Best way to remove rust preventative coating?

My new Spectra gas tank came with a rust preventative coating. It's not waxy like cosmoline, more oily like LPS3. Whats the best way to remove this stuff without causing problems to the gas tank? For instance, if I use acetone, should I worry about the gas tank rusting after? Or are these Sepctra tanks made well and should be OK (galvanized, etc).

Do people paint their tanks after removing this coating?