Plastic Fuel Tank Repair

fyshndad · 07-02-2007, 09:52 AM

Does anyone know if there is a product that will seal a plastic gas tank??
Someting like silicone that will be easy to use but not silicone (It wont work with gas)

I was thinking of something that would form a patch simular to patching a tire or rubber raft that actually bonds or galvenizes the plastic together

A glue like PVC cement that bonds 2 pieces and use a seperate piece of plastic to go over the crack

Anyone know of such a product?

Thanks in advance

HiTekRdNek · 07-02-2007, 09:57 AM

Hank, Try an automotive store they have fuel tank repair kits. Might do the trick. Not sure if it will work on a poly tank.

Chrome Bumper · 07-02-2007, 10:04 AM

Polyethylene can't be solvent cemented. There are fuel resistant sealants, silicon isn't one of them. Read the labels. Surfing the internet should pull up the labels, for stuff like some of the permatex line. 3m has a line too, including 5200. Scatching it good with sand paper might give you enough profile for adhesion but it sound risky.

bull285 · 07-02-2007, 10:15 AM

[quote=fyshndad;1579424]Does anyone know if there is a product that will seal a plastic gas tank??
Someting like silicone that will be easy to use but not silicone (It wont work with gas)

fyshndad,
if your tank is made of HDPE (most likely it is) I don't believe there is a product out there that will fuse it except heat. I looked for a while trying to find a way to repair a coleman canoe. This was a few years back so there might be something out there now. I doubt it that stuff is just about impervious to everything. What I did find was a plastic welder setup at Harbor Freight that uses a hot air stream (10psi I believe) to weld with. I believe it was around $30. With a little practice I was able to get the job done (no leaks) but it was no where near as pretty as what I can do with metal. Good luck with it.

Threemuch · 07-02-2007, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrome Bumper

Polyethylene can't be solvent cemented. There are fuel resistant sealants, silicon isn't one of them. Read the labels. Surfing the internet should pull up the labels, for stuff like some of the permatex line. 3m has a line too, including 5200. Scatching it good with sand paper might give you enough profile for adhesion but it sound risky.

I was thinking the exact same thing. 5200 or some fuel resistant epoxy will bond to the thing, but it will only be held on to the poly by adhesion, and that is known to be a tough surface to adhere to. I would replace the tank. You don't need to worry about fuel spills/leaks below decks, especially gas. Boat fires are horrible accidents. Boat explosions are worse.

If I really needed to repair a tank, I would maximize my adhesion area and the strength of the repair by making a composite. Fiberglass is probably what I would use with a product like this: http://www.caswellplating.com/aids/epoxygas.htm
And then I would seal it from the inside in the same manner that they describe for interior repairs on their website.

Good luck.

Herring Problem · 07-02-2007, 10:27 AM

This material can be repaired by using the plastic holding tank repair kit that is use on travel trailer tanks. The problem I see, this is a fuel tank for gasoline. And no matter how you repair this tank, you are not going to be happy.

The safest thing to do is buy a new tank. The pounding of the boat will cause the repair to fail sooner or later, be safe and replace the tank.

Just my two cents from repairing a tank once.

cptdarel · 07-02-2007, 10:45 AM

economy, safty, good sence, dump it and buy new.

Metal Manipulator · 07-02-2007, 11:35 AM

I have to agree, get a new tank. I personaly have not had any luck repairing plastic anything.

fyshndad · 07-02-2007, 11:46 AM

Thanks for all the good input

A new tank is what I will get
With people who smoke onboard I will not risk hasing gas leaking into the bilge or on the deck

The tank was a portable one so it can be replaced easily
getting the gas out of the damaged tank will be the hard part

I do think I will go to an 18 Gal Tank just so I have more range

Yesterday without reserves kept us in to 30 miles out
2 built in tanks and we only had 10 gallons left out of 48 gallons
not as much of a cushion as I like but it was an exceptionly nice day on the big blue with 18 more gallon I couldv'e went 60 out and back with over 20 gallons left

In case you are doing the math I get a lot better milage while trolling than I do running thus the extra distance I gan go

Something Good · 07-02-2007, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fyshndad

Thanks for all the good input

A new tank is what I will get
With people who smoke onboard I will not risk hasing gas leaking into the bilge or on the deck

The tank was a portable one so it can be replaced easily
getting the gas out of the damaged tank will be the hard part

I do think I will go to an 18 Gal Tank just so I have more range

Yesterday without reserves kept us in to 30 miles out
2 built in tanks and we only had 10 gallons left out of 48 gallons
not as much of a cushion as I like but it was an exceptionly nice day on the big blue with 18 more gallon I couldv'e went 60 out and back with over 20 gallons left

In case you are doing the math I get a lot better milage while trolling than I do running thus the extra distance I gan go

Good idea on getting the new tank Hank. I have a 6.6 gallon portable mercury outboard tank you can use in the mean time if you can't replace the tank right away. I have a second that is on loan. If he is done using it you are welcome to both.

Mr. Fisherman · 07-02-2007, 07:03 PM

Hank, I have a 12 gallon tank, it is full and ready to go.
Come get it.
We can work something out...

Ray

Mr. Fisherman · 07-03-2007, 03:59 AM

Jigging it back to the top for Hank.

Friends don't let friends run substandard gear...

fyshndad · 07-03-2007, 07:30 AM

Thanks for the offers guys but I am off to fishermans at noon for a brand new 18 gallon tank
The one I am getting is usually mounted in the boat but it is a heavier gage of plastic than the portables
I am going to turn this 18 gal tank into a portable by putting an air vent where you would normally put the overflow

Mr. Fisherman · 07-03-2007, 08:55 AM

Hank, the 12 gallon one I have is new and it is full. It was only used once...
I could use the garage space...

fyshndad · 07-03-2007, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Fisherman

Hank, the 12 gallon one I have is new and it is full. It was only used once...
I could use the garage space...

PM sent
Seems my idea was flawed

Chrome Bumper · 07-03-2007, 02:34 PM

score!

Mr. Fisherman · 07-03-2007, 08:25 PM

I lied....
It is 13 gallons, has a fuel gauge and a vent.