In fact, compared to the volume parameter, the material of the fuel tank is more important.
Someone might say that the fuel tank is just a container, as long as it doesn't leak, the material isn't very important, which isn't true.
Iron reservoir
Iron tanks have been used on trucks for a very long time, ever since trucks were invented. Their biggest advantage is that they are cheap.
Secondly, the resistance of the iron tank is high enough to withstand very strong impacts and does not break easily.
This is very important for trucks that have been driving on the road for a long time and are constantly facing the threat of accidents.
The inside of the fuel tank was rusty.
With their high quality and low price, iron fuel tanks have been widely used in various trucks for decades, even centuries.
To this day, many trucks continue to use iron tanks. But in addition to the advantages mentioned above, iron fuel tanks have a more serious drawback: their corrosion resistance is very poor, making them prone to rust and fuel contamination.
Plastic fuel tank
The plastic fuel tank, also called a composite fuel tank, has the advantage of being clean and will never contaminate the fuel, so it is perfectly suited for vehicles equipped with electronically controlled engines.
In recent years, Faw trucks installed plastic fuel tanks on a large scale, but after a brief period of popularity, it was virtually abandoned, and now only a portion of light trucks continue to use plastic fuel tanks.
The plastic fuel tank cannot be set on fire
Firstly, the driving environment has a varied geographical climate, hot in summer and cold in winter. The plastic fuel tank is not well suited to the diversity of this environment.
For example, in extremely cold temperatures, a plastic fuel tank will become brittle to some extent, and is prone to rupture and leaks. Furthermore, a plastic fuel tank cannot be set on fire to thaw the fuel in an emergency.
Aluminum alloy fuel tank
Speaking of aluminum alloy fuel tanks, I think many people have heard the salesperson present this when they are buying a vehicle:
«"Our truck is lightweight and equipped with a fuel tank made of aluminum alloy with a certain capacity." As a sales pitch, is the fuel tank made of aluminum alloy to reduce weight? Actually, that's not all.
The biggest advantage of the aluminum fuel tank over the iron fuel tank is its good corrosion resistance, which is ideal for high-pressure common rail engines with high fuel cleanliness requirements.
Secondly, the manufacturing process of the aluminum alloy fuel tank is relatively simple, and it can be welded after being pressed with an aluminum plate, which is much simpler than manufacturing a plastic fuel tank.
Finally, the aluminum alloy itself exhibits excellent ductility. When subjected to external impact, the aluminum alloy fuel tank does not easily break or leak, even if severely deformed.
With these advantages, the aluminum alloy fuel tank has essentially replaced the iron fuel tank and the plastic fuel tank as the most ideal fuel storage device.
