Fuel tank mystery leak

[VFRhugh]

Thanks for all the interest and guidance. Will follow up when leak is found.
Hugh

[H. L. Chauvin]

Hi Hugh,

Just in case you get bored searching, might help to go to youtube to play the vintage song:

"My Bucket Got A Hole In It." LOL

[bnchief]

5 lbs would be plenty of pressure then soap and water will find the leak 20 psi is way too much

[Frank Miller]

I think you will ultimately be faced with removing the gas tank. Most likely there is a leak of sorts on the welded seam that you will not fix while it is in the car. The noise you hear when half full could be a loose baffle, which necessitates a full inspection of the tank. Some suggested pressurizing but if you know a mechanic with a smoke machine that might be better.

[VFRhugh]

Wow!! That the heck was someone thinking when this was done? Maybe it has something to do with the other two random holes. At least I found the leak. Now what to seal it with? How did I not notice for so long? It must have had some type of plug that failed.
Hugh

[tbirdtbird]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

if it were mine I'd drain the tank, clean the steel to shiny new, use acid flux, and a heavy duty soldering iron, 40-60 (tin-lead for low melting point) and be done in a minute.
You will not blow a tank with a soldering iron, only an open flame.
Have soldered many various tanks. First saw/learned of this method years ago from a tin-knocker who heated his irons in a good sized propane fired furnace

gotta have good soldering skills, tho, to get it to stick

[Mitch//pa]

Yoooo Dave;; The inductor would work good for this repair...

[H. L. Chauvin]

Hi Hugh,

In my opinion, 99% of the guys using & experiencing failure with epoxies, JB Weld, and/or POR 15, do so because they never understand the product manufacturer's true meaning of prepared, "clean metal".

If you do not feel comfortable using heat & solder, (where possibly your military veteran neighbors might possibly think you are trying out your 155 Howitzer that your wife bought you for Christmas), you may want to try this repair in a similar size hole in a similar thin piece of sheet metal ....... & then ..... test its reaction to "ethanol" gasoline.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From Amazon:

J-B Weld 8217 AutoWeld Gas Tank Repair - 1 oz.
by J-B Weld
Size Name: 1 Ounce Price:$6.99

[katy]

You could use a sheet metal screw w/a fibre washer under the head.

[H. L. Chauvin]

Hi Hugh,

Also if you Google:

"How to repair a hole in a steel gas tank?", just remember, successfully repairing holes in steel gas tanks is about as common as Dental, tooth cavity repair.

[Phil Brown]

Might try a pop-rivet to fill the hole then seal it with the J B weld or solder over the rivet

[1931 flamingo]

X2
Paul in CT

[Tom Wesenberg]

Solder it with a large soldering iron, and it will be easy to bridge the hole with no added patch. Clean it and solder it just as Tbird said, but I like electrical rosin core solder better than acid core solder.

Was that someone's idea of a tank vent?

[Benson]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

Solder it with a large soldering iron, and it will be easy to bridge the hole with no added patch. Clean it and solder it just as Tbird said, but I like electrical rosin core solder better than acid core solder.

Was that someone's idea of a tank vent?

Right Tom I wonder if they made a hole in tank to vent like you said.

VFRHugh:

is there maybe a radiator cap installed in place of the gas cap on this gas tank ????

[tbirdtbird]

Tom, I could never get rosin flux to take on steel.......else it would have been my first choice, too.

Agree no patch needed with a hole that small, if you have done this type of thing before. Take a piece of sheet metal, drill a small hole, and practice.....you can bridge the hole once the surrounding area is all tinned

[Tom Wesenberg]

Here's a large soldering iron that will get the job done.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-DRAK...3D152343994177

[VFRhugh]

Although the reason will probably remain a mystery, I believe I know what happened. A sheet metal screw was run into the tank in two places. My leak started when one of them rusted out. I found the other this morning under a blob of JB weld.
The adventure continues,
Hugh

[Steve Plucker]

Originally Posted by VFRhugh

Although the reason will probably remain a mystery, I believe I know what happened. A sheet metal screw was run into the tank in two places. My leak started when one of them rusted out. I found the other this morning under a blob of JB weld.
The adventure continues,
Hugh

Why not contact the guy who had it before you...you might get some answers there.

Pluck

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by Steve Plucker

Why not contact the guy who had it before you...you might get some answers there.

Pluck

When I sell a car, I have them sign a paper: "THIS CAR HAS NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND"---IF IT BREAKS, JUST FIX IT, DON'T CALL ME, I'VE ALREADY SPENT YOUR MONEY ON FOOLISHNESS
Bill Shyster

[larrys40]

I have had this kind of leak before in a car I worked on that didnt have any gas in the tank for eons... When I went to fill the tank it started weeping gas from under the cowl band and running down the fender and apron . Yikes !! I use the quick gas tank 2 part need stuck as my temporary fix to stop the leak but pulled the tank later for a permanent fix.

There is probably a rust hole and so if you inspect the tank I'm sure you have rust in the upper part of the tank . I just did a 32 tank with the POR15 gas tank clean and seal kit and have had excellent results. Kept me from having to refinish the tank and it is very clean.
In your case I would NOT pressurize the tank as Mitch said you know you have a leak .
Don't do any damage you might regret .

I would remove the cowl band for inspection and when the time comes to remove for repair I would clean and get the tank clear if fumes and mig weld the affected spot lightly or you can use the tank quick fix if you prefer. I would then POR15 gas tank sealer the tank using their process .

Good luck and be prudent in the repair .
Larry Shepard