I had my tank go thru a dip at the local radiator company.  All the paint...mainly...is gone and the inside of the tank is clean again.  No more liner. Sitting in my garage its getting a little layer of rust on the outside.  I'd like to put something on it to put a stop to that.  Primer? Acid etching primer? Something rattle can would be easiest.

Do I put another liner in it?  I don't know if it has any holes in it yet.

Ideas?  
vic

Self etching primer from a spray can works quite well, I'd scour the outside to remove the flash rust and spray it asap. The inside has some pretty deep pitting, I'd line it just to be safe, and to prevent rust reoccurance.

Agree with HOE with a primer outside. For the inside, everyone has an opinion and I'm not a fan of liners, at all. Why not mix up a batch of premix for testing purposes, install a petcock and a cap, put your premix in and see if it leaks? Gas will find the tiniest of holes, and it's easy enough to dump back into your gas can should you find it's got some pinholes you can't see or seams that are compromised. Those I would have properly repaired by brazing and go forth with an unlined tank.

Please dont put liner in that beautiful tank

I filled my tank up 1/4 full with 2 stroke oil and shook it to coat the inside (while I work on finishing the outside of the tank etc).

The 2 stroke oil is "sticky" and protects the inside of the tank really well..

I would use an epoxy based primer as regular rattle can primer absorbes moisture. 

Curious as to why some of you wouldn't put a liner in the tank.  My tank doesn't have much rust, that I can see, but thought I'd line it just to be safe and keep any future rust from happening. 

Good point on the epoxy primer.

Regarding liners, all I can say is that be sure that the inside is really, really, REALY clean. I did  a 2-part epoxy liner that I mixed exactly per directions, and within 2 years it was lifting in sheets inside the tank. Very disappointing. I suspect it was because I did not get it clean enough, although I certainly thought I had done a good job at the time. I think it is like getting a good result on a paint job. The 3 most important things to get right are preparation, preparation, & preparation. Something like acetone as a last rinse maybe. You get the idea.

Lining is a bad idea unless needed because they fail a lot and it's a nightmare when they do. Ethanol in the gas is especially hard on the liner. 

That said, I used POR15 on my MG1T tank because it had pinholes.  Sealed it well and has been holding for maybe 10 years now.  There are other sealers that people have had good success with...  and prep is definitely important...  I followed the POR15 directions exactly and used their prep solutions and rinses. 

 

Thanks for the advice on the liners.