NEW Spectra Premium Fuel Tank....CLEANING

[CamarosRus]

Removed a Never Used SPECTRA PREMIUM 70 Camaro Fuel Tank '
from its Cardboard Box after being stored 25 years.........

Galvanized metal is still "OK" but has areas that are slightly
cloudy and not quite show quality.......

I've already been experimenting with liquid metal polish on the top side
that doesnt show and I dont want the TOO SHINY look...

Anyone dealt with cleaning the Galvanized metal without Polishing..........

[169indy]

3 yr Warranty. I doubt appearance will qualify.

ALL three of my Spectra Tanks have this same Issue, Just installed a F-body Tank that was purchased by Prior Owner in 2016 & is showing weird White cloudy areas, Anything I tried just made things worse, I was thinking of ordering a fresh tank but Dang a Guy has to draw the line somewhere. On my SS396 car a Bit of Exhaust is dripping condensate and getting on the tank and actually started surface rust. Hit is with a wire brush and Boeshield T9 & figured it is the Next owners problem.

I hate to Say it For a Judged Car just Buy another and Resell to recoupe costs?

[CamarosRus]

I tried fine bronze wool on top side and definitely dont want that look..........Dont want anything that is abrasive and damage the galvanize look..........

Not giving up and NOT buying another new tank.............

[Lynn]

I admit to spending inordinate amounts of time on minutia of detail from time to time.

It is normally spent trying to make an original part look perfect OR working on the flaws on a repop part. I probably spent 100 hours working on the floors of my Z when it was on the rotisserie. I did not want to replace the floors. I was willing to sacrifice that much time to keep the original.

But, sometimes, you just have to figure out how much of your time you are willing to put into a part (not original to your car) that you can replace for $200. You can cut that cost in half by selling your current tank locally for $100.

Decide what your time is worth. If you spend 20 hours making it look right (assuming you are successful) you just made the unconcious decision that you are worth $5 an hour.

[BCreekDave]

Originally Posted by 169indy

3 yr Warranty. I doubt appearance will qualify.

ALL three of my Spectra Tanks have this same Issue, Just installed a F-body Tank that was purchased by Prior Owner in 2016 & is showing weird White cloudy areas, Anything I tried just made things worse, I was thinking of ordering a fresh tank but Dang a Guy has to draw the line somewhere. On my SS396 car a Bit of Exhaust is dripping condensate and getting on the tank and actually started surface rust. Hit is with a wire brush and Boeshield T9 & figured it is the Next owners problem.

I hate to Say it For a Judged Car just Buy another and Resell to recoupe costs?

and be prepared for many send backs due to dents in shipping. Maybe get with the seller and see if you can pickup at a local show, or pay extra for then to build a proper shipping crate and ship LTL commercial carrier. The usual Spectra shipping in the box is minimal at best IMO. Truth is, the Spectra galvanization is different than the original finish anyway, but I get your point.

[CamarosRus]

Dave, Ive sampled area on top with a LIQUID "Stainless Steel" Metal Polish
to remove/improve the "Cloudy" look from the Galvanized Metal....

This has made the metal shinier than as mfg, but does look good............

I dont know what else to do ??????????

Dont know if the shine will settle down over time or not

I agree that the galvanized sheet metal that Spectra Premium uses is
not as "galvaized" looking as other parts Ive seen..............

[x44d80]

Hello. My original Camaro tank looks like a galvanized coating, I believe all new tanks are Ni-tern.
Ni-terne steel is a lead-tin alloy that is used to coat fuel tanks and other steel parts to prevent corrosion and rust:
Composition: Ni-terne steel is made up of about 92% lead and 8% tin.
Properties: Ni-terne steel is ductile, has a dull gray finish, and is lubricating. It's also the least expensive tinplate alloy.
Uses: Ni-terne steel is often used to coat fuel tanks because it performs well when in contact with petroleum fuels. For example, reproduction fuel tanks for 1970–1972 Chevrolet and GMC pickup trucks are made from stamped steel with a Ni-Terne coating.
Google search.

[CamarosRus]

To clean or preserve a Ni-terne steel coating, gently wash with mild soap and water, thoroughly dry, and then apply a thin layer of protective oil or a clear coat sealant; avoid harsh chemicals or abrasive scrubbing, as they can damage the coating and compromise its corrosion resistance.

I will try to use Dish Wash Soap diluted in Water/Spray Bottle.............

If I can get CLEAN (as new) I may try FLUID FILM to preserve