How To Repair A Hole In A Gas Tank

When you go a pinhole leak in your fuel tank, not simply are you literally pouring money onto the basis, but also creating a unsafe situation. Repairing a fuel tank can get hard, especially when the information technology is total of fuel. Not to worry, there is a temporary solution to your fuel drip problem: gas tank repair. While the real solution is to supersede the fuel tank, that is not always feasible in the short term. Emergency repairs are often critical so you can get to piece of work or perform other duties that require a auto.

Gas Tank Repair Options

Fixing pinhole leaks in a fuel tank requires a footling prep work and the correct products. JB Weld has been making epoxy repair products for more than xl years, and the reason you know the proper name is considering the stuff merely obviously works, just you need the correct type of epoxy. 2-part liquid epoxies practise non work very well for a gas tank repair when the tank is in the car and has fuel in it. While the gasoline does not suspension down the epoxy, it volition seep through it earlier it cures, leaving you back in the same situation. What yous need for a wet repair is JB Weld Autoweld or SteelStik epoxy putty stick.

JB Weld Steel Stik is easy to use, and because it is in a putty form, it is stable in your glovebox for emergency repairs too. — JB Weld Steel Stik is easy to utilise, and because it is in a putty grade, it is stable in your glovebox for emergency repairs too.

This clay-like epoxy is a two-part putty that you mix past kneading the two components together. The epoxy comes in a unmarried stick, the ii components are already measured out, yous simply cutting off still much you need, mash it together, and and so apply it to the function being repaired. The epoxy hardens after five minutes, and is fully cured in 1 hour.

Considering the epoxy is clay-similar consistency, fuel (or other liquids) tin can't seep through information technology or around it. Once cured, the epoxy can withstand 300-degrees and 900 psi of pressure, so information technology will exist perfect for your leaky gas tank. This is the fastest way to go on that expensive fuel in the tank and not on the asphalt.

Supplies

JB Weld also makes a gas tank repair kit, which consists of a tube of epoxy putty, fiberglass fabric, sandpaper, and an applicator. This repair is the same equally the SteelStik, but adds some additional strength with the fiberglass. This is best used in larger repairs or on a tank with multiple pinhole leaks.

Repairing your tank is piece of cake, yous practise need a few things earlier yous become started:

Epoxy putty
Sandpaper (80-180 grit is fine)
Absorbent towel (cherry shop rags are not absorptive enough, use paper or terry fabric)
Can of brake cleaner or carb cleaner (optional, only a good idea for a amend repair)
Pencil

Getting Started

Brainstorm the procedure by locating the leak. Sometimes it can be tricky to notice the leak, so utilise the towel to dry the tank and watch for the leak. Yous may demand to clean the tank with the brake cleaner to aid make it obvious. Once you find the leak, mark it with the pencil.

It is hard to see, but there is a small hole in the upper right center of the fuel tank sump. — It is hard to run into, but there is a pocket-sized pigsty in the upper right center of the fuel tank sump.

Clean the surface area around the leak. Yous want to clean at least three inches around the damaged expanse. Use the sandpaper to sand the tank, covering the unabridged three inch area. Have information technology down to bare metal. The sanding does 2 things – cleans any pigment, rust, and route grime from the gas tank repair area, besides every bit gives the epoxy something to grab onto. Information technology works better than smoothen metal.

Using a sanding block, the paint and rust scale was removed from the tank. — Using a sanding block, the pigment and rust scale was removed from the tank.

Here's a better look at our pinhole leak.

Spray the expanse with the cleaner and wipe it down. You will likely have to do this several times.

Using some CRC non-chlorinated brake cleaner, the area was cleaned and wiped dry. — Using some CRC non-chlorinated restriction cleaner, the expanse was cleaned and wiped dry.

Cut off an amount of epoxy that yous think volition cover the repair. You don't need to cover the unabridged 3 inch surface area, only you definitely want enough to cover the pigsty and a good expanse beyond it.

Using a razor blade, a small amount of SteelStik was sliced off and the wrapper removed. — Using a razor bract, a small amount of SteelStik was sliced off and the wrapper removed.

Knead the putty to mix the 2 colors uniformly. The color should be a dark grey.

Mash the compound together until it is a uniform light grey color. — Mash the chemical compound together until information technology is a uniform calorie-free grey colour.

One time mixed, clean the expanse to be repaired again, wipe it dry and immediately press the putty into the center of the hole.

Press the putty to the tank. It will still be leaking, that is okay. Work the putty into the hole and press the edges down around the area until it seals the leak. — Press the putty to the tank. It will yet be leaking, that is okay. Work the putty into the hole and printing the edges down around the expanse until information technology seals the leak.

Work the putty flat against the tank, ensuring the pigsty is sealed. You don't desire a large glob on the tank, you want it to be smooth and flat.

Continue to work the putty on the tank until it smooth and all the edges are secure. — Go along to work the putty on the tank until it smooth and all the edges are secure.

The putty should harden in 5 minutes, and fully cured in 1 60 minutes. Wait at least an hour to drive the automobile. We suggest watching the tank for leaks over the next 10-15 minutes, so check it later on the hr has passed. Your gas tank should now be repaired and gear up to drive. Don't forget that while this gas tank repair should last a long time, information technology is a good idea to get a new tank on the way so you can replace information technology. If the pinhole was caused by rust, you are virtually guaranteed to become another leak soon.

The final results yield a secure repair until we can replace or weld the tank. We left the tank full after several weeks and the repair still holds. — The final results yield a secure repair until nosotros can supersede or weld the tank. We left the tank total afterward several weeks and the repair still holds.

Check out all the JB Weld products bachelor on NAPA Online or trust one of our 17,000 NAPA AutoCare locations for routine maintenance and repairs. For more data on gas tank repair, conversation with a knowledgeable skillful at your local NAPA AUTO PARTS store.

Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Jefferson Bryant View All

A life-long gearhead, Jefferson Bryant spends more than fourth dimension in the shop than anywhere else. His career began in the auto audio industry equally a shop manager, eventually working his way into a position at Rockford Fosgate as a product designer. In 2003, he began writing tech articles for magazines, and has been working equally an automotive journalist always since. His work has been featured in Car Craft, Hot Rod, Rod & Custom, Truckin', Mopar Muscle, and many more. Jefferson has besides written 4 books and produced countless videos. Jefferson operates Red Dirt Rodz, his personal garage studio, where all of his magazine articles and tech videos are produced.