Someone drilled a hole in my gas tank

Welp I’ve been out of town working and some crooked fuck drilled a hole into my gas tank apparently.

originally i thought it was a transmission issue as all of my warning lights for that went off.
It was sputtering no power.

At3 notifications on the dash all sorts of stuff.


Sent it to the dealership they let me know someone drilled a hole in it.
Unfortunately gas tank replacements are back order 3 weeks to 2 months out.

i need to get this boy home to la, can’t be stuck in Portland.

Anybody ever repair a gas tank like that? I thought about plastic welding
Potentially JB WELD or pro seal
Till i can get get a replacement and get back home

 

Brutal

 

How big is the Hole....

 

Maybe something like this plus some fuel safe RTV to get it home.

 

Perhaps the most Portland thing I've ever heard. Did you have a locking gas cap? Drilling the tank is a common go to when people have locking gas caps. This is why RV dealers advise against them.

 

Damn that’s rough.

I’ve personally used Milliput on fuel tanks in the past, and it works great. Basically clay you mold over the hole, let it set, and go. Milliput Standard 2-Part Self Hardening Putty, Yellow/Grey

$10 Milliput Standard 2-Part Self Hardening Putty, Yellow/Grey

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001OBBTMW

JB weld makes a similar putty product, but I haven’t used it personally.

 

I have had great success with JB Weld on plastic fuel tanks (genset tank). Lasted for many years until I sold the unit. Not sure if that is a solution in your situation but thought I would mention it. I would certainly find a way to plug it and move on until you can get it replaced. Check with a local garage.

 

Damn that sucks, I hate thieves!!!! Patch it and go for now. How big is the hole? Not sure what would be best to patch it with, but there has to be something that will hold for the short term.

 

Proper sized sheet metal screw into the hole with a rubber washer. Cover it up with JB weld. I may have done something like this before...

 

Bout 3/8 drill bit I’d guess

 

My fear with putting a rubber washer is the gas will eat that shit up

 

JB weld that thing. They have epoxy putty for plastics. I bet the old school JB weld would work just fine.

 

Drilled a hole in the gas tank. What an idiot. Surprised he didn't light a match so he could see better while doing it.

And for what - $20 in gas ? ...

I've discovered a long time ago it is easier and in the long run more profitable to go the straight and narrow route -

 

Or no washer... Use the JB weld and the screw together. I have rubber that lasts for use with gas. Same rubber that seals the old 5 gallon Jerry cans.

 

You can fix it fairly easily with fuel resistant plastic and a soldering iron. Possibly stop by the junk yard and ask if they have any busted plastic fuel tanks you could get a piece of.
USE ELECTRIC SOLDERING IRON ONLY AND ONLY WITH THE FUEL TANK EMPTY....
Sand the area around the hole beyond where the patch will be to scuff it up. Make the patch 1/4-3/8" past all sides of the hole. Use rubbing alcohol to clean the area. Use the soldering iron to tack the edge of the patch in place. Once it holds itself in place, use the melt the edge of the patch into the plastic of the tank using scrap pieces of the patch material as additional filler. Feather the repair into the tank to increase the hold strength.

I have fixed a few gas tanks this way and have not had any failures. Most recently, my fathers beater car which had multiple cracks in the fuel tank which cause a CEL. Total cost if you have to buy everything is still sub $40 which is a heck of a lot better than a new tank just because of a hole.
If there are any cracks/cuts, either drill a hole at the end of the crack or use the soldering iron to put a hole at the end and melt filler into the hole.
Once you have the materials and a place to do it, it is relatively quick to do.

 

Maybe if that much gas , tweaker logic is hard to understand.

 

West coast is at $4-6 a gallon … if our boy was full that’s $100. Gets you a nice hit of fenty for the night

 

Dude, the fixes here are too damn complicated. Get moldable epoxy resin linked above, this is exactly what it’s made to do, mash it around over the hole, and be done with it. Replace the fuel tank when you can get a new one.

 

Cordless tools...I love em' but they make thievery easier.

 

Another day in our crime filled west coast.. Sorry dude that sucks! Lots of great idea's here tho...