200L tank leaking repair project!

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Boater On Thames

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As I finally found the diesel leaking in the bilge is from the starboard tank (my boat has two tanks, each 200L). No fitting or pipe leaking. There is only a very slow stream come from the starboard tank room drain hold. Trouble is, it is impossible to access or remove the tank. I use a pipe camera put in the tank room and found the top and surround are all dry. So, I think maybe the leak only on the bottom or close to the bottom. Therefore, I will try to*fix it by using resin based compounds to fill to the bottom. Thank you Assassin give me this idea in my other post

If that doesn’t work. The worst case, I will just empty the starboard tank and use the port tank only which still okay.

Please share your experience or suggestion for this project. Many thanks!
 
If you think the leak will contaminate the resin as it goes off consider pulling a gentle vacuum ( gentle so as not to collapse the tank) in the tank while it cures.
Jim
 
Lucas Gan said:
As I finally found the diesel leaking in the bilge is from the starboard tank (my boat has two tanks, each 200L). No fitting or pipe leaking. There is only a very slow stream come from the starboard tank room drain hold. Trouble is, it is impossible to access or remove the tank. I use a pipe camera put in the tank room and found the top and surround are all dry. So, I think maybe the leak only on the bottom or close to the bottom. Therefore, I will try to*fix it by using resin based compounds to fill to the bottom. Thank you Assassin give me this idea in my other post

If that doesn’t work. The worst case, I will just empty the starboard tank and use the port tank only which still okay.

Please share your experience or suggestion for this project. Many thanks!
Click to expand...

I was talking with the local Fire and Rescue service about the kit they carry. In the case of road traffic accidents if they have a petrol or diesel tank leaking (but obviously not burning) they carry a fist size pack of a special very quick setting resin they can press over the hole and they assured me it stick quickly and without cleaning, wiping or any other pre treatment. If you have a contact in the fire service, try asking them although they may not know how long the repair will last.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
 
Thanks mates. You guys are great advisors.
The first thing I have to find out the right material to fill in.
Plum's input is very helpful. I will have to find out what they're using.

Many thanks!
 
Thank you Freebee. That is very helpful. I need to buy whole bunch of that.

I will first use that sealer do an experiment on my leaking vacuum machine buket to gain so experience. Many thanks.
 
Plum said:
I was talking with the local Fire and Rescue service about the kit they carry. In the case of road traffic accidents if they have a petrol or diesel tank leaking (but obviously not burning) they carry a fist size pack of a special very quick setting resin they can press over the hole and they assured me it stick quickly and without cleaning, wiping or any other pre treatment. If you have a contact in the fire service, try asking them although they may not know how long the repair will last.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
Click to expand...

This stuff is not designed for sealing tanks, just a temporary measure to stop them leaking for a short duration and it isn't just for fuel as it is designed for most liquids such as milk where a leak can cause considerable pollutant damage, from memory it lasts for about 6 hours and is bloody expensive.

Many of the epoxy putties such as the sort you pull a piece off and mix by squeezing it aren't effective either as they are not fuel resistant and are at best a temporary measure to stem a leak until you get assistance.
From the description it would suggest that the metal id going thin and porous and this is causing the leak and if this is the case it is a matter of doing a structural repair on the tank if it covers an excessive area, or for a small localised repair something such as Plastic Padding Chemical Metal or Petro Patch would suffice as they are chemical resistant.

One simple test you can do is to empty the tank, isolate it, and clean it, and then put a large outside halogen security light into the tank and spin it round at different heights and if your tank is located in the bowels of your boat, and it is dark, you will see the light through the pin holes or very thin sections of metal, although a mirror is useful for difficult to access areas.
 
Thanks Assassin. That is such a great idea. I will give it a try. Although my tank is completely unaccessible, I can only see the top and one side. All the other three sides and bottom are completely no any gap.

By the way my tank is a aluminium tank.
 
Lucas Gan said:
Thanks Assassin. That is such a great idea. I will give it a try. Although my tank is completely unaccessible, I can only see the top and one side. All the other three sides and bottom are completely no any gap.

By the way my tank is a aluminium tank.
Click to expand...

on my old boat there had been a stainless steel rivet dropped into the tank. Maybe when new. Everywhere the rivet stopped it corroded the aluminium tank a bit. Eventually it became like a tea bag.
I had to get the tank out and weld a new bottom in. This involved cutting quite a lot of boat. But it is never impossible to get them out. Maybe nearly impossible........
 
I have just taken my leaky aluminium tank out (luckily for me it's relatively easy on my boat).

I had a feint whiff of petrol. Thought it was a leaky hose but couldn't really work out where it was coming from. I decided to pull the tank & it was absolutely trashed. The white waxy corrosion deposits were slowing the leak but it was pock-marked everywhere underneath & on the sides.

My point is; if you've got an ally tank & it's leaking I would just 'bite the bullet' & replace it.

Sorry... :(
 
Thank you for your remind Scala. I found I made a big mistake! The tank is 200 US gallons equal 757 litres each!! Not 200 L. My bad!!

757 L each tank!! My dear, it currently has 3/4 tank diesel in it. This is another challenge to me, don't know where to storage that much to do the repair project now!
 
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Now I might have to order a much bigger fuel pump and bigger container to transfer the diesel! I ordered a small pump yesterday which only can move 4.5L/Min. Looks like too small now.
 
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TheOrs said:
I have just taken my leaky aluminium tank out (luckily for me it's relatively easy on my boat).

I had a feint whiff of petrol. Thought it was a leaky hose but couldn't really work out where it was coming from. I decided to pull the tank & it was absolutely trashed. The white waxy corrosion deposits were slowing the leak but it was pock-marked everywhere underneath & on the sides.

My point is; if you've got an ally tank & it's leaking I would just 'bite the bullet' & replace it.

Sorry... :(
Click to expand...

Not all aluminium tanks are bad though. It all depends on the grade/aloy of aluminium used. My Aluminium tank is 20 years old and in perfect condition.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
 
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Lucas Gan said:
Thank you for your remind Scala. I found I made a big mistake! The tank is 200 US gallons equal 757 litres each!! Not 200 L. My bad!!

757 L each tank!! My dear, it currently has 3/4 tank diesel in it. This is another challenge to me, don't know where to storage that much to do the repair project now!
Click to expand...

What about buying a heating oil tank to store it in?
 
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