Diesel Fuel Tank question - non-boaty

[Kantara]

Daughter used our Diesel Fiat Panda to take stuff down to Leeds. Next day, found the fuel tank was almost empty. She managed to get it to the Fiat garage down the road who put it on the ramp and showed her a neat 1cm hole where someone had drilled it. They want 450GBP to replace it.
So,
Anyone know if a plastic diesel tank can be patched?

Anyone know of a reliable back street garage in Leeds that would patch it if possible, or replace the tank rather cheaper?

Boaty bit - I would obviously travel to Leeds to help, but I've hired a van to clear the boat out for the winter!

 

[nedmin]

what you need is someone to make a rectangular "washer" just less than 1cm but about 2cm long,drill hole in middle put a set screw in it so that threads stick outside then fit a gasket and washer larger than hole then rubber washer then steel washer to suit thread size then nut to fit.If thread is long enough you can hold with pliers while you tighten nut.

 

[nedmin]

Sorry, rectangular washer needs putting inside tank thats why its rectangular so that the wide bits hold against the inside of tank

 

[Kantara]

that's a good idea. Problem is that daughter is not mechanically minded and trying to talk her through this is not feasible.
So I'm still after a little man in Leeds.

 

[savageseadog]

I suppose this is what's going to happen when our boats are on white diesel.

You can make a plug from rubber between two substantial washers with a screw passing right through. Make sure it's a close fit and push into place and tighten. The rubber will expand as its compressed and seal up. I doubt if it would pass an MOT though. Other approach would be to use threaded inserts similar to pop rivets and screw a plate over it.

 

[milfordman]

Another idea would be to replace the tank with a small temporary which could be secured in the boot. The pipe from the original tanwould have to be disconnected and extended with a flexible tube the end of which would then be placed in the temporary tank in boot. The temporary tank could be five litre capacity, but for a journey of any length would have to be repeatedly replenished

 

[Slowtack]

What about get-you-home temporary stick-on repair using DIY epoxy or similar

 

[Tallon]

Never mind that - Derbi-gum will fix the immediate problem but if some scrote would drill a hole in a fuel tank for a few (~6 gallons or less of diesel) what chance do we have on the boats if we have to use white / road diesel?

Keel-hauling is too good for the scrotes.

I think I would be tempted to teke the 15nm off shore and let them fall over-board if I caught them nicking fuel of my boat.

Tom