Other Why do gas tanks turn yellow?

[deftons56]

If the fuel/oil is the cause, why is it the tank maintains its color under the tank straps and factory sticker. It seems to stay white under straps and the sticker.

hmm, maybe it blocks the micro pores and doesn't let it "breathe" there, so if you were to coat a new one with epoxy resin I wonder if it would stay white...

 

[icecoled007]

smoker?

No but my friend is.... his SXR tank is really yellow

could it be the plastic? I know the plastics they use on computers will yellow all by itself just due to age.

Humm... ya I have an old computer thats been sitting in my basement, out of the sun for many years. I just noticed the other day how super yellow it is.... It wasn't like that before. The monitor is sitting in a bag in a box and it is fine.

 

[jetpilot08]

No but my friend is.... his SXR tank is really yellow


I was referring to the gas tank being a smoker.


I know I know...... it was a lame piss poor shot at sarcasm.[FONT=arial, sans-serif].[/FONT]

 

[icecoled007]

Flame retardant in the plastic?

http://www.vintagecomputing.com/index.php/archives/189

scroll down to Nintendo's response

Awesome, thanks for the article. I read the whole thing. Looks like its caused by UV expose to stuff thats put into the plastics. Which explains the stickers/straps. Also explains why my SXR tank is white.... he always left the hood on.

I guess to keep my tanks as white as possible I should destroy the fluorescent bulbs that are hanging over my skis and keep them covered...

or:
"A useful way to prevent UV discoloration is to put a UV-resistant plastic coating on top of the base plastic. This adds to the cost, but it definitely solves the problem. "

I wonder if the newer superjets use better plastic in their tanks. It seems that older SN's are much worse, but that could be caused by more UV exposure.


Anyone with an 08+ SJ experiencing a yellowing tank?

 

[Quinc]

Anyone try any plastic cleaning methods on there tank?

 

[Vumad]

Definitely not ethanol, tanks were turning yellow long before ethanol.

Definitely not fuel penetrating through the plastic. It would be more discolored and sooner where fuel has spilled than other places.

Plastic oxidizes like anything else. Plenty of plastics get that white chalky coast to them.

I've never tried because I don't much care if the tank yellows, but you could try to clear coat the tank which would prevent oxidation. On thanks that are already yellow, you can put a strip of tape from top to bottom and paint the tank whatever you want to and remove the tank for visibility. The paint and or clear will likely peel within the yea however..