Fuel Tanks

[Herbie]

I think my car may be leaking petrol but not a great amount......I am completely ignorant regarding motor cars...can a leaky fuel tank be repaired or would I have to fork out for a new one? I have a good pal who is a car mechanic but he is on hols abroad at the moment so unavailable...anyone on here know about car stuff?
Thanks for any pointers you can pass on

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

The only times I've encountered fuel leaks it was the fuel pipe not the tank itself. I'd check this first.

The systems I've worked on have a metal pipe running from tank to engine with a flexible section for the connection at either end. My first suspicion would be that the flexible bit has either perished or isn't secured.

 

[TVC]

Are you in the AA or RAC? Get them to have a look

 

[Globalti]

Don't mess around with petrol, kids.....

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Don't mess around with petrol, kids.....

Spoilsport.

 

[BJH]

They can be welded, provided it's been removed and thoroughly cleaned first.

My guess though, is that these days most garages would not bother going there. I would suspect it's more likely to be a loose connection than the tank actually rotting away, unless of course the tank / car is really old.

But you should get it checked out. If you have ever seen how quickly a car goes up with a petrol fire, it would scare the bejesus out of you, not recommended if you care about you and any loved ones you carry in it.

 

[ComedyPilot]

Might just need a bit of welding....?

 

[Octet]

Costs a fortune if they've got to take it off and clean it out....happened to me when the petrol gauge sensor broke in my old merc a few years ago.

And that's when you take it to a backyard garage... you know, the ones with the dog barking away and the guy in dungarees!
All you need to do then is give him a match and in a couple of minutes it'll be all sorted!

 

[jazzkat]

If it's an old car the ethanol that they now put in the petrol may have perished the fuel pipe (it's happened on a car of mine)
You can weld tanks if it's a hole but if it's corroded it'll probably be goosed anyway. As an aside I know that guys welding motorbike tanks always used to play the torch into the filler cap (after thorough washing out) on the understanding that if it's going to go bang it's better to be expecting it rather than while you are hunched over it, apparently petrol tanks fly through the air rather well!

I bet it'll be a pipe, gasket, or connection somewhere.
Good luck!

 

[smokeysmoo]

They can be welded

Plastic ones can't

Might just need a bit of welding....?

What if it's plastic?

What car is it, that will help determine if it will be a metal or plastic tank. I haven't seen a car with a metal tank for a long time TBH.

Yes they can be welded, but they obviously need to be thoroughly cleaned out and vented first.

You might also have to make plenty phone calls to find someone who will attempt it, we used to repair metal diesel tanks, but we never touched petrol TBH.

A mate had a leaking plastic tank on a 2001 Suzuki. He attempted to repair it, (don't know what with), but it wasn't very successful and he ended up scrapping the car due to the cost of a new tank

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

[QUOTE 2719609, member: 9609"] If you do take a look underneath - put the ciggy out first.[/quote]
Funnily enough a guy down the road from me blew up his car a few years back because he forgot to do that while looking for a fuel leak. (He was okay, but the house had the scorch marks up the side for months afterwards )

 

[biggs682]

if metal not worth repairing

 

[surfdude]

get under the car with a box of matches . light one and your be able to see where the leak is

 

[Herbie]

Plastic ones can't


What if it's plastic?

What car is it, that will help determine if it will be a metal or plastic tank. I haven't seen a car with a metal tank for a long time TBH.

Yes they can be welded, but they obviously need to be thoroughly cleaned out and vented first.

You might also have to make plenty phone calls to find someone who will attempt it, we used to repair metal diesel tanks, but we never touched petrol TBH.

A mate had a leaking plastic tank on a 2001 Suzuki. He attempted to repair it, (don't know what with), but it wasn't very successful and he ended up scrapping the car due to the cost of a new tank

Hi my car is a Vauxhall Astra 1600 2005 model

 

[Herbie]

Are you in the AA or RAC? Get them to have a look

Cheers....i'm with the AA never crossed my mind to call them...I think i'll do that