Do-it-yourself gas tank repair

Car fuel tanks can be made of various materials, the main of which is sheet structural steel or conditional plastic, which is rather a composite material.

But no matter what the fuel tank of a car is made of, under certain conditions it can get holes and cracks. Moreover, it can be a microcrack, almost imperceptible to the eye, but it is quite enough for gasoline to begin to ooze, filling the car interior with unpleasant fumes.

A crack or hole in a tank can occur as a result of corrosion processes, but this only applies to metal tanks and does not apply to composite tanks at all. But a crack can also occur on the surface of composite tanks.

So, let's find out how fuel tanks are repaired.

Car fuel tank repair methods

We can conditionally distinguish two types of methods that can be used in the repair of fuel tanks. The first technology is hot (welding, soldering). The second technology is cold (the use of adhesives and patches).

Hot fuel tank repair methods are quite technically complex and require certain skills and abilities. In addition, welding or soldering equipment is required, as well as an understanding of how thin-walled structures can be welded or soldered.

Somewhat simpler are cold fuel tank repair methods. It is only necessary to comply with a certain and fairly simple technology. In order to repair fuel tanks, the so-called "cold welding" or epoxy resin is used in combination with fiberglass.

Repair of the fuel tank using "cold welding"

There is nothing complicated in this method. They buy a special two-component composition, which is sold in almost all hardware stores or car dealerships. Before applying cold welding, the surface in the damaged area is cleaned of dirt, then cleaned with sandpaper and degreased, for example, with a nitro solvent. Degreasing with motor gasoline is not recommended, as a thin layer of oil film may form.

After that, a piece of cold welding is cut off with a knife and thoroughly kneaded with wet hands. It is better to work with gloves so that you do not wash your hands later. After that, the defect on the fuel tank is carefully covered with cold welding. And it remains only to wait until the composition polymerizes.

This repair of fuel tanks is very simple, but it should be noted that the patch obtained in this way begins to crack over time due to vibrations that are inevitable during vehicle operation.

Fuel tank repair with epoxy

This fuel tank repair method is more reliable and is suitable for both metal and plastic (composite) tanks. Its essence lies in the fact that a patch of several layers of fiberglass on epoxy resin is applied to the defect site.

The surface of the tank at the site of damage must be prepared (cleaned and degreased). Next, the epoxy resin is diluted in accordance with the instructions. But besides this, aluminum powder is added to the resulting resin in a ratio of 1:10 (one part of aluminum powder to 10 parts of resin). This filler makes the resin less brittle and more durable.

Several fiberglass patches are cut (3-4). After that, a layer of resin is applied with a brush and a fiberglass patch is applied, then the next layers of resin and fiberglass are applied on top. The patch is rolled with something rubber to completely remove the air.It then polymerizes for approximately 24 hours. The last stage: the surface is cleaned with sandpaper.

The advantage of this repair method is that the patch is strong due to fiberglass and is completely unaffected by cracking. It completely seals the tank, and epoxy is completely indifferent to automotive fuel, be it gasoline or diesel.

Repair of a plastic fuel tank by soldering

It must be said that this method is not very reliable, since it is difficult to provide a normal seam around the entire perimeter of the plastic patch.

The method is as follows. You need to find a plastic that is suitable in composition to the plastic of the tank. After that, a small patch is cut out of this material. The patch is first tacked in place with super glue, and then, using a powerful soldering iron, it is soldered around the entire perimeter of the patch.

It will hold tight, but it’s not always possible to ensure normal tightness. Microcracks may remain somewhere, which, in principle, can be eliminated with a sealant. But it should be said that the sealant can gradually break down under the influence of gasoline. So this method, although simple, is not reliable enough.

Repair of a metal fuel tank by welding and soldering

It should be understood that with such repair methods there is always a danger that gasoline vapors that are in the fuel tank can flare up. In order to avoid a fire, the tank is thoroughly washed out of the fuel, and only then soldering or welding is used.

Thus, the tank can be welded or soldered only after a certain amount of time is necessary for the fuel vapors to completely disappear.

The safest option is when the tank is filled with water or an inert gas to avoid a flash. The most popular welding method, which gives the greatest reliability, is argon welding.

The second most reliable method is soldering with special solder. In this case, the tank is not filled with water. But with both methods, the neck should be kept open so that the air inside, expanding when heated, does not deform the tank.

Quick Temporary Repair of Fuel Tanks

You can temporarily repair the tank if you use a regular screw and rubber gasket. If a hole has appeared, albeit a small one, it should be slightly expanded to fit the size of the screw. Then a piece of rubber is put on the screw, and the screw is screwed into the hole. It is only important to guess the size of the hole so that the screw is screwed in normally.

Good day! A breakdown always occurs unexpectedly, and according to all the rules of meanness, just when you are on the road. And you should learn how to eliminate them, whether it be replacing a wheel or an alternator belt. Every car enthusiast should be able to troubleshoot, at least small ones.

Troubles can be different, and one of them is a gas tank leak. Yes, it is not possible to carry an electric welding machine in the trunk of a car, but it is necessary to repair it on the road in order to get to the nearest car repair shop in the future.

How to repair a gas tank on the road, with your own hands.

Sure, you can just go and call a tow truck. However, not everyone lives in large cities, and not everywhere there are such services, and you can break down in places where there is no connection. Therefore, we will consider several ways of how to repair a gas tank on the road with your own hands.

But for starters, it would be nice to know if it's the gas tank? The main symptoms of this are the smell of gasoline in the cabin, or a puddle right under the fuel tank if the car was standing. Pay close attention to the gauges that show the fuel level. If you see that the arrow quickly went down and there is a smell, then the gas tank has been punched for sure.Now you need to stop, inspect and find a hole, and then try to temporarily repair it so that you can get to the place, and already there to do a major overhaul.

So, let's discuss some of the most common ways to repair a fuel tank on the road.

The first troubleshooting method is suitable if the hole in the fuel tank is small. This can be done by simply sticking a piece of fabric soaked with Moment glue or the like on the hole. As soon as the fabric "sticks" to the surface, it should be treated with nitro paint, which should be in the repair kit in every car. This small repair will allow you to continue on your way, and you will be able to get to a car service, where you will get a major repair.

The next method is suitable if the hole is already large, so to speak, the trucker method. Need to cut rubber seal and attach it with a bolt and nut screwed into the hole. In order for the bolt to crawl through without problems, the hole can be further enlarged. Then, through the neck, install the bolt, clamp the rubber cuff with a washer and tighten with a nut.

This is one of the best ways to solve the problem, but keep in mind that the operation requires wear-resistant rubber. Raw will not work, as it will be eaten away by gasoline. If there is no wear-resistant one, then you can use a camera from some truck. And if everything was done correctly: the rubber was chosen well, the bolt was screwed in as it should, then after such a repair you can still drive for some time, postponing the purchase of a new gas tank.

Cold welding - Another way to quickly repair a gas tank on the road. Epoxy resin can be used as a material. So, clean the surface with an emery cloth, and mix the epoxy with the hardener. If the mixture needs to be heated, place a pan on the motor. Stir the mixture well, and, just as in the case of Moment glue, dip a piece in the resin and press the damaged area with it. The same is done at the service station, but it turns out they are much more reliable. And if you do everything right, then it is possible that a major overhaul of the gas tank may not be needed.

And one more option, suitable for owners of cars with carburetor engines and diaphragm-type fuel pumps. Take a plastic dish, pour gasoline into it, remove the hose that goes from the fuel pump to the tank, and fix it. It is also better to install the dishes themselves properly, in order to avoid force majeure. If there were no suitable dishes, a washer reservoir will do, just remember to wash it thoroughly afterwards. In this way, you can easily reach the service station.

That's all. All these methods, of course, can be applied if you have all the necessary tools and adhesives in stock. Now you can repair the gas tank with your own hands, but I wish you to use all this knowledge only in theory. Take care of your iron horses.

The life of a driver is sometimes difficult - the road is fraught with many surprises. However, most of the troubles arise due to malfunctions of the “iron horse”: an overheated engine, a punctured wheel or a suddenly dropped muffler - the list of such force majeure can be continued indefinitely. One of these problems is a gas tank punctured on the road, and this article will focus on troubleshooting this problem.

Damage to the gas tank is a really unpleasant phenomenon, and if a fuel leak is detected, it is urgent to take measures that will allow you to get to the service station for a quality repair or replacement of the tank. The problem will have to be solved quickly and competently: it is impossible to wait for help and lose precious fuel, and it may be too far to the nearest settlement.

You can notice a fuel leak by several signs:

• a sharp smell of gasoline in the car;
• a puddle of gasoline directly under the gas tank;
• rapid lowering of the arrow of the fuel level sensor;
• excessive increase in fuel consumption.

Loss of fuel is a signal that you need to look for and eliminate the breakdown. The situation is simplified by the fact that the gas tank, which has holes in the upper part, will still allow you to get to the workshop, and if there are holes at the bottom of the tank, it will not be difficult to notice them. Usually they occur at the bottom: the cause can be, firstly, various mechanical influences, and secondly, corrosion that corrodes the tank on both sides.

The most common way to repair a gas tank with your own hands in the field is cold welding. The same method is used by specialists in auto repair shops to bring the tank into proper condition. The repair process itself will look like this:

• first, with the help of sandpaper, it is necessary to clean the damaged area (if this is not done, then the applied patch will soon fall off);
• then a mixture of epoxy and hardener is prepared (you can use a hot engine to heat the mixture);
• after soaking the fabric patch with the resulting mixture, it must be applied and pressed against the tank.

This method of repairing a gas tank has a lot of advantages:

• the result is of sufficient quality, and in the future you can do without replacing the tank;
• repairs require a minimum of materials and effort.

To implement the second method of eliminating gas tank leaks, fiberglass and epoxy resin are used. The repair is very simple, and the algorithm of work looks the same as with cold welding:

• first of all, the hole in the tank must be cleaned and degreased;
• after that, a fiberglass impregnated with resin is applied to the surface (usually two layers of material are applied);
• after the patch dries, it is usually treated with an anti-corrosion layer.

This method is quite reliable and simple, and if you protect the patch from corrosion, then such a tank will be able to

work for quite a long time. True, the necessary materials are not always at hand on the road, and in this case they can be replaced with ordinary superglue and rag cloth. A patch of several layers of fabric impregnated with glue will allow you to safely get to the car repair shop and carry out high-quality repairs.

Another interesting do-it-yourself gas tank repair method is to install a rubber gasket. Usually, a serious leak is eliminated in this way, provided that it is not possible to repair the tank in other ways. To work, you will need a screwdriver, a rubber gasket and a bolt with a nut. The repair will look like this:

• the breakdown of the tank expands so that a bolt can be inserted into it;
• a bolt with a washer installed on it through the neck of the tank is inserted directly into the hole that needs to be eliminated;
• a gasket is installed on the outside and secured with a nut.

From the point of view of reliability and efficiency, such a patch is the best option for repairing the tank. The result is so good that sometimes, after such a repair, the driver manages to drive on a repaired tank for more than one year. However, it is not worth delaying with a quality repair of a gas tank - as a rule, the appearance of holes in the tank indicates its deterioration (unless the hole appeared as a result of a strong blow to the terrain).

"Folk ways" of repairing a gas tank on the road

To carry out a field repair of a tank, it is necessary to carry with you materials that allow you to implement at least one of the above methods: they will not take up much space, and the benefits can be significant. But there are times when the necessary materials are simply not there, or the damage to the tank looks very minor. In such a situation, you can solve the problem in one of the popular ways:

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1. Sometimes the hole in the gas tank is almost imperceptible, and the fuel does not flow through it, but slowly drips. If the cause of such leakage is a small crack, then rub it well enough with soap. Of course, such an action cannot be called an effective repair, but it will be quite enough to get to the nearest service station.
2. Having found a small hole in the tank, you can do it differently: take a small self-tapping screw and screw it into the hole. If you pre-lubricate the self-tapping screw with soap and use a gasket, then urgent repairs can be postponed until arrival in the village.
3. There is another old method that allows you to get to the auto repair shop even with critical damage to the tank. Every experienced driver knows about this method of solving the problem: a plastic bottle or canister is taken, fuel is poured into it, and then a fuel hose is brought to it and fixed. Of course, this is far from the most elegant solution to the problem, but you can get to the service station in this way.

Having corrected the problem in the most appropriate way, you can end the trip, and after it, examine the tank in detail for other leaks and malfunctions. It would be best to entrust the dismantled gas tank to specialists who can determine exactly how suitable it is for driving.

In conclusion, it should be said that The best way to fix a leaky gas tank is to replace it. (especially if the old tank has served long enough). Of course, it’s not worth changing an almost new tank after every scratch - for this there is welding and soldering, which can be carried out without problems at any service station - but it is extremely undesirable to wait for the complete wear of the gas tank.

There are several ways to repair a gas tank on the road, and they are all quite simple, but it would be much better to carry out preventive maintenance in a timely manner - and then there will be no need to urgently fix the problem. However, even if the car is maintained in good condition, an extra tube of glue or a couple of bolts in the trunk will never hurt - a variety of problems can manifest themselves on the road.

Roads are not always ideal, and it is difficult to insure against breakage while driving on them. The most common problem is a breakdown of rubber, but this malfunction is not so difficult to fix, especially if you have a spare tire with you. Much more questions arise when you need to repair the gas tank with your own hands, if it suddenly turned out to be broken and fuel began to pour out of it. It is not always possible to call a tow truck, and in some situations it is completely useless, since any driver with the appropriate knowledge can repair the gas tank on the spot with the help of improvised means.

Most cars have a fuel tank on the bottom, which increases the risk of damage when driving over rough terrain or poor quality roads. A simple blow to the gas tank can result in a dent, but directional puncture damage will result in a puncture. The fact that the gas tank is pierced is indicated by the following factors:

• The smell of gasoline began to be distinctly felt in the car interior;
• The fuel gauge began to approach zero faster than usual.

If you notice signs of a breakdown in the gas tank, you should stop the car and turn off the engine. After that, carefully inspect the gas tank for damage and breakdowns. When they are found, it will be necessary to act, depending on the specific situation. Below we will give several ways to self-repair the fuel tank on the road.

The fuel tank is quite simple, and it is a reservoir that is filled with gasoline. In this case, the gas tank can be made of steel, aluminum, plastic or other materials. It is better to replace a punctured gas tank with a new one, often inexpensive options can be found at various car “dismantlings”.However, if you are on the road, it is possible to repair the tank yourself in order to get to the maintenance site or continue operating the machine until a new part is purchased.

The most effective way to repair a gas tank on the road is to seal it with a rubber plug. It is advisable to use it when the breakdown in the fuel tank is large in diameter, and a bolt can be inserted into it. Repair is carried out as follows:

1. The breakdown in the tank, which must be repaired, must first be expanded to the diameters of the available bolt;
2. Next, a washer with a rubber gasket is selected for the bolt;
3. Next, you need to install a bolt through the neck of the fuel tank into the prepared hole and put a washer, rubber gasket on it from the outside and tighten it with a nut.

Important: Choose a rubber gasket that does not dissolve under the action of gasoline. Do not use "raw rubber", which will quickly become unusable.

It should be noted that a similar method of repairing a gas tank is popular among truckers. Having closed the hole in the fuel tank in this way, you can not worry about its reliability. If it is not possible to replace the gas tank in the near future, it is recommended to remove the threads and paint over the joints to avoid corrosion. With proper patching, a gas tank can last months or even years on it.

Carburetor engines are actively becoming a thing of the past, but they still remain on older models of cars, and it will be useful for drivers of such cars to know what to do when a gas tank breaks down. The device of the carburetor with diaphragm-type fuel pumps is such that it allows you to use any container as a gas tank by lowering the hose that comes from the fuel pump into it.

Find any free bottle, if there is none in the car, you can use the washer reservoir. Fill the container with gasoline and place the soft hose that comes from the fuel pump into it. Please note that if you are using a bottle, then it will need to be well secured so that it does not tip over during the trip. When everything is done, you can go to the service station.

Important: Before you continue driving, make sure that there is no fuel left in the gas tank so that it does not spill onto the road.

If the damage to the car's tank is not very serious, you can make a simple fabric-based patch and fix it with glue. To do this, you will need to acquire a piece of fabric, good Moment glue and nitro paint of any color that is often found in cars. The sequence of actions for repairing a breakdown is as follows:

1. Cut out a small piece of thick fabric. If the fabric is thin, you can fold several layers;
2. Next, completely impregnate the fabric with Moment glue or its analogue and apply it to the breakdown site;
3. Then you need to wait 2-3 minutes until the glue dries;
4. When the fabric is secure, treat it with nitro paint to minimize the possibility of fuel leaking through it.

Such a patch will help you get to the service center and carry out a full repair of the fuel tank.

Important: You should not change the fabric for rubber with a similar method of emergency repair. When the car is moving, the rubber element will quickly peel off, while the fabric reinforced with nitro paint will cope with the task of sealing the fuel tank just as well.

"Cold Welding" is a great way to fix a hole in a gas tank. Its complexity is that the driver must have with him: epoxy, hardener, sandpaper and cloth. If you have all this available, you can repair the gas tank according to the following instructions:

1. The first step is to prepare the surface for applying the epoxy. To do this, carefully clean the area around the damage with sandpaper;
2. Next, mix the epoxy and hardener.If you need to heat them up, you can put them on a warm engine;
3. Saturate the fabric with the resulting adhesive base and attach it to the damaged area on the gas tank.
4. Wait until the adhesive base dries.

In many private car services, gas tanks are restored in this way, since it is quite reliable. The fuel tank can be safely operated for several years after such a repair.

The causes of damage to fuel tanks can be different, in one case rust, in the other a normal trip on Russian roads. A small blow and almost immediately we begin to smell gasoline in the cabin. The fuel level arrow also tells us that gasoline is leaking. And how difficult is it to repair the fuel tank yourself?

If the gas tank is leaking, then driving with such a breakdown is not safe, so do not put off repairing it for a long time. Before starting work, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with:

General rules for repairing a gas tank

1. To drain the gasoline from the fuel tank, you will need to tilt the car with a jack to one side and use the tube.

2. Repair of a gas tank without removal or better to dismantle it, they decide depending on the accessibility to the place of damage and the type of repair work.

Folk way to repair a gas tank

Do you know how our grandfathers used to repair the fuel tank in the field? If a small crack appeared in the fuel tank, the hole was rounded with a screwdriver. Next, we selected a bolt of a suitable size for this hole and twisted it, first we put rubber washers on it (from the wheel chamber).

If you look at the old 130th ZILs, you can see that their tanks are completely bolted, which indicates that this method is quite reliable and durable. Currently, this method is finding its favor with truckers.

A leak in a car's fuel tank can be sealed with fiberglass and epoxy. In this case, the reliability of the gluing site will be significantly higher than when using cold welding for gluing.

Get the materials you need to get the job done. At the same time, prefer domestic two-component epoxy glue. When choosing, consider the recommendations of the seller and the instructions on the package.

Find the leak on the gas tank. If it is located in a hard-to-reach place, remove the gas tank, dry it thoroughly. Clean the place of gluing with abrasive paper with a rough surface (to improve adhesion). Degrease the surface with acetone. The quality of bonding directly depends on the quality of degreasing!

Prepare the epoxy according to the instructions on the package and pour it into a suitable container. If you have to glue on the corners and edges of the tank, give it a thicker consistency. Cut the fiberglass into pieces so that their edges protrude beyond the crack by a few centimeters. Soak the fiberglass itself with epoxy glue.

Start gluing by laying the fiberglass over the surface to be repaired so that there are no bubbles. Remove excess resin. To improve impregnation, tamp the glued layer of fiberglass with the end of a hard brush. Pay special attention to the first layer: the quality of all work performed will largely depend on its quality. Lightly sand the first coat with coarse sanding paper before applying subsequent coats.

Seal the leak with several layers of fiberglass. Moreover, each subsequent layer should protrude beyond the edges of the previous one by 1-2 cm. After applying the next layer, wait 15-20 minutes for the glue to dry. Apply each layer carefully and quickly.

If desired, putty and paint the gas tank over the applied patch. This will increase the reliability of bonding. Before applying putty and enamel, treat the surface of the patch with coarse sanding paper.

Then, at the car, place the fuel pump hose in this container, which must be fixed near the washer reservoir. So you can get to the nearest service. It should be noted that this method is designed only for vehicles that are equipped with diaphragm fuel pumps. Cars with injection "engines" will be limited to the first two ways.

Structurally, gas tanks are practically not protected from external damage, unlike foreign analogues. Often, small fractions of gravel, crushed stone, asphalt, bouncing off the rear wheels, gradually destroy the paint and primer shell, causing irreparable damage to the metal. After some time, the metal begins to rust. The driver begins to notice a fuel leak.