Ethanol Induced Tank Swelling

[Dan M]

It's been 3 months since I removed the tank and drained all the fuel. Let me be the first to say, getting all the fuel out was a mother f@cker. It's harder than retrieving a fallen pick out of the body of an acoustic guitar with your feet.

The first 2 months the tank was kept in my garage due to strong gas fumes. For the past month, the tank has been sitting in the driest part of my basement 10 feet from a pellet stove. Unfortunately the deformation has not gone away. All I got is a dry tank that smells of dried up, old gas.

A new fuel filter should be here by Friday, so I'm putting her back together and calling this a failed experiment. I guess it was worth a try.

That sucks. AF1 said they here having success drying out & shrinking expanded tanks. I wonder if the Guzzi tank is a different composite than the Aprilia. I never did drain & dry mine. It is contacting both side covers now.

[abouc]

It might be ever so slightly better, but not much. It's also possible that another 3 months by the pellet stove might help. Riding season will be here in 2-3 weeks and I just can't wait that long.

It's amazing that with all the technology available in the world, there isn't an ethanol proof plastic tank or a form of automotive grade metal immune to corrosion.

[potere]

Don't remove your tank, move yourself:

Alaska: All stations dispense ethanol-free gasoline.
Alberta, Nova Scotia: All stations dispense ethanol-free gasoline. Some also dispense E10, so check the pump.
British Columbia: all 94-octane Chevron fuel is ethanol-free.

Seriously, no researcher who is not related to the energy industry or petroleum industry or corn industry will tell you that ethanol is a viable additive to reduce green house gases. Go look up Amy Meyers Jaffe, a brilliant and very attractive energy policy expert.

Another reason for ethanol is there are 21 agricultural states= 42 senators in the US Senate. They want ethanol (comes from corn) so they will have it.

[RAS]

It's amazing that with all the technology available in the world, there isn't an ethanol proof plastic tank or a form of automotive grade metal immune to corrosion.

The problem is a mix of 2 very different solvent types - polar and non. Then throw in some heat, the need to have some mechanical, structural strength and the ability to hold paint. A nice teflon coating on an aluminum tank would probably work, but likely very expensive. Stainless steel also would work, but would make a heavy and maybe even more expensive can to build.

The tank's not the problem. It's the fuel we're now stuck with.

[amauri]

The latest Guzzis that just arrived in the US have steel tanks.

[RAS]

The latest Guzzis that just arrived in the US have steel tanks.

And that ultimately will have to be the answer. Triumph went back to steel tanks a while ago.

Was out to the local BMW/Ducati/Triumph shop. They offer an epoxy coating service(think it was $300) for any new Ducati. The Diavel now has a steel cover over a plastic tank. At least ya can't see it swell and there's no paint to blister.

[JAndrewG]

My '08 1200 Sport has a plastic tank. It's swelling, but the shape of it and the way it's mounted mean it isn't getting loose or hitting anything as it gets bigger. It does have a couple of 'pimples' on the top though. Not blisters between the paint and tank, just small bumps.

I like the idea of plastic for a tank, the fact there is no rust ever and it won't dent when you hit it with your knee, but sadly it just doesn't work with our fuel.

[RAS]

My '08 1200 Sport has a plastic tank. It's swelling, but the shape of it and the way it's mounted mean it isn't getting loose or hitting anything as it gets bigger. It does have a couple of 'pimples' on the top though. Not blisters between the paint and tank, just small bumps.

I like the idea of plastic for a tank, the fact there is no rust ever and it won't dent when you hit it with your knee, but sadly it just doesn't work with our fuel.

Odd that the older (before 05-ish) plastic tanks are not having anywhere near the issues of the newer ones. Can't recall anyone on the Futura forum complaining about anymore than a very slight change in length. Certainly no blisters.

If coated properly from the factory, steel tanks do not have to rust. They will dent though if made too thin to save weight.

[MartDude]

Odd that the older (before 05-ish) plastic tanks are not having anywhere near the issues of the newer ones. Can't recall anyone on the Futura forum complaining about anymore than a very slight change in length. Certainly no blisters.

Some of my Falco-owning friends are starting to have problems - tanks won't drop back down so easily, bolt-holes not lining up.

But, as you say, not a problem on the Futura, as yet.

[RAS]

Mine has always been a tight fit. If it swells at all, it'll be a fight to get those front screws in. As it is, I have to pull back hard to get it to clear the stem.

Apparently, Ducati's fix was to make the newer tanks a bit shorter and leave some room for growth - good Grief. The Duc's tanks have been porous enough to allow fuel to seep thru to the paint. Comically, the paint is more resistant than the plastic.

[QuickHX]

[QUOTE=RAS;3061143]Odd that the older (before 05-ish) plastic tanks are not having anywhere near the issues of the newer ones. Can't recall anyone on the Futura forum complaining about anymore than a very slight change in length. Certainly no blisters.
[QUOTE]

Sad, huh? Partly, the emissions plumbing (now removed) may have had something to do with the blister (expanding/contracting due to no way for the pressure to vent??)
but I've had to bend the AF1 quick-release studs back at about 15 - 20 degrees, THEN pry the tank down past the steering head, because it's now too big.
Next step is to elongate the hinge where the tank pivots at the back.



-Quick

[RAS]

Sad indeed!

I'm upset only with the politicians and big Agro-business for thrusting this upon us all. Ethanol should be in our whiskeys, not our gasoline.

[Dan M]

+1
You hit the nail on the head RAS

[SF2DieHard]

Sad indeed!

I'm upset only with the politicians and big Agro-business for thrusting this upon us all. Ethanol should be in our whiskeys, not our gasoline.

Brilliant!!!
Yes, steel is still a great material for gas tanks.

DM

[rblue02]

Deforming, so as to inhibit bolting at the front, and tank pimples are happening on Futura's.
Nothing too gross tho', yet.