rusty gas tank - can't find phosphoric acid

Hi,

Quick question. I read the write-up on getting rust out of an empty gas tank, and it seemed very helpful and I've heard people get good results. Problem is, when I go to Lowe's or Home Depot to look for tile and grout cleaner, not a single one of them listed phosphoric acid as an ingredient. Instead they just listed chemical numbers. Can anyone reassure me that all these products do in fact have phosphoric acid in them before I buy one, or point me to a specific brand that has worked for them? Thanks for your help.

-JR

I have bought it at Home Depot before. I can't remember what it is called, but I think I found it in the paint department. It came in a semi-transparent plactic bottle, and the liquid inside was kind of a brownish-yellow color.

When I get home tonight, I'll try to find the bottle and give you the name.

I heard that it was draino that had it in there

There is stuff called "Prep & Etch" or something like that is phosphoric acid. It is sold at Lowe's or Home Depot.

I actually just cleaned, etched and sealed my tank with the por-15 motorcycle tank kit, it is $43 shipped, but it is well worth it. Comes with cleaner, acid, and sealer. works great.

click here

Post edited by: 77Davo650, at: 2007/08/31 17:49

77Davo650 wrote:

There is stuff called "Prep & Etch" or something like that is phosphoric acid. It is sold at Lowe's or Home Depot.

That sounds very familiar. It might be the very stuff I bought.

How about giving this stuff a try? They claim that it won't hurt paint, eat away good metal, or hurt you if you spill some on you. There are several positive references to it on the internet. It sounds great, but it would be good if one of us KZRiders would try it and give a report.

www.rusteco.com/auto.htm


Ed

I bought actual phosphoric acid at lowes in the paint department. It is the only thing I tried that worked.

Skyman wrote:

I have bought it at Home Depot before. I can't remember what it is called, but I think I found it in the paint department. It came in a semi-transparent plactic bottle, and the liquid inside was kind of a brownish-yellow color.

When I get home tonight, I'll try to find the bottle and give you the name.

Okay, I confirmed it. What I bought was called "Phosphoric Prep & Etch" by Klean Strip. It comes in a white semi-transparent bottle with a yellow label.

I use Vinegar and salt to remove rust from my tanks. I didn't believe that it would work either;) To use it mix as much salt into the vinegar that will dissolve. Then just soak the tank. It usually takes a couple days but the stuff till eat the rust down to bare metal. It will be so clean you can eat off it. Then just rinse it out and oil the inside, lightly to keep the rust from coming back. This is the best rust remover that I've found so far.

you can still get the two step kreem from z1enterprises.
www.z1enterprises.com/images/parts/DSC03600.jpg

Post edited by: kawsakiman, at: 2007/09/01 13:18

I wrote a writeup about cleaning rusty tanks that is in the filebase; at the time Home Depot had a tile & grout cleaner made of Phosphoric acid. Since then I believe HD has moved on to an acid free tile cleaner, as I can't find it there anymore.

Naval Jelly has phosphoric acid in it too. That's what I used on my last tank.

Anyone here ever try Ospho by Skylo? It says on the bottle that it contains phosphoric acid. It also says that any white powder after treatment should be removed. May not be good for inside the tank??? I've used it on steel railings and such.