I've been informed today that the lovely 1975 Devon I bought 5 days ago has a punctured Fuel Tank. Apparently it must have been done by a screw when the rock and roll bed was fitted. The garage has informed me that you can't buy a new replacement fuel tank as the Brazilian ones are a different shape. They have suggested there are two options: 1) Buy one from ebay which is £150 or 2) A professional compromise is to use a liquid metal to seal the hole on the top of the tank. What should I do? I am completely completely green about this and but want a job that will stand the test of time. Answers in the next 1 hour please if you can as I'm going to tell them tomorrow. Yours gratefully DeannaN.
I would do a temporary fix and then keep an eye open for a cheaper second hand tank over the next few months. Or if the tank has to be removed for the repair have the hole welded.
try someone like mega-bug for a 2nd had one... or if the garage wasn't a bunch of scared girls, technically they could drain the tank, remove it and weld it!! it's all about venting the tank and getting it dry... once all the vapors are gone, it won't go boom!! I've welded a few tanks now, and I've still got my eyebrows
Try FBI I've had a few from them - always top condition, or weld as Paul suggests - if they won't do it they should know someone who will.
I've brazed up a few holes in petrol tanks, much gentler than welding IMO. thats how a lot of unions are connected to tanks anyway as Paul says, if theres no fumes left in the tank, theres no risk. I empty tanks first, flush them out with water, then I like to let them sit fora week to make sure as I'm a coward ;D................I then fill them half full with water to push out any remaining fumes - then braze up the holes ..............a bit over the top perhapse, but better to be safe than sorry
sorry mate, forum short hand for in my opinion (IMO) - or IMHO is - in my honest opinion ........Johnny beat me to it ;D
I did have a 'how to' on brazing before the old forum crashed, you just reminded me I didnt repost it if you give me 10 mins and have a look in the how to section at the top of mech/tech I'll repost with pics of the tank repair I did on mine. brazing is really easy, and ideal if you dont have access to a welder ......just got to extact it from my resto thread ;D
Thanks for the IMO explanations. My local garage hasn't got anywhere to safely secure my van so if I ask them to drain and weld my fuel tank I'm leaving the van exposed. Not quite sure what to do.
ok I know I put a time limit on this post and welding does seem to be the 1st option BUT what are the negative against doing the other option the garage has suggested i.e liquid metal to seal the tank (is that different from welding). No time limit on answers as I'm obviously here for the duration now. X
liquid metal oooo bit of a no no in my book ....you get good seals and you get bad.....better to just ..do it right first time and then its done ....plus some liquid metals could react ...be safe ...and b cool ....
brazing how to now done http://thelatebay.com/index.php?topic=17247.new#new as for liquid metal it could probably fix it, but like Johnny says, I'd think it would only be temorary as Im not sure how petrol would affect it or degrade it in some way.......but I've never used it personally so I cant give a definate answer welding or brazing would be a more permanent fix or buying a replacement tank
What are the garage doing to your van does it need an MOT? Have you smelt fuel before? It would be hard to tell if there's a hole without having the engine out and the firewall off. Unless they can see it through the fuel sender hatch ( if you have one) I would be inclined to take it somewhere else.
I took the van there because I was being overcome by petrol fumes. I've only had it 6 days. The garage was recommended t me by a couple of other VW owners and the garage owner has a splitty himself. He's been all over the van checking for leaks and all the pipes (as far as he could get into it. It's a recently refurbed van and after googling I suggested that the tank might have been pierced. He then took out a screw that was holding down the rock and roll bed and it stunk of fuel. He then put a thin stick of wood and that came up the same. I believe he is genuine. I know the engine has got to come out. My dilemma (can't spell) is whether to replace the tank (which are difficult to get) or weld/braze (which will take a while and might be a bit dangerous for them to do.
