What paint holds up best to gasoline/ethanol ?

Last year I had a tank painted with water-based Dupont, and the body shop owner said the paint holds up to gas and could be used immediately. However, I tested a spot on the bottom side of the tank and a little gas removed the paint just like paint-stripper. The fumes already removed the paint from around the filler, but the gas cap still hides that area. I haven't spilled any on top yet, but I figure it's a matter of time.

Even the old lacquer paint wasn't that weak against gasoline.

Is there any magic paint that doesn't get removed by gasoline/ethanol?

KG coatings - Gun Koat, impervious to any solvent, even brake fluid. Most paint that isn't heat cured takes a while to cure. some take months to fully cure. I have used a product called "lip seal" to seal the seam where paint meets bare metal at the filler. I believe is is a isophthalic epoxy, which is what the caswell tank liner is as well.

www.innate.com/Supplies/Lipseal/lipseal.htm

There are 2k clears which should be impervious to gasoline, as they are urethanes in a can. The paint comes in a special spray can w two chambers having an activator button on the bottom: after activation, the 2 parts mix & you have ~24 hrs to use it. I believe it can be sprayed over any cured paint but don't quote me on that. You'd probably need 2-3 cans for a motorcycle (?). I've never used it, but I believe a couple of KZRiders have.

SprayMax 2K clear coat - ~$25 per 13.5 oz can
Eastwood carries the SprayMax & lists the size as 11.8 oz (?).
The SprayMax site says it's 400 ml (13.5 oz).

AlsaCorp Killer Cans Speed Clear - ~$40 per 13.5 oz can
Supposedly available at Advanced Auto Parts

ok, thanks guys.

I hope this thrad stays searchable for when I get the next tank painted.

Spilled some gas on my recently refinished 2K cleared 85 GS750EF's tank,did absolutely nothing to it.

Martin nailed it, it has to be a catalzyed paint/clear in order to be solvent/gasoline resistant. Oxidizing type paints that simply react with the surround air to set (like most spray paints) can be removed with gasoline and other solvents as it is the solvent that the pigment is suspended in to lay it out. It cures when the solvents evaporate off, leaving the pigment.

Lay a catalyzing clear like the 2K stuff and you will be good.

FWIW,
Cory

These guys are right - car paint, covered by Spraymax 2k is tough. And when you go to the paint store, just tell them that it's going to be clear-coated, and they'll put your color into a base coat that is made to go with the top coat.

What about matte finish paint? I'm having this issue with a matte paint, the gasoline ate right threw to the metal.

Original factory paint holds up, all others? Well it's not really a ?, it's more a how bad it is, some are bad, some badder, some badass terrible.
Good thing about matte paint is it looks bad from day one, so day 2 though 20,000 what gas hits it really is of little consequence.

The factory painted tank I have also has a visible mark from a gas spill. I don't think it's the gasoline as much as it is the alcohol.

As said above, i used the spray max 2k paint bought from ebay and have spilled 91 octane on it many times with no effect.
be careful when painting though the hardener in it is no joke!
1 can cave me about 4 clear coats (i rushed it a little due to the fact that the can is only good for so long)
looks professional!
good luck !

May I ask a question somewhat on subject.

I painted my cases, cylinder and head with Dupli-color high temp engine enamel.

It still looks fantastic on the cases but after about 15 months, the cylinder and head lost its sheen or gloss and seemed chalky and tired.

I want to repaint the head to resemble the other components, requiring another Dupli-color coating.

I wondered if applying a clear coat to the base coat would help to retain the sheen or gloss over time?

Dupli-color has a clear in the high heat paint line that is recommended for the base paint.

What is the thoughts of the forum with this method or others.

Thanks