Factory fuel tanks coated or bare steel on the inside?
 

I searched the forums and the web but can't come up with a specific answer short of dropping the tank on my 1985. Was the inside of our gas tanks lined/coated or we're they just bare steel from the factory?

bare when i looked at mine.

Just bare steel.

Theres probably many factors for bare metal, one being there probably wasn't a product that would coat the inside of the tank and actually hold up to gas

Other reason is there wasn't ethenol in our gas back in the day, and that is the BIGGEST reason for goo and destruction

And manufacturers probably don't factor in a car sitting for years on end, because its usually out've warranty and no longer their care or concern

Excellent, thank you for the responses everyone. Knowing that the inside of the tank was bare steel from the factory helps me made a decision on cleaning my tank out(20 years of varnished gas from PO)

Both of my 1985 fuel tanks are perfectly clean inside after 32 years. Our climate and fuel composition must help greatly. I always thought Australia got shitty petrol but perhaps it's not so bad. Mine has been run on regular unleaded (91 octane, equivalent to US 87 octane) its entire life. Regular 91 unleaded is available at all petrol stations and doesn't have any ethanol, which I imagine is much better for old fuel systems.

NB what you call gas, we call petrol. Gas for a fuel for us means actual gas, eg propane, LPG, NG.

Kypreo, I've had a similar experience as you, except for this 1985 I just picked up. I've never seen gas go THIS bad.

My 1925 Essex Six(which you might appreciate even more, being from Australia) was sitting for 40 years before I brought her back to life, and the gas only smelled slightly like paint thinner.

In my 1985, I drained the tank, refilled with fuel but nothing would flow. After putting a vacuum pump with CLEAR hose on the lines this is what came out....thick and sticky like molasses and gritty like a fine sand. I suspect something other than foul gas is at play here.....

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...4d31fbbf16.jpg

POR15.com makes a great cleaner/sealer fuel tank kit....

Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska->Arizona