Stainless or Aluminum for diesel fuel tanks?

Ike · May 27, 2011

The USCG pub Safety Standards For Backyard Boatbuilders mentioned in the article is no longer published by the USCG. However it is available at http://newboatbuilders.com/docs/backyardboatbuilders.pdf

Manie B · May 28, 2011

Guys - big thanks for all the info and links
much appreciated - good stuff

whitepointer23 · May 28, 2011

Ike said: ↑

My suggestion is don't. There have been significant problems of delamination with fiberglass gasoline fuel tanks. The resins dissolve over time. There are resins that are very fuel resistant but they are expensive and hard to find. I have seen tanks that failed in as little as six months. Most of the failures though were long term use, 10 to 20 years. Alcohol (ethanol) in the fuel make it worse.

Is this for a boat? Gravity feed is a no go. Gasoline tanks are require to not have any openings below the top of the tank, so the pickup has to be mounted on top and extend down into the tank. This requires some type of pump, usually on the engine to suck the gas. The pump has to be on the engine or within 12 inches of the engine. If you mounted it high enough above the engine to create a siphon, then you would need an anti-siphon valve at the tank

See http://newboatbuilders.com/pages/fuel.html for the USCG rules
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my boat has its original 200 lt petrol tanks, they are glass and still in good condition, built late 70's. a fibreglass boat builder told me he uses derakane resin for tanks and has no trouble with them.

Wynand N · May 28, 2011

Manie B said: ↑

in my neck of the woods aluminium or stainless tanks are just way too expensive
rotomoulded or "plastic" tanks would have to be imported at mega costs
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Manie , try these people in your neck of the woods and speak to Sybrand.

Techniloy CC
163 Lloyd Street
Industrial Sites
Pretoria West, 0117
Tel: 012 386 3690

They are close to the old ISCOR college / Consul glass - opposite Proklomasie Heuwel, basically just around the corner from you

They manufacture all type of tanks, including fuel tanks and if Im not mistaken, they supply some Toyota as well but stand to be corrected. I buy all my tin plating chemicals from Sybrand and there main business is actually PE tanks and products....

Lister · May 28, 2011

Aluminum.
Lister

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Stainless or Aluminum for diesel fuel tanks?

Ike Senior Member

Manie B Senior Member

whitepointer23 Previous Member

Wynand N Retired Steelboatbuilder

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