Fuel tank hole patch

[MrS]

I seen gas tank patch at auto parts stores. I see them for both plastic and steel tanks.

Anyone ever use this stuff, how did it work? Even if this was a temp, get-ya-back repair, maybe it would be worth having.

I've heard for small gas tank cracks, a bar of hand soap works as a temp. repair
</div>

KF6YSB

[JackSilb]

I would like to get one too.
Nice topic.

During my last trip, I saw that my gas tank 'skid plate' had some marks on it ...
-JACK


So much to see, so little time. Try using your 4WD tosee and do more.
Tread Lightly! empowers generations to enjoy the outdoors responsibly...
http://www.4wdtrips.net

[GoodTimes]

I had a hole in the tank of my '72 chevy blazer back in high school. Fancy patches weren't available back then (at least to my knowledge). I took a sheet metal screw, fitted it with a washer and a piece of rubber gasket I cut from somewhere, and screwed the screw into the hole. The rubber made a good seal when backed up by the steel washer. I sold the blazer several years later....with the "temporary" repair still there.</div>
Obviously this will not work for a crack, but for pin-hole punctures, it can be handy.</div>
I have no experience with those patches you saw.</div>



olllllllo <---- If you can read that, roll me over.

KG6OWO

Price is soon forgotton, quality is not.

[JackSilb]

Steve,

Any news on the patch?

-JACK


So much to see, so little time. Try using your 4WD tosee and do more.
Tread Lightly! empowers generations to enjoy the outdoors responsibly...
http://www.4wdtrips.net

[MrS]

JackSilb said...Any news on the patch?

The only research I've done is post the question here. I plan to read the package next time at the Auto parts store.

I was hoping to learn from all the know-it-all's around here. http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/joker1.gif

KF6YSB

[JackSilb]

Come on MrS. Use some of your 007 gear and agents.

-JACK


So much to see, so little time. Try using your 4WD tosee and do more.
Tread Lightly! empowers generations to enjoy the outdoors responsibly...
http://www.4wdtrips.net

[BajaTaco]

I have some gas tank patch that I bought at an auto parts store, but I have never tried it.

Something I read, but haven't tried... "Did you know that tire plugs can be used as a temporary patch on a gas tank but soap is a natural quick fix for a gas tank leak. It seems some kind of chemical reaction between the soap and the gasoline forms a pretty good temporary bonding agent. Tire plugs are not advised because they are a petroleum product and gasoline tends to dissolve them across time."

Something I thought of would be to try using some duct tape to stop the initial leak (make a circular patch out of the tape), then quickly apply some polysulfide (http://www.bergdahl.com/PR-1435.htm) over the patch, overlapping onto the surface of the tank.


http://www.bajataco.com
Vibram or BFG - getting there on rubber and seeing it all!

[Goingwayoutback]

We used J.B. WELD 2 nights ago on my friends gas tank bottomand its still holding. My freind has a 68 Jeep Commando. You can get JB WELD at any automotive store and should be a basic supply in any off road tool kit. This stuff is amazing. You can drill it, thread it and just about anything really. $3.00 bucks or so I believe.

http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/supercool.gifhttp://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/supercool.gif http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/supercool.gif http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/supercool.gif http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/supercool.gif http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/supercool.gif http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/supercool.gif http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/supercool.gif http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/supercool.gif http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/supercool.gif http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/supercool.gif http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/supercool.gif http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/supercool.gif http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/supercool.gif http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/supercool.gif http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/supercool.gif

[MrS]

Thanks for the JB info.

Your correct thats JB weld should be in any (all) off road kits.

I carry a tube, but didn't know it would work on gas.

Was you leak still dripping gasoline? Did the JB weld stick with it leaking or did you have to remove the tank and prep the leak?

At least Ford circles the problem.

[Goingwayoutback]

Actually I was the one that told"my neighbor"to use JB Weld. I kinda supervised. The hole was about 3/8" in dia. and the gas was all drained out. Well kinda we were parked on his driveway which tilted the tank up so the tank was almost empty. for prep we (we = neighbor doing all work) just wiped the outside of the tank to remove the surface dirt. WE then just threaded a (Guestamate) slightly bigger bolt (7/16") through hole. Then WE applied the JB Weld around and over bolt. Since it was about 25 degrees out we left the shop light on facing the bolt all night. 30 minutes later it was hard as a rock so we just put 5 gallons of gas in. NO LEAKS so far. BUT HIS FILTER PLUGGED UP ON HIS WAY HOME THE NEXT NIGHT FROM WORK. Thats what happens when you run your 37 year old tank dry.


No leaking gas.
Slightly cleaned the area around hole.
Applied in cold weather but had a work light about a foot away for 30 minutes or so.
Then we sat back and sang our praises of what a great job WE didhttp://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/beertoast.gif DONE.

NOTE: We did have a very old tube of JB Weld that had been opened on another job 3 years earlier. We did a test sample and that didnt harden very good. New tube purchased for use. In my opinion we didnt need the bolt. I believe the JB Weld would have worked perfectly.

I will also get a photo of the patch "WE" performed.http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/biggrin.gif





Post Edited (Going way out back) : 3/4/2005 11:00:46 AM (GMT-8)

[MrS]

Going way out back said...
Actually I was the one that told him to use JB......Hummm http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/notme.gif http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/headscratch.gif are you two different people with the same name?

Anywho no matter, god knows we have a share of strange around here. So thanks for the prep work for the JB weld to work.

I thinking about running a JB weld to gas tank repair TEST. I have a 1 gal paint can (new) that was from some old R&amp;D work. I'm thinking about taking my old (2 years or so) JB weld tube out of the truck. Puch a small hole andsome gas in the paint can and see if JB weld will stick. Maybe I should buy so of that 'tank repair' stuff and see what works best.

Any thoughts? Should I get the paint can rusty first?

At least Ford circles the problem.

[Goingwayoutback]

Nope I'm the only 'Going way out back' there is. I meant I was the one that suggested the use of JB Weld.

As far as a paint can. Hmmm I believe the gas tank sheet metal is a heavier gauge steel. I'm not sure if paint cans are galvinized on both sides. I would say no since there maybe to many diffrences. I will say you might not notice if you have a fuel leak until 90% of your gas is already gone. That was the case for my neighbor. I believe JB weld would hold up anyway to leaking gas since it would putty up and plug the hole which would stop the leak. It also depends on how big the hole is. first I would see if the jb weld would harden in gas. Make a small ball and drop in about inch of gas. (paint can would work)

JUST BE VERY CAREFUL

[crawler#976]

http://www.permatex.com/auto/autouc.asp?automotive=yes&amp;f_call=get_item&amp;item_no= 80884[/b]Gas%20Tank%20%20and%20Radiator%20Repair"] ("http://www.permatex.com/products/industrial_individual_products.asp?selectid=24&amp;cat egory=maintenance&amp;product=Permatex,%20[b)

this is what I've got in my tool kit...haven't used it yet tho

[luangwablondes]

Just regular soap, not the fancy hand softener type will do the trick. Pins holes, punctures, and cracks. Have used it a couple timeson othervehicles in the African bush. SOP. Holds better than the crap they sell in auto part stores. Holds long enough till you can get a proper repair done. Diesel or petrol.

[lucazec]

What about these liquid steel type products, will they hold?

Kev
www.AlpineTribe.com (http://www.AlpineTribe.com)

[MrS]

Going way Outback said...
We used J.B. WELD.......
As most of us know this is some great stuff.Now if we can just get EVERYONE to carry it.

A few trips back a friends radiator cracked in the outback. At camp that night we JBed it and let it set overnight. Next day we changed plan and headed toward home, and the patch held just fine, even at freeway speeds across the Mojave.

BTW, I need to start carrying a little disposable stir stick http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/idea.gif

I kinda forgot about testing the fuel leak thing. http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/notme.gif

At least Ford circles the problem.

[bufeo]

luangwablondes said...
Just regular soap... . Holds long enough till you can get a proper repair done. Diesel or petrol.I just want to concur, and I speak from experience. I've carried a bar of Lava® soap in my kit for 40 years. It works. I knocked a pretty big hole in our '64 Wagoneer's tank and the soap was still there when I sold the car...with disclaimer, of course.

I've had experience with JB Weld® also. It works fine but is not as readily available as plain soap.

I'm not sure where I first learned about the attributes of Lava® soap for stopping gas leaks. Dick Cepek used to publish a dynamite catalog with all kinds of useful off-road info in it. The Cliff Cross guides did also. I don't know, it could have been from a dozen sources, but it works.

I "don't leave home without it." In fact, I'd rather leave my American Express® card home than my bar of soap.
========================
GO 3X! http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/emoticons/supercool.gif

Okay, now that we've met the good peoplelet's find thebad roads!

[alanh]

Is Lava just your favorite for other reasons or does it work especially well for this purpose? I haven't used any for a long time, but I recall it being pretty hard and gritty. Like I said, its been a long time, but I didn't think it was very maleable like Ivory or one of the softer moisterizer type bars that seem like they could be mashed into a hole pretty easily.

Alan
KE7AXC
2000 4Runner

[bufeo]

Lava is only my favorite because it was the one recommended, probably owing to its chemical makeup. In any event I can attest to its effectiveness.

Okay, now that we've met the good peoplelet's find thebad roads!

[BajaXplorer]

Two more cents. I have been with people who used the
soap to stop the leak then applied JB weld over it to make a semi-permanent patch. Let it set up for 45 minutes and it completed the trip. This also worked for an abused oil pan.
BX

I'm lost, but I'm making good time. (Yogi Berra)

[Ramdough]

JB Weld makes a gas tank patch compound too. Suposedly you can use it underwater. It looks like a glue stick. I toured the factory once, 9 years ago.


Click the links below for more info on these two products (I still need to buy some for me):


"J-B Stik Weld is a hand kneadable, steel-reinforced epoxy putty adhesive/sealant that will plug holes and make permanent repairs on wet and dry surfaces. It will even cure completely submerged in water or GASOLINE!......" (http://www.jbweld.net/products/jbstik.php)


For your potable water tank or gas tank.


"WATERWELD will plug or seal practically anything that leaks. It will patch holes and cracks, and mend almost anything that is broken. It is excellent for rebuilding or fabricating parts, and as an all-purpose adhesive for metals, wood, fiberglass, masonry, ceramics, PVC and ABS. .....Safe for use on lines carrying potable water. We should really call this amazing product "The Miracle Welder," because you can use it to plug holes and make permanent repairs under water and in gas tanks -- while they're still leaking...." (http://www.jbweld.net/products/water.php)



(Link Back to Ramdough's Main Mod Thread) (http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/?f=12&amp;m=8360&amp;g=8360#m8360)

[HenryJ]

Ramdough said...
...'WATERWELD'... (http://www.jbweld.net/products/water.php)Almost sounds too good to be true.

Nice find, I'll have to keep my eyes open for some. Thanks for the link /forum/emoticons/ok-kewl.gif

'Speed is just a matter of Money - How fast do YOU </font>want to go?'-mechanic from Mad Max-</font>

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