RED-KOTE ® FUEL TANK LINER 

Description RED-KOTE ® FUEL TANK LINER
Author Matthew Date Wed Sep 27, 2006 4:01 pm Type Type 1
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RED-KOTE ® FUEL TANK LINER
STAYS FLEXIBLE - Will never crack or peel off.
ALCOHOL - GASOLINE RESISTANT
BRIGHT COLOR - You can see the results.
COVERS RUST - Seals old rust in and prevents future rusting.
SEALS LEAKS - Gets the multitude of pin-holes you can't find.

Red-Kote ® is a new polymer coating developed by Damon Chemical. Red-Kote ® is resistant to gasoline, diesel fuel, alcohol and other fuel additives. Its major use is to seal leaking fuel tanks.

Solvents such as methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), acetone, methylene chloride and propylene oxide (POP) will completely dissolve the polymer. Other industrial solvents may affect the coating but, not completely dissolve it.

Red-Kote ® is easy to use if the directions are followed closely. It seals the multitude of small leaks that often form where the straps wrap around the tank. You fix the obvious leaks and Red-Kote ® seals the rest.

Contrary to what some people will tell you, rust does form inside gas tanks. The cause is condensation and water in gas. Red-Kote ® seals rust under the coating so it cannot flake off to plug fuel-line filters or cause engine damage. Further rusting is reduced also.

Red-Kote ® also offers the advantage of not interfering with the reinstallation of the tank. External coating, especially fiberglass, are some-times too thick to allow reinstallation with the original straps and bolts.

Some of the specific advantages of Red-Kote ® are as follows:

1. The coating is very flexible and does not crack as do some of the others. This gives
the repair a much longer life. Tanks coated in 1984 are still doing well.

2. The polymer was specifically chosen be-cause of its tight adhering qualities. In comparison to some other coatings, Red-Kote ®
does not peel off even when the metal is bent. This protects against loosening of the coating by vibration or denting of the tank.

3. Red-Kote ® is resistant to methanol. In fuels with a high percentage of methanol the coating is bleached, but remains tightly bonded to the metal. In 1985 the federal government allowed 5% methanol in fuel. Standard Oil's ice-guard is 0.5% methanol.
The cheap gas tank anti-freezes are methanol. (The good ones are isopropanol.) Some gas tank liners are dissolved by methanol
into sticky lumps and strings that plug the fuel line. This will not happen with Red-Kote® .

4. Red-Kote ® dries faster than many other sealers saving you time. You can reduce time further by thinning with Methyl Ethyl
Ketone and using two thin coats instead of one thick coat.

5. Red-Kote ® levels very well. You will not get a wide variation in thickness as with some other coatings.

6. Red-Kote ® is thicker and usually requires only one coat as opposed to two coats for many other coatings. Holes up to 1/32nd
may be coated and sealed safely. Rust is sealed in so that it cannot flake off.

7. The bright red color is easily visible to you and the customer. You can be sure you didn't miss a spot and the customer can see
you did something. Some coatings are al-most invisible. The new dye does not leach into gasoline (turning it pink) when the vehicle
is not used for long periods of time.

Packaging: Red-Kote ® is available in one quart metal cans packed 9 per case or in one gallon metal cans packed 1 per case. It is backed by our guarantee and our over 53 years of service to the radiator industry.

Directions:
1. Empty all fuel from tank.

2. Remove sending unit, float, feed lines, filters, anything that could be clogged by the coating.

3. Remove any loose rust by tapping on the tank with a rubber mallet or by tumbling with a piece of chain in the tank. Flush out debris.

4. Clean tank by steaming for about 15 minutes. Boil-out is not recommended because the high alkalinity removes the tin from the terne plate. A standard water soluble degreasing chemical works well.

5. Any leaks larger than 1/32nd of an inch should be repaired by soldering or your usual method.

6. Make sure that the tank is completely dry before continuing. This is very important. Without a blower, drying may take up to 12 hours. The use of a blower to circulate air through the tank will cut the time to an hour or so. The fastest method is to drain the tank for 5 minutes and then pour 1 pint of Methyl Ethyl Ketone into the tank, slosh thoroughly and pour out. Repeat with a second pint of M.E.K. and you are ready to use Red-Kote ® immediately. Do not re-use the first pint of M.E.K., instead let it evaporate safely away from flames or sparks. The second pint of M.E.K. may be used as the first pint on the next job. One quart of M.E.K. will only absorb up to 3 ounces of water. This is why it should not be reused.

7. Cover all open holes in the tank by plugging or covering with tape, except the one to be used for pour-ing in the coating.

8. Pour one to two quarts of Red-Kote ® into the tank and cover the last opening. You can get by with one quart on tanks of about 12 gallons or less. We recommend two quarts for larger tanks to make sure you get the coating to flow behind all the baffles.

9. Tip the tank onto each side and slosh the coating around to completely cover the inside. Use a rock-ing motion rather than shaking. It is important to do a thorough job or you may miss parts of the tank behind baffles.

10. Drain out the excess coating and cover tightly to save for reuse. The best method is to stand the tank up with a corner drain hole over a can to collect the excess as it drips out. It is very important that you do not leave puddles in the tank.

11. Open all tank openings to allow the best air flow. Air dry for 8 to 24 hours. When cured there will be al-most no solvent smell left in the tank. If the coating is not completely cured before fuel is added the curing process will be stopped. Do not use open flame or an electric element for drying or an explosion may result. Do not blow air into the tank until at least 60 minutes of drying time have passed. Using
air sooner may cause bubbles may form in the coating.

12. If the leaks or rust are severe it is a good idea to use a second coat after the first coat dries completely.

13. Reassemble and install the tank on the vehicle.

14. For clean-up use methyl ethyl ketone, acetone or a quality lacquer thinner with no alcohol in it.

Tips & Hints:
Do not leave the can open to the air as it will thicken or form a skin on top.

When Red-Kote ® is reused after pouring it back out of a gas tank it may need thinning before reuse. Red-Kote ® may be thinned with M.E.K. or Acetone.

Do not use lacquer thinner to dilute Red-Kote.

For removing water from the tank prior to coating you may use acetone. Acetone absorbs much more water than M.E.K. and is less expensive. We do not sell acetone.

Most shops are punching a hole in a corner of the tank to aid in draining it completely. Then they solder in a drain cock. Do not solder or weld on the tank after it has been coated. The coating will turn to ash if heated above 250°F.

Some of our customers have reported a way to speed up the process significantly. They are thinning Red-Kote ® about 20 - 25% with M.E.K. (1 part M.E.K. to 4 or 5 parts Red-Kote ® ). This allows the Red-Kote ® to dry in only a couple of hours in many cases. They also report that using air to dry the inside does not cause the bubbles that form when straight Red-Kote ® is dried with air. You will get a much thinner coating.

We are told that two of these thin coats still take less time to dry than one thick coat.

Red-Kote ® does not stick well to plastic tanks or to plastic parts inside a gas tank.

Do not coat over other coatings. Remove old coatings completely first, using M.E.K. or other solvent. Call us if you have a problem.

Do Not Use in Dry Sump Oil Tanks, oil temps can easily exceed the 250* max temp of this product and cause serious damage to oiling system and or engine causing engine failure.

Will not stick to Plastic Cells

The two most common problems we see are:
1) Not completely drying the tank of water before coating. Red-Kote ® will not stick to wet metal. When it dries it will peel off in sheets.

2) Not allowing the Red-Kote ® to dry completely. If Red-Kote ® is not completely dry or has puddles left it will form strings or flecks in the gas. These may get past the fuel filter and plug carburetors or injectors.
Puddles of Red-Kote ® left behind baffles or in corners may never dry completely. This is because a skin forms over the puddles and prevents drying underneath. Once the skin ruptures the Red-Kote ® forms strings in the gas.

Damon Industries guarantees the product only, not your application of it. After application to over 50,000 cars we have seen 7 problems. All were application errors as described above. We have never seen failure due to ageing. Both of these conditions are prevented easily by proper drying. All problems are correctable by stripping out the Red-Kote ® with M.E.K. and recoating.

We recommend that you tell your customers not to use fuel additives containing methanol or methyl alcohol.
We have had instances of methanol pulling the red dye out of Red-Kote ® which turns the gas red. This has not caused any damage to our knowledge. Usually only "cheap" additives contain methanol. Good products contain isopropanol or other solvents. Most engine warranties
are voided by the use of methanol anyway.

Do not rush the job. In many cases it will take more than one day to do a job worthy of your time and guarantee.
Red-Kote.pub - 3/14/04




MSDS Sheet
DMN0142 Red-Kote Page 1 of 2 9/22/05
Material Safety Data Sheet Number: DMN0142
Product Name: Red-Kote ®
A liquid fuel tank liner. Revised: 9/22/05
Damon Industries, Inc. 24 hour Emergency Only phone: 1-800-535-5053
Box 2120 Information phone: 1-800-362-9850 or 330-821-5310
Alliance, OH 44601 fax: 330-821-6355
Section 2 - Composition / Information on Hazardous Ingredients
Ingredient C.A.S. No. Percent (w/w) Carcinogen
2-Butanone 78-93-3 60 - 100% No
1,2 Butylene Oxide 106-88-7 1 - 5% No
Section 3 - Hazards Identification
Emergency Overview: Liquid is moderately irritating to the eyes and mildly irritating to the skin. Flammable concentrations of vapors in
air are possible, may travel considerable distance and may flash back to the container. Vapors are heavier than air, but the low vapor
pressure and evaporation rate make flammable mixtures in the air unlikely. It may be extinguished by CO2, dry chemical or foam. A clear,
dark red, viscous liquid with a solvent odor.
Health Hazards: Eye Irritant, Possible Skin Irritant Physical Hazards: Flammable
Primary Routes of Entry: X Through Skin X Inhalation X Ingestion
Potential Health Effects:
Eyes - liquid causes irritation, redness and blurred vision. Sticks to eyes, lids and lashes.
Skin - Prolonged or repeated contact may cause defatting and drying, which may result in skin irritation or dermatitis.
Swallowing - Moderately toxic. May obstruct airway. Can cause CNS depression.
Breathing - excessive breathing of vapors may cause nasal and respiratory irritation, dizziness, headache, and nausea. High concentrations may
cause CNS depression.
Section 4 - First Aid Measures
Eye Contact: Immediately flush eyes with water for at least 15 minutes, lifting upper and lower eyelids occasionally. Get medical
attention immediately.
Skin Contact: Wipe off wet material with a paper towel or rag. If dry, it will often peel or rub off. If not, use M.E.K., acetone or lacquer
thinner to remove it. Thoroughly wash the exposed area with soap and water. Wash the exposed skin with soap and water. Remove
contaminated clothing and shoes. Will not wash out of clothing. If irritation develops and persists, get medical attention.
Inhalation: If affected, move the affected person to fresh air. If irritation persists get medical attention. If breathing has stopped, give
artificial respiration and get medical attention immediately.
Ingestion: Get medical attention. If the product is swallowed, do NOT induce vomiting. Product may block the airway. Get medical
attention immediately.
Section 5 - Fire-Fighting Measures
Flash Point: 21° F. / -6° C. (ASTM D-56 closed cup) Auto ignition Temp.: 885°F / 474° C.
Lower Explosive Limit: 1.74% @ 200°F Upper Explosive Limit: 11.4% @ 200°F
Extinguishing Media: Water, carbon dioxide, dry chemical, alcohol foam.
Special Fire Fighting Procedures: None.
Unusual Fire And Explosion Hazards: None
Section 6 - Accidental Release Measures
Steps To Be Taken If Material Is Released Or Spilled: Eliminate all ignition sources and use a respirator if the spill is large. Dike to
prevent entry into drains, sewers, streams and other bodies of water. If wet, small spills may be wiped up. When the material is tacky it
may be shoveled or scraped up. Clean-up residue with a solvent such as MEK or acetone. Larger spills can be scooped into metal
containers for disposal or absorbed onto oil dry or vermiculite. Rags and absorbent material are very flammable until the solvent has
evaporated.
Section 7 - Handling and Storage
Do not use, pour, spill or store near heat, sparks, heating elements or open flame. Vapors could be ignited by pilot lights, other flames,
sparks, heaters, smoking, electric motors, static discharge, or other ignition sources at a considerable distance from the source.
When pouring or transferring, ground the container being poured from to the container or tank being poured into with a wire and alligator
clips.
Do not attempt to paint the inside of a large tank from the inside unless wearing a self-contained breathing apparatus to avoid being
overcome by fumes. Death could result.
Empty containers retain product residue. Observe all hazard precautions given in this data sheet.

Section 8 - Exposure Controls / Personal Protection
Ingredient C.A.S. No. Percent (w/w) TWA(source) STEL Ceiling
2-Butanone 78-93-3 60 - 100% 20 ppm(1,2,3,4) 300 ppm(2,3,4) -1,2
Butylene Oxide 106-88-7 1 - 5% No official limits established.
(1)=OSHA (2)=NIOSH (3)=ACGIH (4)=CANADA TWA=8 hr Time Weighted Average STEL=15 minute TWA Ceiling=Instantaneous
Ventilation: At least 10 air changes per hour for good general room ventilation are recommended. If the exposure limits of an ingredient
will be exceeded, provide sufficient mechanical (general and/or local exhaust) ventilation to maintain exposure below the limits.
Respiratory Protection: None expected when used as directed. If the exposure limits of an ingredient will be exceeded wear a NIOSH
approved respirator with an organic vapor cartridge or SCBA
Gloves: If the product will contact hands wear resistant gloves such as neoprene or Nitrile. Do not use disposable latex gloves. Nitrile
disposable gloves are good.
Eye Protection: If splashing is possible wear safety glasses with side shields or chemical goggles.
Other Protective Equipment: None.

Section 9 - Physical and Chemical Properties
Boiling Point: 175° F. Vapor Pressure: 70mm Hg
Specific Gravity: 0.8 Vapor Density: 2.5 (Air = 1)
Percent Volatiles: 75% Evaporation Rate: 1.5 (Butyl Alcohol = 1).
Solubility In Water: Negligible pH: Not Applicable
Appearance and Odor: A clear, red, viscous liquid with a solvent odor.

Section 10 - Stability and Reactivity
Incompatibility: Oxidizers. Hazardous Decomposition Products: CO2, CO, HCl

Section 11 - Toxicological Information
2-Butanone LD50 - 3.4 g/kg rat oral LC50 - 8,000ppm/8H rat
1,2 Butylene Oxide LD50 - 1-2 g/kg rat oral
Butylene oxide is not rated as a carcinogen by OSHS or NTP. IARC rates it in Group 2b, possibly carcinogenic, for the
reasons stated below.
Butylene oxide has been shown to produce benign and malignant tumors in rats but not in mice. These tumors occurred only
following high exposure levels. Butylene oxide is not believed to pose a carcinogenic risk to man. The small percentage of
butylene oxide in Red-Kote makes a high exposure level impossible.
In female rats exposed by inhalation to > 1000ppm 2-Butanone (5X TLV), minor embryotoxic/fetotoxic effects were observed.

Section 12 - Ecological Information
Do not dispose of in the environment.

Section 13 - Disposal Considerations
Waste Disposal Method: wet material may be poured on ground far away form all sources of ignition and allowed to evaporate and dry.
The dry plastic is non-hazardous and may be thrown in the trash. Avoid open burning of the plastic as it gives off dense black smoke. Wet
material should be properly incinerated or disposed of in an approved landfill. Comply with all state, local and federal regulations.

Section 14 - Transport Information
D.O.T. Hazard Class: Quarts or smaller (except by air) - Consumer Commodity ORM-D.
Gallons and quarts by air - PAINT, 3, UN 1263, P.G. II

Section 15 - Regulatory Information
The components of this product are on the TSCA inventory of chemical substances.
Section 313 Supplier Notification: This product contains the following toxic chemicals subject to the reporting requirements of Section
313 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 and CFR 372.
Chemical Name C.A.S. No. % (w/w) Lbs./Gallon
METHYL ETHYL KETONE 78-93-3 67% 4.9
1,2 BUTYLENE OXIDE 106-88-7 2.7% .184

Section 16 - Other Information
NFPA: H:1 F:2 I:0 HMIS ® III: H:1 F:3 P:0 These ratings estimates are to be used only with a fully
implemented training program in the workplace. NFPA
®
is a mark registered by the NFPA. HMIS
®
is a mark registered by the NPCA.
Replaces sheet dated 10/6/04. Changed D.O.T. Hazard Class to ORM-D.
The information accumulated herein is believed to be accurate but is not warranted to be. Recipients are advised to confirm in advance that the information is current, applicable, and suitable to their circumstances.


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