Aluminum Fuel Tank - How to Protect?

[Hot Air]

I have a new aluminum fuel tank headed my way. Should I get it anodized inside to protect it from E85? Is there a better coating?
Conrad
Hot Air

 

[GNVYUS 1]

Aluminum has been attributed to creating a white, milky substance once in contact with E85 over a while. I've seen photos on the BB boards and couldn't believe how nasty this stuff was.

I'd anodize the inside of the tank, but I'm a bit of an alarmist when it comes to E85 and fuel systems.

 

[1outlaw]

I suppose there could be certain aluminum alloys that could be affected but my oldest retail fuel pumps are 6 years old and the un-annodized filter bases look like brand new on the inside when we change filters even though well over 2 million gallons have gone thru each one. Fuel tankers that haul e98 are all aluminum around here. None of the carb guys I know of that run aluminum cells have coated theirs- nor had an issue so far. With FI though one may want to be extra cautious due to the injector downstream- not good to get dissolved metal in them should it occur. If you are going to annodize- can you get it hard annodized- that would seem the best.

The whitish color GNVYUS is referring to may be due to open vented fuel cells and even carbs where air meets fuel- over a long time this could cause moisture accumulation. one could especially see this where a guy has his own still and runs hydrous (HE100) or in Brazil. Keep fuel cells full or empty in the off-season and seal them off when they are going to sit a while.