Pinhole in gas tank

[Trogdor636]

So I finally tracked down my elusive fuel smell. I pulled the protector off the bottom of the tank, and there was a area where whatever paint/coating they put on the gas tank was coming off. So a full grimy/oily/gassy dirty rag later, I can see gas slowly ooze out of this little stamp in the gas tank. There are more of these on the tank, so its not like its a dent, but its ever so slowly leaking. Now my question is, for a fix what are my options? I've read everything from marine epoxy to some JB Weld that resists gas. I'm not going to assume anything is permanant, but until I can get another good tank I need to seal it up somehow. Here is a pic of the little stamp with the leak, and another pic where you can see its stamped like that more than once.

 

 

[lint]

Mine leaked from exactly the same place last year. I thought that that was a spot weld for something inside the tank? At any rate, I used a "gas-tank repair" which is like a 2 part epoxy but in a solid putty-like stick. Take the stick, knead it up in your hands and apply the putty to the leaky spot. Like I said, that was over a year ago & I haven't had a problem with it since.

[Trogdor636]

Mine leaked from exactly the same place last year. I thought that that was a spot weld for something inside the tank? At any rate, I used a "gas-tank repair" which is like a 2 part epoxy but in a solid putty-like stick. Take the stick, knead it up in your hands and apply the putty to the leaky spot. Like I said, that was over a year ago & I haven't had a problem with it since.

 

I think you are right about it being a spot weld. My dad had some JB Weld Waterweld that said it was for fuel tank repair, and was gas resistant. Its the same thing you are talking about, its a 2 part epoxy stick. See how well that works, hopefully it works as well as yours. I'd love to get a tank out of my Pick N Pull, but I think they punch a hole in every tank to drain the fuel so none of them are going to do any good. I'm gonna try a standard they pull the part wrecking yard on Monday.

Edited November 27, 2011 by Trogdor636

[1994SEV6]

I think you are right about it being a spot weld. My dad had some JB Weld Waterweld that said it was for fuel tank repair, and was gas resistant. Its the same thing you are talking about, its a 2 part epoxy stick. See how well that works, hopefully it works as well as yours. I'd love to get a tank out of my Pick N Pull, but I think they punch a hole in every tank to drain the fuel so none of them are going to do any good. I'm gonna try a standard they pull the part wrecking yard on Monday.

 

AHHHH!!! THERE IT IS!!!! Thanks for finding it. That's been annoying/scaring me for months. So your other thread about the fuel pump/o-ring/gasket wasn't the problem?

Not to be lazy or anything, but it sounds like that JB Stik is the route to go. I think it's like $5 a tube at AAP. They have some pretty spiffy claims on the package.

Most junkyards do something with the gas tanks. Or they are "supposed" to. I've seen gas tanks with holes in them, cut wide open, and some just bent and dented out of shape in the junkyards.

 

So the gas drips out of that hole and collects in the rock guard? I guess in the summer it evaporates pretty fast, but in the winter wouldn't it drip down to the ground?

[nunya]

those epoxys are a bandage, they work (I've used them to by some time on a couple vehicles before, but never as a permanent fix) but keep an eye peeled for a replacement tank. A yard with people who actually have 1/4 of a brain would never poke a tank knowing they are an easily sell-able item (generally try to sell as a tank w/ float assembly & pump to get more $) though I would honestly save your pennies and go for a new one if possible unless your dealing with a reputable yard that will give you some kind of replacement guarantee (don't hold your breath but there ARE decent ones out there that will work with you) as you ARE getting a used one that may look purty but could hold fluids like a deep friers fry basket

 

 

 

 

And that's converters your thinking of, ain't allowed to sell them used to customers (which some shady yards still will and just write it up as 'exhaust pipe' so it ain't obvious on the receipt)

[Trogdor636]

AHHHH!!! THERE IT IS!!!! Thanks for finding it. That's been annoying/scaring me for months. So your other thread about the fuel pump/o-ring/gasket wasn't the problem?

Not to be lazy or anything, but it sounds like that JB Stik is the route to go. I think it's like $5 a tube at AAP. They have some pretty spiffy claims on the package.

Most junkyards do something with the gas tanks. Or they are "supposed" to. I've seen gas tanks with holes in them, cut wide open, and some just bent and dented out of shape in the junkyards.

 

So the gas drips out of that hole and collects in the rock guard? I guess in the summer it evaporates pretty fast, but in the winter wouldn't it drip down to the ground?

 

Whether my fuel pump O-ring was a leak or not, after looking at my friends and seeing how clean the top of his tank was I replaced the O-ring anyway. I already bought the part, and it was 5 bucks. It wasnt a fast enough leak to be a drip. It was seeping pretty slowly. Gas tends to evaporate pretty quickly, so combine that with a small leak and it was never going to be a puddle.

 

 

those epoxys are a bandage, they work (I've used them to by some time on a couple vehicles before, but never as a permanent fix) but keep an eye peeled for a replacement tank. A yard with people who actually have 1/4 of a brain would never poke a tank knowing they are an easily sell-able item (generally try to sell as a tank w/ float assembly & pump to get more $) though I would honestly save your pennies and go for a new one if possible unless your dealing with a reputable yard that will give you some kind of replacement guarantee (don't hold your breath but there ARE decent ones out there that will work with you) as you ARE getting a used one that may look purty but could hold fluids like a deep friers fry basket

 

 

 

 

And that's converters your thinking of, ain't allowed to sell them used to customers (which some shady yards still will and just write it up as 'exhaust pipe' so it ain't obvious on the receipt)

 

I agree its not a permanant fix. I dont know if the people at my Pick N Pull do it out of laziness, or if its a company wide thing, because even on the internet price sheet it states the gas tank may be punctured.

http://www.picknpull.com/part_pricing.aspx?LocationID=54&Language=English&NavItem=5&SearchCriteria=partpricing

 

They look like they just take a air chisel to it. My only issue with a new tank is they are all 15 gallon, I'd like to have a 21 gallon. We have a local LKQ yard thats pretty reputable, just obviously more spendy than a Pick n Pull. I'm gonna try them on Monday.

[Mr.510]

Another good 'temporary' fix for a fuel tank leak is to rub a bar of soap into the leak while it's wet with fuel. This is an old trail repair trick and works very well. I know of several tanks that have been sealed this way and have gone many years without issue. Another option rather than replacing the tank would be to use one of those liner kits like Kreem. They coat the interior of the tank with fuel proof resin. There would be very few vintage motorcycles still on the road if it weren't for Kreem! www.kreem.com

[Trogdor636]

Another good 'temporary' fix for a fuel tank leak is to rub a bar of soap into the leak while it's wet with fuel. This is an old trail repair trick and works very well. I know of several tanks that have been sealed this way and have gone many years without issue. Another option rather than replacing the tank would be to use one of those liner kits like Kreem. They coat the interior of the tank with fuel proof resin. There would be very few vintage motorcycles still on the road if it weren't for Kreem! www.kreem.com

 

Been involved in using a bar of soap a couple times, once in my minitruckin days, and once in a 510. I've actually read better things about Red Kote over Kreem, have you used Kreem?

[Alkorahil]

I would recommend this:

http://www.dual-star.com/index2/Service/QuikSteel%20Epoxy%20Putty.htm

 

Most auto parts stores have it (at least around here)

 

I have used it before on a plastic tank and it held for 3 years till I sold the car. So it lasted at least that long.

Its great stuff you can use on all sorts of things.......... mouldable, etc...like silly putty but heavier. You knead/wad it up to activate it and it hardens....very very hard and thick.