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Fuel tank - painting

Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2026 8:39 am
by ndevans
My fuel tank needs painting. I did try putting enamel on the back axle, but it didn't last - what paint have people used on here successfully?

Re: Fuel tank - painting

Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2026 9:03 am
by Andmurph
I’ve used 2 coats of Owatrol CIP primer followed by three coats of underbody black coach enamel and a coat of satin clear coat from paintman.co.uk

I’ve used this method on the pickup chassis, axle and fuel tank to good effect. I’ve also done the axle and tank on the Midget in the same way except I used Car Rep 2k primer on the front diff case instead of the Owatrol CIP. I was just using the paint I had in the garage.

The Owatrol CIP primer does need at least 72 hours before over coating so perhaps not the best if time constrained.

Re: Fuel tank - painting

Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2026 3:18 pm
by biomed32uk
I used a coat of Epoxy Mastic as I had some left over from doing the floor, a coat of Gravitex on the lower part and finished of with a couple of coats of black tractol. That was about 8 years back and still looks good.

Re: Fuel tank - painting

Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2026 3:29 pm
by svenedin
I fitted a brand new fuel tank about 4 years ago and because I am inpatient, and I didn't want to have the car off the road, I left as was with the paint it came with. I regret that now as the exterior of the tank is now rusty and the factory paint peeled off like a sheet. I should have stripped it to bare metal, primed and painted. Make haste slowly!

Back axle maybe paint didn't last because it is so difficult to degrease? Usually the back axle is rather oily. Most important bits are the brackets. Phil suggested just treating that area with Fertan but for that to work it still needs to be able to get to the metal without a layer of grease or oil in the way.

Stephen

Re: Fuel tank - painting

Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2026 4:43 pm
by myoldjalopy
Why not just slop a load of black waxoyl on it? Seems to work.