MY PROPOSAL TO FIX DRIVER SIDE GAS TANK. THOUGHTS?
Discussion
Ok,my drivers side tank is leaking and Obviously need it repaired....From what i gather, the tank alone is around 500 and taking the old one out requires removal of some engine parts....Here is my idea to fix the tank with it in the car.
First all i plan to buy a product that seals gas tank holes....I found one called US sealer which seems pretty good. Next i pour the stuff in the tank through a hose and funnel.
Then i take a air hose once the stuff has collected at the bottom and use the pressure of the air to spread it all around the tann...Repeat the process several times.................What do you guys think?
Think itll work?
First all i plan to buy a product that seals gas tank holes....I found one called US sealer which seems pretty good. Next i pour the stuff in the tank through a hose and funnel.
Then i take a air hose once the stuff has collected at the bottom and use the pressure of the air to spread it all around the tann...Repeat the process several times.................What do you guys think?
Think itll work?
It will work as a temp fix to stop the leak now if done right. I had a friend that capped of the left side tank of his SE and ran the car with only the right tank for a while as the fuel pumps are located on that side. He then one day he dumped some POR15 into the left tank, then in the early morning hours he went to the Home Depot parking lot when it was deserted and proceeded to run donuts in the parking lot to spread out the mix in the tank. It did stop the leak. How long it will hold is yet to be determined as he sold the car this year but it is still sealed to my knowledge. I will not name the person, but I am sure that Jim recognizes the story.
Calvin
Calvin
Ok,my drivers side tank is leaking and Obviously need it repaired....From what i gather, the tank alone is around 500 and taking the old one out requires removal of some engine parts....Here is my idea to fix the tank with it in the car.
First all i plan to buy a product that seals gas tank holes....I found one called US sealer which seems pretty good. Next i pour the stuff in the tank through a hose and funnel.
Then i take a air hose once the stuff has collected at the bottom and use the pressure of the air to spread it all around the tann...Repeat the process several times.................What do you guys think?
Think itll work?
Adam,
Bad idea, waste of time, effort and money. There is no way that you can adequately cover the inside of the tank using the method you describe. In addition, whatever product you use will simply not adhere unless the tank is thoroughly cleaned of any residual gasoline, rust and varnish, which you simply cannot do without immersing the tank in a chemical bath or by blasting it with some medium, and then making sure that all the medium and dislodged material is removed and this can only be accomplished by inverting the tank.
This is one repair that cannot be accomplished using quick fixes and half measures. It is possible, albeit not easily, to remove the tank with the engine in place. After having gone to all that trouble, I would not use a 'home brew' method of repairing the tank.
Instead, buy a new 'alloy' tank as sold by SJSportscars, or send the tank out for proper repair. If you don't, the tank will resume leaking and you run the risk of clogging your filter, pump, regulator and/or injectors with the dislodged material. There is an outfit in PA which does an excellent refurbishment for a reasonable charge. Their link is attached. Hope this helps...Jim '85TE
www.gas-tank.com/
tahiti90se said: Calvin,
is it possible to completely remove the driver side fuel tank? Are the fuel level sender and the fuel pump pick up and return on the passenger side tank?
Thanks, TEAVA
Yes, it is possible to remove the tank. Out of the 2 tanks if one had to leak, the drivers side is the one that will not disable the car. The right tank has the fuel pump and draws fuel from this tank. One owner as a temp fix to be able to drive the car, drained and capped off the fuel suppy/tank balancing lines from the left tank. He did loose the ability to monitor the fuel level as the sender for the fuel gauge is located in the left tank. Still he was able drive for an est. 150+ miles per the one tank. Since he drove primarily by himself the drivers weight compensated the unbalanced fuel load on the right side and did not alter the handling too badly or if at all. He had planned on repairing the tank eventually. He did not repair the tank as I would have done as he used a tank sealant after it was determined that the actual leak point was the lower tank seam. But it did hold gas after the repair. This type of repair in my opinion is not for the long term and it is uncertain how long this type of repair will last. He did it such a way the sealant did not come into contact with the sending unit. It is highly recommended that if the tank is leaking to remove and repair it correctly or a replacement be fitted. It all goes but to the rear culprit the leaky rear quarter window with the crinkled black beta seal around the edges of the window that allow water to enter the fuel tank bay. This water then soaks the foam pad that tank rests on, it pools in this area and the tanks rusts. The tank would not normally rust if this window seal is intact, every single Esprit that has reported leaking tanks has this window seal failure in common with rust on the lower tank seam in contact with the foam pad. All comes down to fix the window seal when if fails or wait to fix the window seal and the tank. I went for the first option and my tanks are fine.
Calvin
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