[DeTomaso] Gas Tank Sealing

[JDeRyke at aol.com]

In a message dated 6/5/09 9:02:26 AM, ehpantera at yahoo.com writes:

> 'm looking for a recommendation for a gas tank sealant .
>  
> IF you have only a small pinhole-leak thats visible from outside, one 
cheap, easy way that works is to clean the area with solvent (making sure the 
fuel level is below the problem area), then coat the area with some BONDO! If 
its larger than a pinhole, coat a sheet-metal screw with Bondo and run it 
into the hole, covering the head with more Bondo. Bondo is totally fuel-proof 
as I found out years ago. Note- this probably won't work on a leaking seam, 
'cause you likely won't find the exact leak area, and tanks flex a little, 
cracking any large areas of hard sealant. 
If its a whole area thats corroded, you should pull the tank and get it 
brazed up by an expert. There are sloshing compounds available, but many react 
badly to additives sold in our gas, and since the type of additive varies 
from month to month and   gas station to station, these coatings may work for 
a while, then fail. When they do, the loosened compound will plug up EFI 
components and carb jets, and cleaning the mess is often impossible. Most 
coating compounds were developed to use on a tank thats out of the vehicle and 
can be turned and shaken; the first were for fiberglas motorcycle tanks. IMHO, 
if the tank must come out anyway, brazing is better.
Finally, if you simply have a rusty tank, fill the thing with a dilute 
solution of Phosphoric acid (used as concrete driveway etch). You WILL need the 
tank drain plug to be freed up so the acid can be drained after an overnight 
soak, and rinsed thoroughly. Phosphoric acid reacts mostly with rust, not 
clean steel, so you'll wind up with a nice clean, WHITE tank inside, well 
coated with white iron phosphate that will permanently stay in the tank. 
Do NOT use Sulfuric acid (also sometimes sold as driveway etch): this stuff 
attacks anything it touches!   Acid-cleaning has the advantage of not 
needing the tank to be pulled- just stirred a little thru the sender hole.     My 
2¢- J Deryke


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