Terneplate fuel tank corrosion

[SpecialT]

I have an experimental Taylorcraft with a stock terneplate fuel header tank. It has some corrosion around the filler neck and top. Has anyone tried "slosh" sealing one of these tanks? Aircraft spruce sells some slosh sealant. What kind of results did you get? How did it turn out? How else do you remedy the corrosion. Put in a new aluminum tank?

[kona4breakfast]

Re: Terneplate fuel tank corrosion

There was sloshing compound in my right wing tank, presumably from when it was ground looped in the mid 90s. Had it inspected at Atlee Dodge during wing restoration a while back and they couldn't repair it because it kept catching on fire when they tried to fix the leaks. I tried to clean it out with MEK and that didn't work either. Ended up buying a new tank.

[SpecialT]

Re: Terneplate fuel tank corrosion

I not really concerned with leaking, so much as I was hoping to clean out the rust and then seal it from further corrosion development, I was hoping the slosh might prevent any rust in the future along with it's corresponding fuel contamination. The tank is in pretty good shape itself, and painted when it was restored, but the rust on the upper surface set in due to sitting empty. It's not deep rust, just surface rust.

[SpecialT]

Re: Terneplate fuel tank corrosion

What's the best way to clean surface rust out of a tank?

[Robert Lees]

Re: Terneplate fuel tank corrosion

I faced a similar problem 12 years ago when I rebuilt my BC12D (installing a new RH wing tank).

I decided that the quality of the fuel going to the engine was of greater value to my life than sloshing the existing terneplate tank, so I got a used aluminium one and had fresh fittings welded and then leak-tested. So I knew I had good quality tanks. Link: http://www.taylorcraft.org.uk/Brey_r...#Fuel%20Tanks:

Today (if I lived in the USA) I'd just get new wing tanks from Wag-Aero; probably cheaper in the long run, and better for my peace-of-mind.

Rob

[Jim Herpst]

Re: Terneplate fuel tank corrosion

Robert is spot on. Replace the tank. Purchase a new one is my best advice. Sloshing has had way too many failures and frankly makes little sense when one considers it is your FUEL SYSTEM. Accidents related to fuel delivery issues make up far too many considering most if not all could have been easily avoided.

[astjp2]

Re: Terneplate fuel tank corrosion

I would flush it out with Ospho and then have a radiator shop do the repairs...cost less than $60 to do. Tim

[SpecialT]

Re: Terneplate fuel tank corrosion

Thanks guys. I took a borescope to the tank and it looks pretty good. It looked a little reddish in color with a flashlight, and I assumed it was rust as there was some small corrosion on the filler next top and the overflow valve threads (that cleaned right off with a wipe.) But upon further inspection I think it's just the color of the tank down inside. I cleaned out the bulb and paper filter in the Christen manual fuel pump and it was spit clean except for a little water residue. On my plane the Christen manual fuel pump works as a tank selector (wing/header) and has a gascolator type bulb with a filter in it, and all the fuel runs through it before it gets to the engine fuel pump. An aluminum tank would be a nice upgrade.