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 Post subject: Aluminum fuel tank Liner
PostPosted: July 17, 2017, 5:10 pm 
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I have all E-85 Compatibility with this car so far Pump, rebuild on the injectors, lines. I did for connivance sake, possible turbo later. So far it hasn't really cost anything to do it. SO whats your favorite liner where I don't have to worry about it coming off?.

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PostPosted: July 17, 2017, 6:41 pm 
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Well without more information I'd recommend a stainless tank and no liner.

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PostPosted: July 17, 2017, 8:45 pm 
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KB58 wrote:
Well without more information I'd recommend a stainless tank and no liner.

What kind of information are you looking for. Stainless is way too heavy.

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PostPosted: July 17, 2017, 9:49 pm 
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The tank material is not a problem, Steel, Aluminum est. The problem comes when water is absorbed by the e85. It will create acids that can corrode soft metals. The best thing to do when storing the vehicle for long periods of time is to leave it full or empty to avoid water buildup.

I have had E85 sit in an aluminum fuel cell for months to a year and had no ill effects on the tank.

Be sure however to keep an eye on your filters as e85 is a solvent and if you have had gasoline in your tank the varnish it leaves behind will be stripped off and clog your filter. But since your system is probably new i see no issues.
See PDF link below for more Info.

E85 Materials Compatibility - Innovative Motor Sports

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PostPosted: July 17, 2017, 10:12 pm 
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stuie84 wrote:
The tank material is not a problem, Steel, Aluminum est. The problem comes when water is absorbed by the e85. It will create acids that can corrode soft metals. The best thing to do when storing the vehicle for long periods of time is to leave it full or empty to avoid water buildup.

I have had E85 sit in an aluminum fuel cell for months to a year and had no ill effects on the tank.

Be sure however to keep an eye on your filters as e85 is a solvent and if you have had gasoline in your tank the varnish it leaves behind will be stripped off and clog your filter. But since your system is probably new i see no issues.
See PDF link below for more Info.

E85 Materials Compatibility - Innovative Motor Sports

I am aware of the acid forming that's what lead me to look at lining the tank. Never thought of varnish coming off and being a problem. Good to know. This system hasn't been used yet. Maybe I'll scrap the idea and just maintain the system at the end of the driving season.

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PostPosted: July 17, 2017, 10:16 pm 
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Weeelllll...

Ethanol isn't and won't become an acid, but microbes in ethanol containing gas do create acids which can eat at an Al tank. I have no idea what conditions allow those microbes to grow. Maybe it is high water content (I read that they are happy at a water interface, but water and ethanol are miscible, so I'm not sure what to make of that). Anyway, no problem with stainless, apparently.

I'd take up the solvent issue, but there's not much point. Every solvent dissolves different things. Water dissolves the most (thus its description as the universal solvent), but for certain, ethanol dissolves different stuff than hydrocarbons. Whether you get clogs from redissolved varnish or gels from rubber won't matter to you, you'll still have issues. My recommendation is to get fuel lines and tanks specified for the type of fuel you will be using and you should be fine.

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PostPosted: July 18, 2017, 1:33 am 
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This is just for laughs. I love cryptic posts, at least for this feeble flea brain auto/NG comp mechanic of 35 years. It's like a puzzle

I realize the question was "I have set up my fuel system for ethanol/gas use, do I need to worry about lining my fuel cell/gas tank because of this?

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PostPosted: September 21, 2017, 9:44 am 
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I know there are for sure fuel tank "slosh-in" liners that work with e85.

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PostPosted: September 21, 2017, 10:54 am 
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CodySimonson wrote:
I know there are for sure fuel tank "slosh-in" liners that work with e85.

Yes their are. My ultimate fear is a bad bond and then it comes off and clogs up pumps and stuff.
I am going to do nothing. Leave it raw and use proper maintance if I ever get to the E85 state. I'll just run non ethanol gas.

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PostPosted: September 21, 2017, 12:21 pm 
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Don't all lead free fuels have some level of ethanol in them now? I don't keep up with how the fuel mixes change, but I though the "winter" blends included a higher percentage of ethanol in them than the "summer" blends.

Cheers,

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PostPosted: September 21, 2017, 12:50 pm 
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Lonnie-S wrote:
Don't all lead free fuels have some level of ethanol in them now? I don't keep up with how the fuel mixes change, but I though the "winter" blends included a higher percentage of ethanol in them than the "summer" blends.

Cheers,

We have a chain of stations called KwikTrip. They have straight fuel in premium with dedicated hoses. Shell and Mobil have it to buy a shared hose. It's not hard to find. The Diesel has summer and winter blends

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PostPosted: September 21, 2017, 3:54 pm 
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Lonnie-S wrote:
Don't all lead free fuels have some level of ethanol in them now? I don't keep up with how the fuel mixes change, but I though the "winter" blends included a higher percentage of ethanol in them than the "summer" blends.

Cheers,


Depends on the state. Pumps have to be marked per fuel type if there's any ethanol content. Some places still offer non-ethanol fuel.

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PostPosted: September 21, 2017, 4:47 pm 
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Not sure about a liner but Holley Hydramats are sort of like a sponge that sits in the bottom of your tank. The basically prevents any fuel starvation issues when cornering.

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PostPosted: September 21, 2017, 5:02 pm 
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Tundra 7 wrote:
What kind of information are you looking for. Stainless is way too heavy.


What thickness of aluminum are you using?

0.040" steel will be the same weight as 0.125" aluminum.

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PostPosted: September 21, 2017, 6:58 pm 
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Some mighty good jars of goop that you pour into tanks to line 'em nowadays...

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