tank?
Rusty motorcycle gas tank is not a good thing. So before you seal it, cleaning the rust is an essential part. To do so, you can rinse the motorcycle tank with acetone and then with water. Otherwise, using vinegar can dissolve the rust.
Then wash the vinegar with soapy water and then with clean water. Dry the tank to get a gas tank free of rust.
What Can You Use To Seal A Metal Gas Tank?
Sealing a metal gas tank can be a hassle for people. But with the right steps, you can get a flawless gas tank. Here are the steps to seal a metal gas tank:
- Use a cleaner degreaser mixed in warm water to clean the tank;
- Now coat the tank with a metal ready liquid;
- As the coating dries out, apply a fuel tank sealer and rotate the tank to spread it evenly;
- Dry the sealer well to get a properly sealed and cured metal gas tank;
That was super simple, right?
How Long Does A Gas Tank Sealer Take To Dry?
Usually, you should wait at least a day for the gas tank sealer to dry and settle inside the gas tank. But for the best result, experts recommend waiting for at least three days.
Some people wait for seven days to let the sealer completely cure and sit inside the tank. As it dries, you will see no greasy or liquid inside the tank.
How Frequently To Seal A Motorcycle Gas Tank?
Sealing the motorcycle tank increases the life of the tank as well as gives you a smooth ride. This is why sealing the tank should be regular. Ideally, you should seal a motorcycle gas tank once every two years. If you ride the bike regularly, you may even need to seal it once a year.
Conclusion:
I believe I have provided you with enough information regarding motorcycle gas tank sealing. Sealing a motorcycle gas tank may take time but is inexpensive and worth it.
So, why not seal the motorcycle gas tank and enjoy smooth rides for a few more years?
Related Topics:
What Causes Hole In A Motorcycle Gas Tank?
How Do You Clean A Gas Tank That Has Been Sitting For Years?
