Help! Some Jerk punched a hole in my gas tank!

While I was mountain biking someone decided to use what looks like a screw driver to puncture a hole in my tank. I just filled my tank up too!
I have seen some products out there to repair plastic tanks. Do you guys have any experience using plastic gas tank repair kits?

 

Wow, that's low.

I would say that the tank needs to be removed for this repair, and thoroughly cleared of all remaining fuel and vapor.

I would think that the best way to repair this would be to weld it. You will need a filler plastic of the same type. I would be inclined to use a sheet metal plate on the inside to help maintain the form during the welding process, warm up the vicinity of the damage with a high temperature heat gun, I would avoid using a flame on it to prevent igniting the plastic, but you will want to liquify the gash in the tank and drip in molten plastic to fill the void. You can lay it on nice and thick for a ways around the gash to reinforce the area.

I would avoid using any kind of glue on it, as I'm sure most "repair" kits are. When you're dealing with a bond between dissimilar materials, you are almost guaranteed a long term problem with it, and eventual leaking, plus it won't be possible to weld it later when its been contaminated by glue.

In my opinion, you can either weld it, or replace it.

 

^

Now THAT was an educated post. Sadly, mine is not

I would do my best to fix it, in the way Shemp described, if funds are an issue. I'm sure a gas tank is not cheap.

 

For quick and easy, I'd try to locate one at a local salvage yard and do a swap out unless you have the time/knowledge to plastic weld as mentioned above. Personally, I can not weld plastic so I'd be looking for a replacement in a salvage yard or online parts dealer.

And I agree, that's one of the lowest things I've seen done in a while... Some people just plain suck!

 

BINGO! They actually work too.

So no more siphoning, just punch a hole and take what you need, absolutely terrible.

 

There is a "marine" type clay putty that comes in a small tube which is used to repair Poly gas tanks on boats. You can actually use it underwater and it hardens to a JB weld type seal. Some of our fisherman swear by that stuff and my local ACE hardware carries it.

Sorry i don't have info, but just to let you know there are easy options for you out there.

 

Thanks guys for the great responses! I talked to a well trusted mechanic today. He has no interest in this repair as he is a DOE mechanic. He told me they will plastic weld or use a patch kit as a last option on the road to get their trucks to a location where a new tank can be installed. The reason is because tanks expand and contract with the temperature, there will always be a weak spot at the repair site and it could fail. I put my family in my truck and the more I think about it, I don't think this is something I want failing with my kids and wife in the truck.

If I fix myself it might last forever, but there is a chance it will fail?

 

Dam that sucks

 

If you can get your hands on B 1/2 sealant it works great. B 1/2 is used to seal wing tanks of aircraft. I used it to seal a fuel tank on my dirt bike that was beaten quite a bit and it never failed or leaked. Its good stuff. Its also called Proseal.

 

You can get a plug and put it in with a router. It spins the plug so fast, friction heats the plastic and the plug melts in to the tank. Good as new.

 

Did you call your insurance company? Wondering what they would have to say about this. Probably nothing good but still wondering.

 

A patch or plug is a good thing to use until you can get another tank. Not replacing it is like buying cheapo brakes. You could, but why settle?

 

A proper weld job can actually be better than new.

 

Fuel tanks are crazy expensive: http://www.toyotapartsales.com/part...214074&vehicleid=1447055&searchText=fuel tank

$532

 

i almost caught some fools taking all the fuel from our fleet...they ran and left electric pumps, drills, etc..

i was gonna clobber them!! anyways, one guy got his personal truck drilled..he tried every sealant the store had..one by one, they all failed. he took it in, finally and got a junkyard tank.

good luck..some people suck.

 

On the news the other day they were talking about how they are drilling nowadays since they can't siphon. They had pictures of how they routed the hose and everything.... I'd rather have them siphon!

 

something else to worry about, beside stealing catalytic converters? Great.

time to armor up

 

We were driving down the road with my buddies dad, and long story short we hit some rebar in the road. His dad ended up sticking some soap in the hole temporarily because the fuel would not eat away at it. It was by no mean a long term fix but got us back to town safely.

 

Excellent point. Douchebags will be douchebags. If you make it more difficult for them to commit their douchebaggery, they'll just cause more damage in the process.

Like you, I'd much rather the tank be siphoned than the tank be destroyed. Either way, you lose your fuel. In the former, in fact, there even remains the high chance that they don't drain it all the way, so you can probably even drive it to the nearest gas station.

I once had a property get broken into. Douchebags kicked in the door. Of course, the heavy steel dead bolt firmly held together, resulting in both the door and the door frame being destroyed. In retrospect, a plastic latch would have been much better since it would hold up to everything less than being kicked in, but would save both the door and the frame if it was kicked in. They get in either way. Might as well limit the damage when they do.