Ethanol and Fiberglass?

Scott Clarke · Post by **Scott Clarke** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 1:03 pm

My single has a fiberglass tank. I'm now getting it running after 12 years in mothballs. I have heard that there are now problems with fiberglass tanks being disolved by ethanol. Here in Oregon we have mandated 10% ethanol in our gas. When I installed the tank years ago I did use a treatment on its interior. How concerned should I be about the ethanol?

Thanks,
-Scott

Mohawk · Post by **Mohawk** » Sat Aug 08, 2009 12:03 pm

Interesting to see this question come up. I was reading about this on another forum earlier today.

extract below from one ot the members

Moreover, those of you with vintage bikes that have fibreglass tanks had better start planning as ethanol melts -- yes MELTS -- fibreglass on contact. There is currently a fairly large lawsuit by boat owners against the various government entities which mandate Ethanol as boat gasoline tanks are regularly fibreglass or plastic since steel rusts quickly at sea.

wdietz186 · Post by **wdietz186** » Sat Aug 08, 2009 6:09 pm

There is a company called Caswell that sell an ethanol resistant coating for fuel tanks.It is popular with the Brit bike owners and I haven't heard anything negative about it.It is my understanding that the Kreme coatings don't hold up to the ethanol in todays pump gas.Caswell also sells plating kits so prepare yourself to get tempted to recoat every metal part you have!

Scott Clarke · Post by **Scott Clarke** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 7:36 am

Thanks for your replys. I hadn't seen them until today, so in the meanwhile I coated the tank with Kreme. Good to know about Caswell. I'll report back if I have trouble.