hole in petrol tank...

trade name you used would be good...visbella ... pro seal...etc

How big is the hole?

In the distant past and on a very old car I once accidentally drilled a hole through the petrol tank. I managed to seal it with a self tapping screw covered in sealant. Similarly on the same car there was a pin-hole in the exhaust manifold. I managed to drill and tap that hole, screwed in a bolt and filed the head off the bolt.

Car body filler and one of these:

It worked for many years me when a scrote screwdrivered my tank. You could use a sealant specifically intended for petrol but in my case I didn't have any at hand.

You can't. Any MOT tester worth his salt will spot it. When my Mk 1 astra petrol tank started leaking from the seams it cost me £50 to have it lined with something at a company in Brighton, plus the cost of removal and replacement.

It is now about between quarter and half inchin diameter and I am draining the petrol...like you I would prefer a mechanical repair....I was thinking of forcing a washer though the hole on the end of a bolt and another on the outside with a nut perhaps with some sealant of some kind......???

That's better than my idea plenty of those .... gonna try THAT...thanks..the hole is big enough now

I'll get a good tank out of a scrappy before next march.....thanks for the warning

After a few months my repair looked integral to the tank. The filler became grey and looked like underseal. No tester noticed and I don't believe the rules have changed significantly since.

They are only concerned with leaks and holes. There are companies that carry out fuel tank repairs.

Can you please cite a section of the MOT test that would fail a repaired fuel tank? One that has no holes and no leaks.

Crossposted to uk.rec.cars.maintenance

yes but I think a newer better tank soon is a good idea I just don't like distress purchases and a new tank is £350 and I avoid garages like the virus...and I'm cheap......so it will give me time to locate a good second hand one....

depends how good the repair is I suppose.....

got a toggle just the right size when folded and a washer and some arldite.....just need to clean it up now....

In Australia where many roads were simply graded and not tarmacked petrol tank punctures were common and a dob of some softened soap was the outback solution.

there you go all done by the wife.....

thanks fredxx

Glad to be of help.

Petro Patch. Never needed to use the modern "putty" but the old fashioned "varnish" and fabric fixed many old British motor-bikes.

What cased the hole? Rust? Stone thrown up from the road? other?

A half-inch hole didn't appear overnight (assuming corrosion), so you must have smelt fumes for a while ?.

Salt, judging by the knackered state of that tank. He'll need a big bung for the MOT tester because its right next to the suspension which will be carefully looked at anyway.