Leaky fuel tank

[chrisc]

Looks like my hpe vx has decided to spring a leak - seems to be coming from the seam halfway up the tank in the front left corner (near the exhaust). I dont have the time or money to remove it right now (poor student), so im hoping that some leak stopper gunge you put on the outside will hold it for the 250 mile trip back home.

My questions are - is there anything above that area that could be leaking and making it look like its the seam? gauge sender or something?

and does anyone know of anywhere in surrey / reigate ish area that can be trusted to fix a fuel tank properly?

If I disappear off the face of the earth after next saturday (the day im heading home) then you can assume that fuel leaked onto the exhaust, caught fire and i met a fiery doom!

[rossocorsa]

don't know about the tank area you mention but one thing worth checking on all these cars is the area in the boot where the fuel pipe disappears through the floor into a rubber bung, there is often rust on the pipe at this point that leads to a leak, as the rust is hidden by the rubber it can cause some head scratching before you find it, also as everything looks OK it is often only spotted when leaking quite badly

[Hamish]

Looks like my hpe vx has decided to spring a leak - seems to be coming from the seam halfway up the tank in the front left corner (near the exhaust).

:mrgreen: Ditto on my coupe tank. It is the seam :evil:

My questions are - is there anything above that area that could be leaking and making it look like its the seam? gauge sender or something?

:mrgreen: unlikely as it's mounted on top of the tank. Next most likely culprit is the fuel lines going too/from the tank, these can perish but unusual.

and does anyone know of anywhere in surrey / reigate ish area that can be trusted to fix a fuel tank properly?

:mrgreen: Best bet is to 'whip it out' :twisted: and see what you can find, I'd put money on there being a crack/hole in the front or left hand side of the tank. A POR 15 sealant kit may be a good idea, I have a good secondhand tank to put in my car which will be treated with this before it goes in. :P

If I disappear off the face of the earth after next saturday (the day im heading home) then you can assume that fuel leaked onto the exhaust, caught fire and i met a fiery doom!

:mrgreen: Don't worry, just did 1600 miles in mine with leaky tank - just don't fill over 20 litres from empty unless you know you're going to use it up quickly.... :?

As an aside, I'll be fitting flexible rubber mounts to my tank when it goes in. Also a flexible filler hose to take the strain off the tank. I'm reliably informed that it's the constant flexing of the tank that causes it to eventually split round the tank.
If anyone knows of one, grab one of Betacars aluminium conversion tanks - much much better than the original item.
I'm looking into getting a plastic tank made up - if anyone interested let me know but as coupe and spyder differ from HPE/saloon could cause a few hassles.... :wink:

[chrisc]

Well, looks like the £2.99 fix of using some fibreglass type filler that is resistant to petrol is holding it together for the moment. The leak is on the top edge of the seam (ie the bit you cant see!!!!!!!!!). Annoying as the whole car is undersealed and waxoyled thoroughly, except this spot! With a bit of guesswork and some feeling around the leak seems to have been stopped, but im not expecting it to last. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that dropping the tank looks like a doddle - the four corner bolts and whatever is required to disconnect the filler? Any adviceon that?

The fuel hoses heading into the trunk are on the other side, coming up near the spare wheel well, and they are clear plastic and look reasonably recent. And the grommet looks recent too.

[Hamish]

I was pleasantly surprised to discover that dropping the tank looks like a doddle - the four corner bolts and whatever is required to disconnect the filler? Any advice on that?

Thankfully :roll: it is a relatively simple job getting the tank out (you can tell what's coming can't you :!: ) but can be a bit of a bar steward going back in :cry: take lots of WD40 - mostly it's getting the pipework to sit 'nicely' that's the hassle.
Is there a plastic/rubber pipe with jubilee type clips connecting the neck of the tank to filler :?: If so it's a doddle.... if not it's another bar steward :evil:

[Duncan]

Are the tanks the same in the VX and the carb? If so, then then I have a spare (though what sort of condition it's in I've no idea). It's still attached to the car at the moment, but hopefully I'll get the time to break it properly soon...
Cheers
Duncan

[Bazza]

Are the tanks the same in the VX and the carb? If so, then then I have a spare (though what sort of condition it's in I've no idea). It's still attached to the car at the moment, but hopefully I'll get the time to break it properly soon...
Cheers
Duncan

It's not the same - VX & IE tanks have a special swirlpot in the pick up area.