Leaking Car Petrol Tank

[DerbyBorn]

My wife's car has a leak from the flange where the top and bottom halves of the tank are presumably welded together. I had thought I might find a cheap way of getting it reconditioned but have had no luck. Second-hand ones have also been considered. Are any gunks or gunges practical? We minimise the leak by running with only a small quantity of petrol in the tank - my biggest concern is that the system doesn't pressurise as it should and as a result the petrol pump is having to work harder.

[Grimly Curmudgeon]

You have to drop the tank and put Petseal or equivalent in it by running it around inside the seam, which will involve a bit of acrobatic work, but if it's just a seep from the seam Petseal will do the job.

[Bill Wright]

Check first that the tank isn't generally corroded.

Bill

[The Natural Philosopher]

after cleaning up the tank

[dennis]

That is good advice, I had one fall off just after i had filled up. It was being dragged along the road by the pipe work. The AA didn't worry too much when they towed me home after cutting the pipe.

[The Other Mike]

You could bodge it, but if it's a common car, find a replacement from a scrappers.

Alternatively buy Scotty some oxy-acetylene kit and tell him he is an expert on these things. Video it from a suitable distance. Make money from Youtube views, with the proceeds buy a new car.

[DerbyBorn]

The Other Mike wrote in news: [e-mail]:

The scrap yards are no longer cheap for things like this.Being quoted £90.

[Davey]

But who grabbed the full tank and took it home?

[newshound]

Are you sure this will resist petrol? If there is adequate access I would use PetroPatch

I've used the "paint + fabric" combination successfully in the past, but there's now an epoxy putty as well

[Jules Richardson]

BTDT, and some do... should say so on the label.

cheers

Jules

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Dunno where you live, but I had mine repaired by a local firm in Croydon.

Not quite sure what you mean. The fuel rail is pressurized between pump and regulator if petrol injection. The tank, not. Unless the fuel level is so low it is not covering the outlet - but then it wouldn't run.

[The Natural Philosopher]

yes.

If there is adequate access I

[Muddymike]

Tankslop is the answer. amazing stuff I have used it and it does what i...

Check out car restoration suppliers.

Mike

[Muddymike]

Can't find Tankslop at present but Frosts have this

seems to be the same. Forget the car body filler and go for this stuff. I have used it in a Land Rover tank which survived a hell of a lot of bouncing and banging around off road.

Mike

[Huge]

POR15 is awesome stuff. Don't get it on you ...

[tony sayer]

up" under them?..

Several gallons of petrol possibly leaking after a serious shunt?..

[The Natural Philosopher]

ive seen several cars after a shunt where the metal had given way but the car body filler hadn't...

[DerbyBorn]

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in news: [e-mail]:

When removing the filler cap it used to hiss air out. My own car also does this. I have experienced cars putting on a Engine Management Warning Light due to a loose filler cap. Wife's car has the Engine Management Light on all the time - possibly due to the tank problem.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Are you certain it didn't hiss air in?

The tank is sealed to prevent petrol fumes entering the atmosphere - part of emission control. But that's a different issue from the main pump.

[DerbyBorn]

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in news: [e-mail]:

I think there is a return from the high pressure side of the fuel pump.