9 replies to this topic

[peasoup39]

Finally finised a 2 year resto, got car running nicely on the road test and feeling smug. Went back in the garage later to be met with a strong stench of petrol and found the tank was leaking. Other than new what are my options? Can these be repaired?.

[Lplus]

Finally finised a 2 year resto, got car running nicely on the road test and feeling smug. Went back in the garage later to be met with a strong stench of petrol and found the tank was leaking. Other than new what are my options? Can these be repaired?.

Depends where the leak is and what caused it.  If it's rust in the bottom of the tank I suspect it won't be worth trying - though a single hole could be welded up or even patched over provided it's just one rust patch.  these tanks aren't that difficult to change and you'll almost certaily have to remove it to do any work on it.

Edited by Lplus, 28 September 2022 - 04:49 PM.

[peasoup39]

I have had it off a few times to sort out the level gauge so getting it off is the easybit. Bottom of the tank is perfect so i think the probem is the seam.

[sonscar]

There are well documented processes to be followed when welding tanks.This is for a reason.There are those who say wash it out and go for it,they could just be lucky.To misquote,"well,do you feel lucky?"Just saying,Steve..

[GraemeC]

There are various tank liner products available.  How successful they are is another thing entirely....

https://www.frost.co...st_type=product

[Midas Mk1]

I’ve had them leak out of the sender bolt holes in the past, and on Dads Midas the switch itself on the sender was leaking. I’d check where it’s leaking from before condemning the tank.

Have used the por15 tank sealer before, it’s ok… but not great.
Got a Minispares stainless tank on now.

[greenwheels]

Mud does tend to get onto the top (sic) of the tank and retain water which rusts the tank around the spout. Then when you fill up and corner fast it spills out.

[DeadSquare]

I had this problem with a poor seam in a new tank.  I fitted a tubeless valve into a hole in a petrol cap to lightly pressurised it and went round the seam with a paintbrush of dilute fairy liquid and found bubbles in the front and non filler end.

 

Wire brushing and solder cured the front one.  In the end I removed the gauge sensor and dried the tank with a hair dryer and poured an egg cup full of "so called red-lead" red TRACTOL paint in and stood the tank on end over night.

 

I had done this before to cure a pin hole in the bottom of a lawn mower tank.

[stuart bowes]

There are well documented processes to be followed when welding tanks.This is for a reason.There are those who say wash it out and go for it,they could just be lucky.To misquote,"well,do you feel lucky?"Just saying,Steve..

 

there are special suits you can get for that job I think I saw them wearing them on that film 'hurt locker'

 

Edited by stuart bowes, 28 September 2022 - 07:33 PM.

[Homersimpson]

I welded up a tank on my MK2 Jag, it was good in most places apart from around by the filler neck side where mud seems to get and sit.

 

The tank hadn't had anything in it for a while and I filled it with water while making sure that the filler neck and sender were out so that if it did explode (if there were any tiny air pockets anywhere) the pressure had somewhere to go.

 

It needed quite a bit of repair and a new filler pipe, once the patches were welded in I lead loaded them to make sure they wouldn't leak then went over it with some petrol resistant epoxy repair putty and it ended up like this.

 

 

Once I had done this I cleaned out the inside of the tank and used something called slosh to further seal it from the inside and also deal with the surface rust that was present in the tank.

 

 

 

Finally a coat of paint and it looks good, I haven't tested it yet though!

 

If you do try to repair the tank using any form of heat please be very very careful.