Corrosion on inside of Fuel Cap! HELP!!!

[DarkOwlFAU]

I dont know if any of you have experienced "corrosion" on the inside of the fuel cap before. I have never seen anything like it in my life, but recently discovered it when the fuel cap would not open at a gas station (actually bent my key before I was able to shimmy it open).

Not to get too long winded, but there is a white powdery substance on the INSIDE of the gas cap, which covers the locking mechanism and the surrounding area.

I can post pics if need-be - HELP!!!

[mreedohio]

if your that worried you can always replace your cap for like $45 with a new key included or there are keyless options

[beachflyer]

it could be rust or maybe someone put something if your tank but since they lock i doubt that. Sometimes Gas Stations have a leak in their underground gas tank and sand could get into the gas. Most likely its rust from the tank sitting and not being full of gas for an extended period of time. I just took my tank off and removed all the rust in it with some stuff from the local auto supplies shop. Worked like a charm! I also replaced the fuel filter.

[loudnlow7484]

I think a picture is in order! It's not too hard to take the cap off and clean it up, though.

[Kreylyn]

I dont know if any of you have experienced "corrosion" on the inside of the fuel cap before. I have never seen anything like it in my life, but recently discovered it when the fuel cap would not open at a gas station (actually bent my key before I was able to shimmy it open).

Not to get too long winded, but there is a white powdery substance on the INSIDE of the gas cap, which covers the locking mechanism and the surrounding area.

I can post pics if need-be - HELP!!!

Well, it's not rust... as rust is brown/red in color and ussually found on iron based metals...

It is aluminum oxidization. It is what happens to aluminum when bare and exposed to water/moisture. I have seen this happen before, and I have fixed it before as well. It is an easy fix.

Remove the gas cap. Disasemble it entirely, removing all of the lock pieces.

Polish everything with a buffing wheel. It doesn't need to be mirror finish, your just buffing off the oxidization, and impregnating the porous aluminim with polish as well as smearing the surface to close off the pores so that there is much less surface area exposed.

I'm talking like 5 mins tops for all parts with a buffing wheel... it's quick and easy really. Mothers aluminum polish works great if you don't have full on buffing wheel and polish.

Once you have it all polished up (and the oxidization removed) reasemble, and your good to go for a while longer.

BTW... you should check your tank though... because if you have enough water/moisture in there to cause the cap to oxidize, there is probably enough to rust the tank as well.

Krey

[DarkOwlFAU]

Krey -- thanks for the tip! Im gonna try that ASAP...wish me luck!

[Astro4x4]

Wire wheel works good too, then a coating of oil to keep it from corroding again.

[ThAzKat]

[Kreylyn]

Wire wheel works good too, then a coating of oil to keep it from corroding again.

I thought so too, cleaning the wife's off with a wire brush and oiling it... and 1-2 weeks later it was right back the same or worse. Buffing it was about the only thing that worked for me. Others results may vary I guess.

Krey

[justinboyce]

I have had that happen with an old dirtbike before, I just drenched it in wd40, wire brushed the corrosion off, then dried it really well.

[nealy212]

if you had a soda blaster that would probably work huh?

[Kreylyn]

if you had a soda blaster that would probably work huh?

For removal yeah... take it right off. But it will just come back unless you do something to protect it.

I think the issue I had with brushing it off and then oiling it, was that the gas sloshed around enough to wash off the oil. Then it just oxidized again.

When I buffed it, the gas didn't wash away what I had done to help protect/prevent it. That isn't permanent, it will come back unless you coat it with something, but polishing it helps to close off the pores of the aluminum and greatly reduces the surface area that would be exposed. So it lasts for a much much longer time.

Krey

[kiba]

I'm not the OP but...

[ATTACH]15329[/ATTACH]

/kiba

[ThAzKat]

Oh yuke and with rust in the tank! Not good for you

[kiba]

Ya, I have a thing of tank sealer and I'm taking everything apart now...

/kiba