So the next day I started thinking and concluded that one, the tank didn't have any extra protection (like a coating) and I had been using a Lucas additive supposedly to keep the fuel in tip top shape. I am betting that 1/3 of the Lucas brand conditioning product was ethanol (absorbs water but is corrosive) and that that contributed to the rust and corrosion in the tank. Ethanol is corrosive. Honda doesn't use a traditional filter here. It is more like a rectangle of brown felt. I dreaded taking the scooter to the shop and wanted to avoid that. Was the fuel pump damaged and could this also clog the fuel injector ? UGGH, The gasoline had turned brownish.
So what I did is look on E-Bay for a new matching gas tank and bought one parted out, at 100-200 miles, received it and asked my friendly independent cycle mechanic if he could coat the ''new'' one with coating or epoxy. Sure, he said. The tank was nice and clean, and they did that from time to time for other motorcycle riders.
But what about all the brown gasoline ? Well, I had bought one of those vacuum oil changers for cars. They withdraw oil or other fluids from engines, transmissions, and so on to simplify oil changes. What is nice about them is that the manufacturer supplies at least three different size translucent hoses. I can't turn the scooter upside down. I am in no mood to start disassembling it. There is NO simple replaceable fuel filter. So with the tank half filled I placed the same hose I use to perform oil withdrawal in different positions in the gas tank and pumped a vacuum. At first you see the hose almost filled up with trash and THEN you move the hose to different areas of the tank and all the while you see the trash moving. Eventually it cleans up.
I estimate that because of very recent repairs that my current belt is good for at least 8,000 more miles. I prefer to get 3 - 4 things repaired or replaced all at one time. So I don't want to go ''into'' the PCX this year. So what was the result ? I continue to add small amounts of fuel injector cleaner, but right now, it drives like brand new, reliably. Apparently I did not ruin the fuel injector or the fuel pump. Next year when the belt is worn out. I will turn it over to my mechanic and we will go through the whole thing, including replacing the tank with the new one that is coated, and new electric fuel pump and gas tank sending unit. (I'm hoping the dash gauges are good)
![Surprised :o](./images/smilies/icon_e_surprised.gif)