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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Fuel tank leak

I have just found that the fuel tank on my '71 car is weeping fuel. I fitted this tank new when I rebuilt the car around 20+ years ago, so I guess its not done too badly. The tank sounds pretty solid - I think the leak is just from the mid-height flanged joint.

Options are to be buy a replacement at around £85 which seems not a bad price, or
to try out one of the tank repair kits that I think involve sloshing a liquid sealer around inside the tank. A full kit for this, including cleaner and prep products, is around £55.
I suppose another option would be to buy a new tank and then treat it immediately. Sealer for this would be around £18 as one wouldn't need the pre-treatment products as well.

Any thoughts?
Guyw

Whilst I think the sealants do work especially if you have a tank that is not replaceable I personally would go for a new one given the costs involved. I have seen the effects of sealant which as not properly cured and the hassle of getting it all out.
Bob Beaumont

Is the sealant effective against the new fuels?
Graeme Williams

Ebay has nice new tanks on the cheap... so id buy tbat and seal it

but before id a piece of ally sheet and slather on someong set time JB weld or other long set time 2 part epoxy and try that

prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

I used slosh tank sealer on a brand new midget tank thinking it would preserve it. What it actually did was block up the gauze filter on the end of the pick-up pipe That tank was scrap without ever having been on the road. Just my two penn'orth.
Mike Howlett

Mike

could you not just replace the filter

p
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

How would you get at it Prop without cutting the tank open?
Mike Howlett

i was hoping it would be easy as mine dosnt have a pick up pipe and filter and need to hook something in there ...

how big is the fuel sender hole... my thought was to go thur that opening

prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

Id buy a new tank...and not use the sealer.

The hassle of repairing one for the price of replacing just kills fixing the old one. In my opinion its one of the most unrewarding tasks to be put threw.

I've always heard horror stories of sealers in tanks that the methanol in the gas eats away and contaminates the fuel system.



Just an opinion.
S

Thanks. Yes l have ordered a new tank, and not ordered sealer. ;-)
Guyw

FWIW, My new tank was made in Canada "Believe it or not"
and was of excellent quality.
R W Bowers

Yes, I have seen a number of tanks in which the sealer didn't work and created ongoing blockages.
Paul Walbran

Tank arrived. Also made in Canada. Looks well made with some sort of plated finish.
Guyw

Galvanised (unless they have changed it recently).
Paul Walbran

Yes l presumed it was a zinc coating. It's now black. Guaranteed up to 20% ethanol.
Guyw

A black fuel tank


Guyw

That is some nice blacking Guy! :-)
Malcolm Le Chevalier

It's a bit rough, bit ok for a fuel tank. It's that Eastwood's extreme chassis black. Supposed to be more chip resistant that modern Hammerstein. But more importantly it is claimed to be fully petrol and oil proof. Horrible stuff to use though, highly toxic.
Guyw

Guy

A little tip, let the paint dry and harden before installing if you can. The petrol resistant qualities improve significantly! I had a tiny weep from the union of the fuel line and the paint softened and came off.
Bob Beaumont

Horrible stuff to use though, highly toxic.

Ha Ha ha!

Prop keeps an open can of it next to his bed for a few sniffs before he's of to dreamland every night!

He highly recommends it! :-)
S

Thanks for that tip Bob. I am away up north again this weekend so it won't get installed for another few days at earliest.

The safety advice is there on the tin, but if buying mail order from Frost, as I did, you don't get to see all the warnings until after you have paid up. First time I used it I didn't wear a breathing mask, as I was outside and Cumbria generally classes as "a well ventilated space". Even so after 15 minutes brush painting I began to feel ill and get a reaction on eyes and lips which took a while to clear. Not nice!

I guess Prop is immune to it, having become accustomed to much stronger substances through his trade job. ;-)
Guyw

Ha ha ha!
S

This thread was discussed between 01/08/2016 and 05/08/2016

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