rust remover

Freebee

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I have an in tank petrol pump, its actually from a car but its covered in rust, have you got a favorite rust remover formula or product I am thinking I need to soak in something. After that I need to protect it to stop it happening again, so any tips, tricks or coatings to stop this??
 

rogerthebodger

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hydroelectric acd the only truly effective rust remove

as used in steel mills car factories and galvanizing plants

close second is phosphoric acid

third is grit basting

I have just had a mast step grit blasted to remove rust and paint ready for galvanizing
 
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Alfie168

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The phosphoric potions are becoming rarer and most over the counter potions are Citric acid based now . All I can say is give em a go, but I don't think they are as good as they once were and the hydroelectric acid is a new one on me too, but I'm no expert. I've recently (within the last two years) used Jenolite and Hammerite rust remover gel.
 

V1701

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I think I would either physically remove rust (carefully with wire brush or whatever) and clean it up as best you can, then just refit. Or possibly ultrasonic cleaning if you can find somewhere that'll do it. I don't think I'd coat it with anything, unless it's with something that's definitely not going to be affected by petrol, neither would I soak it in acid lest some component of the pump be damaged by it. I'd have thought as long as there's fuel in the tank it should not get worse...
 

KevinV

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I think I would either physically remove rust (carefully with wire brush or whatever) and clean it up as best you can, then just refit. Or possibly ultrasonic cleaning if you can find somewhere that'll do it. I don't think I'd coat it with anything, unless it's with something that's definitely not going to be affected by petrol, neither would I soak it in acid lest some component of the pump be damaged by it. I'd have thought as long as there's fuel in the tank it should not get worse...
This. What harm is a bit of surface rust once it's submerged in fuel?
 

Freebee

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well the harm is my car has an aluminium tank and where rust flakes landed in the tank bottom corrosion occured which ate through the tank floor
 

rogerthebodger

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Fertan? Phosphoric acid is easy to obtain.

Phosphoric acid is in fact a rust converter and the basis of most rust converters.

I use this after removing most rust with hydrochloric acid to remove most /all the rust before using Phosphoric acid to convert any remaining rust before painting to prevent further rusting
 

Lightwave395

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Fertan? Phosphoric acid is easy to obtain.
I bought 5 litres of phosphoric acid from a chemical supplier for not a lot more than a thimbleful of fertan or similar 'specialised' product. Still got most of it left as it worked well on my keel to the point I freely distributed fertan sized bottles of it around the boatyard as I seemed to have a lifetime supply...
 

rogerthebodger

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I bought 5 litres of phosphoric acid from a chemical supplier for not a lot more than a thimbleful of fertan or similar 'specialised' product. Still got most of it left as it worked well on my keel to the point I freely distributed fertan sized bottles of it around the boatyard as I seemed to have a lifetime supply...

I also buy phosphoric acid in 5 lit but I do have an all steel boat so any chips in the paint soon starts to rust
 

Skylark

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What size is the pump @Freebee


Fuel sender 1 of 2.jpgFuel sender 2 of 2.jpg

These pictures show a car petrol tank fuel sender after it had stood for 25 years. Replacements are no longer available and I thought it too delicate to use acid. I used paraffin and WD40 with tooth brushes, wet &dry and fine, non-ferrous wire brushes. Patience is definitely a virtue with such a project.
 

Freebee

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repaint it no because i don't know any paint that will stand up to modern petrol formulations? but I have thought about plating. the pump is from one of the tuned Metro range and in short supply and not cheap when you find them, the sender is also like the one above but I think I will just replace it
 
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