Alloy fuel tanks for Norton

That may well be the case.............but maybe the fact that fuel storage tanks at many filling stations are GRP, should provide those suggesting GRP tanks are not suitable for this purpose with food for thought?

Not any more. Some may recall a few years back, all the stations were digging up thier tanks.
Those that couldn't afford it closed down or got bought by *gasp* BP!

Now this really puts a damper on things. I was not aware of the aluminum problem.

shrugger said:

Not any more. Some may recall a few years back, all the stations were digging up thier tanks.
Those that couldn't afford it closed down or got bought by *gasp* BP!

Now this really puts a damper on things. I was not aware of the aluminum problem.

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Interesting information..............I guess that means that composite fuel storage tanks dont have UL approval now then? Wonder if you could point us towards further details of the approval being withdrawn?

I'm somewhat skeptical about the effects of ethanol on aluminum tanks. I live on the east coast of Florida. Big boat area. Since the gas began having ethanol added, many boats with fiberglass fuel tanks have been replaced with aluminum tanks. I heard of nary a problem with the aluminum tanks and ethanol fuel. My BMW K75 has a stock aluminum tank. Recently, I had to replace an "O" ring at the bottom of the tank, ethanol related, I suppose. I carefully inspected the inside of the tank. No sign of any deterioration. My 72 Combat has an aluminum tank which has posed no problems in two years. When I faced the decision of whether to line my glass Norton tank, replace with steel or replace with aluminum, I chose the aluminum because of the steel's rusting problem. I have absolutely no regrets. Neither do any of those boat owners I mentioned.

Sorry, I don't buy the concern for aluminum tanks and gas issues and if there is a concern it would take so long for gas to deteriorate an aluminum bike tank that it basically becomes a non issue.

Make the Al tank thick enough and it should last I'd think. MIght be hard to get much meat and capacity in an insert. Anodizing would work as Al oxide is same thing as sapphire. Colors are added under this hard layer.
As to the military or other composite tanks, are they holding ethanol in them long term? May have to go back to wooden kegs : ) What are ethanol tolerant car tanks made from besides steel. I see plastic ones but don't know the type plastic.

Not any more. Some may recall a few years back, all the stations were digging up thier tanks.
Those that couldn't afford it closed down or got bought by *gasp* BP!

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Actually this is done due to a USEPA regulation requiring underground storage tanks to be removed within a period of time (I believe 90 days?) of a business closing. This was enacted due to corroded, leaking steel tanks! New underground tanks are FRP.

hobot said:

As to the military or other composite tanks, are they holding ethanol in them long term?

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Ask ATL. I'd guess to be really save it needs to be a FPM aka Viton bladder constructed from sheet material and bonded with the correct glue. I'm actually a bit surprised that nobody is doing it that way apparently. A HDPE bladder might also work but AFAIK this would need to be a one shot operation (maybe something similar to PET bottles e.g.) as HDPE is very hard to bond to anything so in order to get a liner it would need to be constructed in a seamless operation.


Tim

Hey Tim, this bladder idea has occurred to me, in many ways to apply inside a tank. I defer to those more current on compatible chemistry on what's doable. Its not academic over next decade as more poli-tics [many blood suckers] dictate more booze sold in stations. Fine if they don't mix batches or caught some where that all ya got to ride off on. Here's the scuttlebutt on 15% in the works. Boat tank article says 10% tolerable - mostly - but implies 15% is a bit too much to last.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industrie ... dard_N.htm

Standard procedure when using 100% methanol is to drain the tank and carbies after each meeting and if storing up for more than a few months flush the lot through with some petrol. If you leave this stuff sitting in the carbys it forms a jelly like substance that clogs jets and eats from the inside and plays merry hell with the soft castings on the amal carbs. Remember I am talking 100% metho here, less likly to be an issue with 10% blended.

Ron L said:

Not any more. Some may recall a few years back, all the stations were digging up thier tanks.
Those that couldn't afford it closed down or got bought by *gasp* BP!

Click to expand...

Actually this is done due to a USEPA regulation requiring underground storage tanks to be removed within a period of time (I believe 90 days?) of a business closing. This was enacted due to corroded, leaking steel tanks! New underground tanks are FRP.

Click to expand...

And the leaking steel tanks, that allowed MTBE into the US water supply is what we have to thank for the introduction of E fuels which reduce power and give less MPG, as well as destroying fuel system parts such as GRP tanks!

I just looked into it. You are correct.
It appears that the new underground tanks are basially Vinylester with another unpronouncable compound added.

Most UST's are in fact made with high cross link polyester resin systems! To use VE would drastically increase production costs, and not provide any notable advantage over the polyester materials. The UST's in the US at least, are made to specs laid down by UL (Underwriters Laboratory), and a quick read of these may well be of help to those that continue to make GRP tanks affected by E fuels!