Propane Tank Rust

[bandirector]

So I seem to have more then my share of rust/corrosion forming on my propane tank. What is the industry standard on when there is too much?

[KIX]

Pitting of the steel is cause for concern. For an example........pitting the size of grains of salt are likely ok if there are a few. Pits the size of grains of rice could be problematic.

My suggestion is to hand wire brush and hand sand the steel to get all the loose rust off. Then paint with a rust converting primer. Top coat with good enamel like Rustoleum. Apply with a brush not rattle can.

[HerbZilla]

Exactly what KIX said.

[dnystrom]

KIX is Spot on! Keep a good coat of paint on the tank. It's out in and on the road in the weather and elements that eats the steel. I don't think it's a danger but keep it maintained. Iv'e seen some tanks that are so rusted that I wonder how or who fills them. I would't worry about it but brush and paint like KIX say's.

[sirpurrcival]

Generally it would have to be extremely rusted to present any kind of real risk. Especially so with an ASME tank. Some of those have been in service for decades with little or no maintenance. Keep it clean for sure but unless there is something extraordinary going on.... After all, there is a reason that they don't require periodic inspection and considering they can survive fires, collisions, roll overs and all manner of crazy impact, it would have to be some incredible amount of corrosion to represent any serious risk.

[Ray,IN]

I agree, make sure after you re-paint the cylinder/tank all the numbers are still legible. If the tank has a metal data-plate instead of stamped into the steel, do not paint the data-plate.

[TDI-Minnie]

Yeah, rusting tanks is a good reason to opt for 20lbs tanks and just swap them at any station when empty. Once they go bad, the gas company should take them out of circulation.

[wa8yxm]

If you are worried,, Find a propane WHOLESALER, the kind of place that has big and I mean BIG tanks and trucks that deliver to the smaller "Gas Station" type dealers.

Ask them to look at it.

[twinboat]

TDI-Minnie,

Are you saying, rip out the chassis mounted tank.
Good chance the 20 lb ones might drag on the road, hanging under there.

Confused

[Ray,IN]

No, don't remove your ASME certified tank. Just scrape away rust and loose paint, sand smooth, prep for repainting with something like POR-15.

[sirpurrcival]

I agree with this. Just wire brush or sand off the rusty bits. Wipe it clean with a good solvent and coat with a good quality rust paint. The convention is white or silver but for a tank that isn't exposed to direct light, it really doesn't matter. As others have mentioned, make sure you keep numbers and labels legible.

[Triker56]

Even if you don't do anything to the tank. It will probably outlive you and the MH before it will rust through to make a leak.

[lavamanz]

I decided to wire brush mine & paint with Rustoleum rusty red primer then I used the Rustoleum "hammered" finish in silver. Here's the before, after primer & finished.

[twinboat]

Nice!, I'm inspired to do mine.

[Five2o]

Ospho is your friend...

Ospho Rust Treatment - Since 1947

[codgerbill]

I had a considerable amount of rust on the framework for the compartments. The rust was so bad that I had the metal between the front and rear wheels cut out and new metal fabricated to replace the stuff that was cut out. We used grinders to remove the rest of the rust and then did the por-15 rust treatment.
The first photo shows the rust the second shows the new fabricated metal and the third shows the completed result. This summer my project is to scrape and wire brush the rusty paint peeling propane tank and do the por-15 3 step treatment on the tank. You don't have to scrape to bare metal, just get the loose stuff off. I will finish with the silver por-15 paint. If you are going to do the por-15 treatment I would recommend that you buy the pint cans because if you don't use it all and then put the lid back on, you may never be able to get the lid off again. The pint cans go a long way too