Practical Travel Safety Issues - Motorcycle Gas tank as carryon

Can I get a brand new unpainted 4.5 gallon motorcycle gas tank (inside a small duffle) through the security check point? It's never had fuel in it.

Thanks for any help.

I would think so if it absolutely does not smell like fuel. It would certainly help if it was in some sort of original box. Otherwise I would be prepared to check it.

I would make sure it was clean of any type of rust preventive or other liquid. If a TSO smells WD-40 there is the possibility they will go into lock-down mode. Since all containers are potential IEDs to a TSO, I would allow plenty of time to go back and check it - and have the proper packing material. UPS/FedEx/USPS would probably be much less hassle just from the having to carry it standpoint.