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Steel Fuel Tanks

OEM steel fuel tank by Spectra Premium

Automaker suppliers need to have a robust product development process to address increasingly complex product demands and stringent emission requirements.

As a Tier 1 supplier, Spectra Premium applies advanced product and process innovation from concept through manufacturing. We provide solutions to address new challenges and improve product performance.

In the last 30 years, Spectra Premium has established itself as a world-class steel fuel tank manufacturer.
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Steel Advantages

Component Placement
Valves and other components can be located inside the tank, where they are protected from impact and environmental influences. Internalized components do not affect the overall evaporative emissions performance of the tank.
Slosh Noise
As vehicles become quieter, fuel slosh noise has become a key issue, especially in hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles. Slosh baffling, optimized for both size and location, can be easily incorporated.
Bio-Diesel
Bio-diesel fuel tanks use pre-painted steel today.
Tank Swell / Sag
Steel is dimensionally stable in automotive fuels, and will not swell or grow due to exposure. Likewise, steel tanks will not sag when exposed to fuel and elevated temperatures for extended durations.
Geometry
The thin wall of a steel tank frees up a greater usable volume in a given packaging space. For instance, the usable volume of a 21-gallon single chamber SUV steel tank would be 8% greater than an equivalent plastic tank.
Clearances
Steel dimensional variation is small and repeatable, which allows for reduced clearances to the surrounding vehicle environment. Internalized valves reduce the clearance between the tank shell and the underbody, thereby potentially increasing tank volume.
A tank assembly requires a tolerance of +/- 3mm (profile of 6mm).
Tolerances
The tighter form tolerances of a steel tank increases the available volume within the vehicle architecture.
The use of steel allows a form tolerance of 6mm versus 8mm for plastic.
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Features & Benefits

Efficient Package Space Utilization

The formability and strength of steel, including stainless, make it suitable for all fuel tank applications.

OEM steel fuel tank using package space effectively by Spectra Premium

Unparalleled Durability

Flexible material options allow steel to meet the demands of the most challenging applications.

OEM steel fuel tank with unparalleled durability by Spectra Premium

Superior Heat Resistance

Heat resistance is an important factor in designing fuel tanks. Steel is unaffected by extreme underbody temperatures; therefore, heat shielding is typically not required to protect the material itself.

OEM steel fuel tank and fuel tank straps with superior heat resistance by Spectra Premium

Environmental Sustainability

At the end of the vehicle’s life, the steel tank shell is 100% recovered and recycled for use in future steel products / production. A functional infrastructure to recycle steel fuel tanks already exists on a global scale.

Recyclable OEM steel fuel tank with fuel tank straps by Spectra Premium

Optimal High Pressure Functionality

Steel material properties are well known and independent of temperature. Fatigue life and deflection for Hybrid vehicle applications can be precisely controlled using Spectra Premium`s CAE (Computer-Aided Engineering) based design and mass optimisation.

OEM steel fuel tank with high pressure capacity by Spectra Premium

Extended Range Electric Vehicle (PHEV)

Thanks to technical benefits such as strength, steel is the preferred material for pressurized fuel tanks. Through various advanced engineering techniques, steel fuel tanks are designed to meet durability requirements.

PHEV OEM steel fuel tank by Spectra Premium