Gas tank leak, replace or repair? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Wildstreak · 03-24-2011, 12:49 PM

so the other day while passing by my truck I noticed the smell of gas. I got down and looked and saw dripping from the tank. I dropped the tank and removed the straps. Right where one strap was there is a pinhole not bigger than a pen tip. Im not sure if I should just buy one of those patch kits or just get a new tank. What do you all think?

**hatzie** · 03-24-2011, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wildstreak

so the other day while passing by my truck I noticed the smell of gas. I got down and looked and saw dripping from the tank. I dropped the tank and removed the straps. Right where one strap was there is a pinhole not bigger than a pen tip. Im not sure if I should just buy one of those patch kits or just get a new tank. What do you all think?

I've never had good luck with fuel tank patches. They last 3-4 weeks at best. I'd get a new tank.

babyJay · 03-24-2011, 12:55 PM

I'd go with a new one. Chances are the hole can get a lot bigger real quick, and you won't even see it coming.

RandyP · 03-24-2011, 01:13 PM

O'Reillys sells the tanks, they are cheap enough in the grand scheme of things. If I went through the trouble and dropped the tank and it had any sort of hole, I'd not think twice and just put a new one back up in the hole.

lilpoindexter · 03-24-2011, 08:20 PM

When I punctured a metal gas tank by accident with a floor jack, i dimpled the tear in a little...and patched it with a quarter liberally slabbed with JB Weld on the outside and between the quarter and tank.

It held for years until I sold the car....

But you probably have a rusty tank, so I think their advise to get a new tank is sound.

motornut · 03-24-2011, 10:58 PM

slide old(new works too)inner tube from a bike on the straps so they don't rub
tighten the tank and cut the rest that you see, leaving the bit under the strap to the tank
use the rest on the other side

Gregs71 · 03-26-2011, 12:44 AM

When my 87 had a pin hole leak, I took a handheld wire brush to "scrape" off the rust to patch it. To my dismay, about 5 more pin holes opened up. If the metal is thin enough to rust thru in one spot its probably close to rusting thru in several other spots.

broey · 03-26-2011, 12:53 AM

clean it out with water, weld up the holes, pressure test the area with soapy water, rinse, air dry, and save some money

**old Rusty C10** · 03-26-2011, 08:11 AM

i got a tank for $100.... for that price its cheap enough to replace

motornut · 03-26-2011, 08:25 AM

new tank is the safer fix
best leave the tank welding to the pros
the other side may be as bad or close or other spots

Wildstreak · 03-27-2011, 01:28 PM

So I bought a new one. Went to swap it in today and was pulling the hoses from the tank when I broke something. I have no clue what to call it or what it is and I need your guys help. The hoses run from the fuel pump to something on the frame rail. its plastic, while pulling the hoses off of it I broke the housing, so now I need to replace that but have no clue what to call it. It has about 4 lines running from it. Any ideas what its called?

EDIT: I figured it out, its for the tank selection.

03-24-2011, 12:49 PM	#1
Wildstreak "something witty here" Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Salmo, B.C, Canada Posts: 966	Gas tank leak, replace or repair? so the other day while passing by my truck I noticed the smell of gas. I got down and looked and saw dripping from the tank. I dropped the tank and removed the straps. Right where one strap was there is a pinhole not bigger than a pen tip. Im not sure if I should just buy one of those patch kits or just get a new tank. What do you all think? __________________ 57 chevy 4x4 70 swb fleetside 4x4 68 burb 2wd: 71 burb 2wd: 350 4spd 71 lwb fleetside 4x4: 350/sm465/205/3.07 eaton posi rear 72 lwb fleetside Cheyenne 454/th400 1991 GMC V3500 CC 4x4

03-24-2011, 12:55 PM	#3
babyJay Arrived on a Pale Horse Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: SnagTown Indiana Posts: 2,524	Re: Gas tank leak, replace or repair? I'd go with a new one. Chances are the hole can get a lot bigger real quick, and you won't even see it coming. __________________ Jason 87 V30 350TBI/400 White w/Boss V-plow 89 R3500 CC SRW

03-24-2011, 01:13 PM	#4
RandyP Getting Old; Going Broke Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Owasso OK Posts: 2,764	Re: Gas tank leak, replace or repair? O'Reillys sells the tanks, they are cheap enough in the grand scheme of things. If I went through the trouble and dropped the tank and it had any sort of hole, I'd not think twice and just put a new one back up in the hole. __________________ *Why is every used 350 sbc out of a corvette?* There's only two things that excite a man, expensive toys and real expensive toys. *VEGETARIAN: That's an old Indian word meaning "I don't hunt so good."* When the going gets tough, switch to power tools.

03-24-2011, 08:20 PM	#5
lilpoindexter Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: los angeles Posts: 1,134	Re: Gas tank leak, replace or repair? When I punctured a metal gas tank by accident with a floor jack, i dimpled the tear in a little...and patched it with a quarter liberally slabbed with JB Weld on the outside and between the quarter and tank. It held for years until I sold the car.... But you probably have a rusty tank, so I think their advise to get a new tank is sound.

03-24-2011, 10:58 PM	#6
motornut 78K & 79C Jimmys Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Ottawa Ont CANADA Posts: 7,901	Re: Gas tank leak, replace or repair? slide old(new works too)inner tube from a bike on the straps so they don't rub tighten the tank and cut the rest that you see, leaving the bit under the strap to the tank use the rest on the other side __________________ John 1978 GMCJimmy4X4-350/203 1979 GMCJimmy4X2-305/350

03-26-2011, 12:44 AM	#7
Gregs71 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Amador County, Ca. Posts: 229	Re: Gas tank leak, replace or repair? When my 87 had a pin hole leak, I took a handheld wire brush to "scrape" off the rust to patch it. To my dismay, about 5 more pin holes opened up. If the metal is thin enough to rust thru in one spot its probably close to rusting thru in several other spots. __________________ 1995 GMC 4x4 1/2 ton 1999 Jeep Wrangler w/ 33's 68 camaro 350/350 1987 Chevy 3/4 ton 4x4 Suzuki DRZ 400s Dual Sport 1971 chevy long bed 2x4 194? Dodge 2.5 ton 1980 Chevy Cheyenne 4x4 1/2 ton I6/sm455 1989 Chevy V30 crewcab dually 454/TH400

03-26-2011, 12:53 AM	#8
broey Square Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Phoenix Arizona Posts: 1,568	Re: Gas tank leak, replace or repair? clean it out with water, weld up the holes, pressure test the area with soapy water, rinse, air dry, and save some money __________________ Squarebody Syndicate

03-26-2011, 08:11 AM	#9
old Rusty C10 Robert Olson Transport Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: recent transplant to NC USA Posts: 20,310	Re: Gas tank leak, replace or repair? i got a tank for $100.... for that price its cheap enough to replace __________________ Bob 1951 International running on a squarebody chassis "If a man's worth is judged by the people he associates himself with, then i am the richest man in the world knowing some of the fine people of this board" http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...t.php?f=25&a=9 (you can review the site rules here!) PM Me for your vehicle/parts hauling needs in the North East US or see my Facebook page Robert Olson Transport Live each day to the fullest.. you never know when fate is going to pull the rug out from under you... I hate cancer!!

03-26-2011, 08:25 AM	#10
motornut 78K & 79C Jimmys Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Ottawa Ont CANADA Posts: 7,901	Re: Gas tank leak, replace or repair? new tank is the safer fix best leave the tank welding to the pros the other side may be as bad or close or other spots __________________ John 1978 GMCJimmy4X4-350/203 1979 GMCJimmy4X2-305/350

03-27-2011, 01:28 PM	#11
Wildstreak "something witty here" Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Salmo, B.C, Canada Posts: 966	Re: Gas tank leak, replace or repair? So I bought a new one. Went to swap it in today and was pulling the hoses from the tank when I broke something. I have no clue what to call it or what it is and I need your guys help. The hoses run from the fuel pump to something on the frame rail. its plastic, while pulling the hoses off of it I broke the housing, so now I need to replace that but have no clue what to call it. It has about 4 lines running from it. Any ideas what its called? EDIT: I figured it out, its for the tank selection. __________________ 57 chevy 4x4 70 swb fleetside 4x4 68 burb 2wd: 71 burb 2wd: 350 4spd 71 lwb fleetside 4x4: 350/sm465/205/3.07 eaton posi rear 72 lwb fleetside Cheyenne 454/th400 1991 GMC V3500 CC 4x4 Last edited by Wildstreak; 03-27-2011 at 01:34 PM.



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