Leaking Petrol Tank

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Mon 22 Jul 2002 00:21
Leaking Petrol Tank - Vic
The petrol tank on my 1989F Nova Hatchback appears to be leaking at the top seam.
This is only noticeable when the tank is fully filled .

Is there anything that will repair it without taking the tank off the car or is the only answer a new tank?

Thanks

Vic
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Mon 22 Jul 2002 07:51
Leaking Petrol Tank - Adam Going (Tune-Up)
Vic,

Are you absolutely sure it is the tank itself that is leaking ? I think you will find that there is a breather hose from the top/front of the tank that goes up to the filler neck. This quite often perishes - no problem until the tank is filled right up. Hose is a different diameter at each end, so only available from Vauxhall dealer. Awkward to fit, but I don\'t recall having to drop the tank.

There are products that claim to seal tanks (PetroPatch ??)but some work as internal sealants, and I have never used any. New tank may cost less than you think, but that would be my recommendation if it really is the tank leaking.

Regards, Adam
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Mon 22 Jul 2002 09:03
Leaking Petrol Tank - John S
Vic

I\'m sure you don\'t need this warning, but if it is the tank leaking, make sure any repair tried does not involve heat. A used petrol tank is a bomb waiting to go off and weld repairing tanks or drums which have held fuel is a very specialised job. As they say \'Don\'t try this at home\'!

Regards

John S
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Mon 22 Jul 2002 09:41
Leaking Petrol Tank - Ian (Cape Town)
A used petrol tank is a bomb waiting to
go off and weld repairing tanks or drums which have held
fuel is a very specialised job. As they say \'Don\'t
try this at home\'!


A great favourite on the Darwin Awards, this one!

An ex-neighbour (ex, because I moved, not because he died!)
very nearly became an ex-ex-neighbour when cutting an old castrol oil drum lengthwise with an angle grinder, to make a barbeque...
He was almost through, when the heat from the cut, plus the sparks, caught up with the residue\'s flashpoint and *Boom!*
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Mon 22 Jul 2002 09:56
Leaking Petrol Tank - Mark (RLBS)
I used to make and repair aluminium petrol tanks for bikes taking part in competition.

When a used tank needed welding, the petrol was drained and the petrol taps removed; then the tank was lodged with the filler hole over the exhaust of a running car.

40 minutes or so of that and I would weld it - never had one blow up on me.
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Mon 22 Jul 2002 10:08
Leaking Petrol Tank - Dizzy {P}
I used to run the vacuum cleaner on \'blow\' through my motor scooter petrol tank for several hours before welding the cracks that repeatedly appeared in it. I wouldn\'t do it now, though, knowing that a bit of fuel trapped between the seams could be enough to take my head off!
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Mon 22 Jul 2002 10:11
Leaking Petrol Tank - jc
I had what I thought was a minor leak from the top;there were in fact,pinholes all over the top face.
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Mon 22 Jul 2002 12:23
Leaking Petrol Tank - M.M
Vic,

Worth checking as Adam mentions, then if it really is the seam a new tank is the only answer.

As a matter of interest I\'ve just repaired a leak on the tractor diesel tank with one of these tubes of \"tank-repair\" putty*. It seems to have worked OK.

The tank was in excellent order and only holed due to another component \"rubbing through\" a pin-hole in the metal just above the 3/4 full level.

I was able to sand to clean steel for a good key, clean well with petrol and dry off.

Now topped up to full with diesel, so far so good.


*Plastic Padding Leak-Fix.




David W
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