Plastic vs. Aluminium vs. Stainless vs. Steel

**Mulgo** · 27th December 2006, 08:00 AM

Still unsure what I want to use for my additional water and diesel tanks.

Standard diesel tanks are nowadays either made out of steel or plastic - so why would you use the more expensive stainless - is rust the only reason? Aluminium has about the same weight as plastic tanks - is aluminium an good alternative for diesel tanks or does that material not go well with diesel?
I understand that aluminum and plastic would need an additional protection plate to prevent damage.

Water tanks are normally made out of plastic. Is Aluminium an alternative to store drinking water or does aluminium contaminate the water on the long run? What about if you put silver based water purifier in the water - does this affect the aluminium?
My water tank will be mounted inside the vehicle, protected from stones/rocks.

Any views and comments are welcomed.

Cheers,
Daniel

**chazza** · 27th December 2006, 08:06 AM

Aluminium will make the water taste awful. Plastic tanks are available in a variety of sizes from caravan suppliers at reasonable prices; try a google.
cheers Chazza

**rangieman** · 27th December 2006, 09:15 AM

i will be going foodgrade stainless only cause i have a mate that makes stainless milk vats ,so supply is no probs for me and its food safe so that will do me

**abaddonxi** · 27th December 2006, 09:52 AM

Aluminium and stainless are both brittle.

Steel is heavy and rusts.

Plastic is light and cheap, almost impossible to puncture or break.

You can buy two plastic for the cost of one steel, and probably four plastic for the weight of one steel.

Cheers
Simon.

**Blknight.aus** · 27th December 2006, 12:27 PM

Id be going plastic for the water and depending where you wanted to put the tanks plastic or aluminium for the fuel... That said I happen to have made for me a stainless steel tank to go at the back of my not landrover cj-5(gotta admit it i loved the old girl) and the tank and the carrier was the only thing left of her after several DHA trips to various locs... you can get stainless that doesnt suffer the brittleness problem but its not cheap and I got it made custom in exchange for services rendered. or would have specified 3mm steel plate for the construction.

**Bigbjorn** · 27th December 2006, 04:02 PM

Stainless steel is tough, not brittle. Grey iron is brittle. Ask any machinist.

**numpty** · 27th December 2006, 04:22 PM

My water tank is made from galvanised sheet with baffles and soldered joints. Was made to fit rear footwell in Stage 1 now in Defender. Has been going strong for 18 yrs and no sign of giving up. Also have plastic tank in camper trailer mounted inside. Aluminium can be brittle and doesn't flex well. This of course depends on grade used and how and where it's mounted.

Rovernaut · 27th December 2006, 04:40 PM

Originally Posted by chazza

Aluminium will make the water taste awful. .........................................
cheers Chazza

Now I realise why I don't drink VB, it's the ally cans that make it taste foul

**100I** · 27th December 2006, 04:53 PM

Originally Posted by Rovernaut

Now I realise why I don't drink VB, it's the ally cans that make it taste foul

It's not the cans...

**Blknight.aus** · 27th December 2006, 11:10 PM

Originally Posted by Brian Hjelm

Stainless steel is tough, not brittle. Grey iron is brittle. Ask any machinist.

Depends on the grade and how you weld it, most stainless hardens with age and tends to crack around the welds(usually from flexing for whatever reason, brittle might not have been the right word to use.

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