Land Rover Defender (1946 - ) - SWB Series 2A Petrol tank corrosion (front fill)

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Sun 6 Jan 2008 16:03
SWB Series 2A Petrol tank corrosion (front fill) - BobG
I need to replece the tank on my old petrol Land Rover as the inside is so full of rust and what looks like green slime that it keeps blocking the fuel filters and clogging up the carb. The outside of the tank is fine - the corrosion is on the inside. As the tank is steel is there any way of treating the inside to prevent this? I normally keep the tank almost full and only use good brands of fuel. The last tank only lasted five years and I intend to hang on to the vehicle.

Edited by Dynamic Dave on 06/01/2008 at 19:42

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Sun 6 Jan 2008 16:09
Petrol tank corrosion - Screwloose
Bob

That used to be caused by water getting in through the filler neck on some types.

What Series? What year? What body style? Side or rear tank?
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Sun 6 Jan 2008 17:23
Petrol tank corrosion - BobG
Should have said But it's a front fill SWB Series 2A originally built in 1966 but with amny replaced parts. Just wish they made modern style plastic tanks for them!
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Sun 6 Jan 2008 17:25
Petrol tank corrosion - Pugugly {P}
I was wondering about plastic tanks, Have you had a look on any specialist LR sites ?
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Sun 6 Jan 2008 18:31
Petrol tank corrosion - Screwloose
Bob

Find your water ingress point first. Cap seal; filler neck/hose; tank rusted through from outside; tank unit gasket etc.

If the water doesn't get in; then the tank won't rust or that green gunge form. [The gunge suggests it's road water flung off the tyre.]

Cheap pattern tanks like the Britpart ones won't last - the genuine ones are tinned inside. Even if they made plastic tanks; you've still got a water leak.
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Sun 6 Jan 2008 20:57
Petrol tank corrosion - BobG
Thanks for the advice. I've had a good look at the filler cap and neck etc and although I can't see a point of entry I think I'll replace the whole lot. The sender and pickup gaskets are fine. I'll also look for an OE part or a stainless one if I can find one.
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Sun 6 Jan 2008 17:09
Petrol tank corrosion - ChrisMo
Frost do a kit of stuff to do this, but once you get it all, it's close to the price of a new series tank.

tinyurl.com/2rb8b8

Chris
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Sun 6 Jan 2008 17:25
Petrol tank corrosion - BobG
See what you mean about the price - new steel tanks are about £50.
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Sun 6 Jan 2008 18:44
Petrol tank corrosion - mfarrow
There's references on here to using isopropyl alcohol as an emulsifier to "soak up" water and remove the droplets floating on the top of the petrol.

Maybe try adding 1/2 litre to each fill until you sort out the cause?
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