What Causes Rust in Motorcycle Gas Tanks?

Indeed your motorbike gas tank is crucial for you; after all, it’s solely responsible for storing the gas which keeps your motorbike running, now the question arises, what causes rust in motorcycle gas tanks? 

When water and oxygen come into contact with the iron gas tank, they cause rust. Moisture and oxygen can enter the gas tank through small pockets around the gas socket, leading to rusting.

Let’s consider what it means and what you can do about it. 

While writing this post, I leave no stone unturned so you can know everything about some reasons behind rusting the motorcycle gas tank. 

Worried about that pesky rust in your motorcycle gas tank? 🚫🌧️ Don’t let it ruin your ride! Our motorbike insurance has got your back, protecting your precious two-wheeler from the corrosive clutches of rust. 🛡️💪 Say goodbye to fuel contamination, engine troubles, and performance woes – our comprehensive coverage ensures you’re always rolling with confidence and peace of mind! 🚀🌟 Don’t let rust take the wheel – get insured today and keep your motorbike rust-free and roaring on the road! 🛵💨 Rev up your ride with our unbeatable insurance plans now! 🏍️🔒

What Causes Rust in Motorcycle Gas Tanks? 

Your motorbike gas tank is probably the power-storing motorbike part you should always pay attention to. And that’s why the question arises, what causes rust in motorcycle gas tanks? 

Entering of water in the gas tanks along with the oxygen present in the atmosphere when it reacts with the iron tank causes gas tanks to rust. Because of the small pocket space around the gas socket, the water in the form of moisture and oxygen can enter the gas tank, causing rusting. 

And to prevent rusting, you would better restrict or block the entry of oxygen and moisture.

Why Does Most Gas Tank Rusting Occur in Winter? 

So far, you understand some reasons behind the rusting in the motorcycle gas tank. Now, why does most gas tank rusting occur in winter? 

Mostly the gas tank rusting only occurs in the winter because of riders’ mistakes in which they empty the motorbike gas tank, which leaves plenty of space for air to accumulate in the gas tank. Accumulation of air, when combined with moisture in the gas tank with gas from the atmosphere, causes rusting. 

And that’s why experts always recommend not emptying the motorbike gas tank and always filling the 90% gas tank with gas and remaining with the stabilizer. 

Can Filling the Gas Tank Protects From Rusting? 

Indeed, because of the rider’s mistake, their motorbike does suffer from rusting, now, can fill the gas tank protects it from rusting? 

Filling the gas tank while storing the motorbike in winter can decrease the risk of the gas tank rusting but doesn’t offer 100% protection. You can close all minute openings to the gas tank for maximum protection since moisture could degrade the stabilizer. 

The degradation of the stabilizer won’t be good for your motorbike gas tank, and either gas, you can pack or cover your motorbike with the poly cover to restrict moisture from entering.

Can Storing the Motorbike in the Garage Protect Gas Tank from Rusting? 

So far, you understand that filling the motorbike gas tank entirely can reduce the risk of the gas tank rusting. Now the question arises, can storing the motorbike in the garage protect the gas tank from rusting? 

Storing the motorbike in the garage can protect the motorbike from rusting as the garage reduces the entering of moisture around the motorbike or in the gas tank. However, it doesn’t have full protection against moisture, so it’s better to fill the gap stank with the gas and stabilizer mixture. 

No room or garage can be moisture free, so it’s better to fill the gas tank entirely with the mixture. 

Also, read my previous post where I’ve discussed where you should store the motorbike in winter to protect it from every possible conditions like rusting, CLICK HERE to read more.

Do Gas Tank Rusting Can Malfunction Engine? 

Indeed, storing the motorbike in the gas tank can protect the motorbike from rusting. Now the question arises, does gas tank rusting can malfunction the engine? 

Once the rusting occurs in the inner walls of the gas tank, it can be transported to the engine through fuel lines which can cause engine rusting. Because of rusting, the engine could be starved for fuel as rust could cause blocking in the way of gas. 

Overall, rusting could decrease the engine’s health if it reaches the engine, and thus it’s better to protect the gas tank from rusting. 

How to Clean Gas Tank Rusting? 

So far, you understand that gas tank rusting could decrease engine health by causing engine rusting. Now the question arises, how to clean a gas tank rusting? 

You can clean the gas tank rusting using mild acids such as vinegar or tank clear by combing agitators like screws and nuts. However, you’ll have to shake the tank until all the rust is removed from the gas tank. 

This technique is not 100% successful, but you can reduce the gas tank rust significantly and protect the engine from the attack of rust. 

Can Gas Tank Rusting Decrease Tank Health? 

Indeed you can clean the engine rusting with the help of mild acids; now the question arises, can gas tank rusting decrease tank health? 

Iron starts to lose its strength with the rusting, which applies to the gas tank, gas tank iron starts losing its strength to hold the high volume of gas, or worst, it starts leaking, making your motorbike extremely dangerous. 

It’s better to protect the gas tank from rusting as it causes numerous disadvantages with the engine and tank itself; overall, it can make your motorbike a piece of rusted iron. 

Is Little Rust in the Gas Tank ok? 

So far, you understand that rusting could decrease the tank’s health; now the question arises, is little rust in the gas tank ok? 

The presence of even little rust isn’t ok as rust can reach every motorbike part through the motorbike gas, making the motorbike a piece of junk, and that’s why it’s always better to protect the motorbike from the gas tank from rusting and remove even small traces of rust. 

As mentioned, you can use any mild acid with an agitator to remove even small traces of rust in the gas tank. 

How Does Winterization Protect Your Gas Tank Motorcycle? 

Indeed you need to winterize your motorbike if you don’t ride it too frequently in the winter. Now the question arises, how does winterization protect your gas tank motorcycle? 

Motorbike gas contains some amounts of ethanol, which absorbs the moisture from the surrounding in the winter, causing rust in the motorbike gas tank. And that’s why experts always recommend removing all traces of gasses containing ethanol to avoid further corrosion in the gas tank. 

Winterization protects your motorbike gaston from corrosion and your engine from any trace of ethanol from corrosion or rust. 

Should You Empty Your Motorbike Gas Tank in Winter?  

Indeed it would be good to use a motorbike antifreeze fluid that doesn’t contain any trace of water so that no ice crystal formation would be possible in the motorbike gas tank. Now, should you empty your motorbike gas tank in winter? 

Emptying the motorbike tank could be the only solution you’re seeing to avoid any ice crystal formation in your motorbike gas tank. But even after emptying the motorbike gas tank, you can’t be reassured that no ethanol trace is still there in your motorbike gas tank. 

Even a small trace of ethanol can cause ice crystal formation in the motorbike gas tank and gas pipes. It’s better to fill your motorbike gas tank with 90% fuel and the rest with antifreeze fluid. 

With this step, you can protect your motorbike gas tank from expandable ice crystal formations. 

Frequently Asked Questions:

Final Verdict: 

What causes rust in motorcycle gas tanks? Entering of water in the gas tanks along with the oxygen present in the atmosphere when it reacts with the iron tank causes gas tanks to rust. 

Because of the small pocket space around the gas socket, the water in the form of moisture and oxygen can enter the gas tank, causing rusting. I’ve also mentioned how you can clean even the smallest traces of rust in the gas tank.