Diesel leak

[gosh]

I have a very small diesel weep which I cannot get to without major deconstruction. I could probably get some tape around the offending part.

Any useful suggestions from anyone would be most welcome

Gosh

 

[LittleShip]

What is the part, where is it situated. You will not be able to wrap tape arond anything to stop a diesel leak !! Sorry to tell you this but it looks like you will have to do a proper job

All the best
Tom

 

[squidge]

Short term bodge required ? is the leak on the tank or a fitting?
depents on the tape but probly wont stop the leak for more than 5mins.Self almalgamating tape might work longer but the fuel will rot the rubber,
you could clean off around the area and use an epoxy filler or "chemical metal"
If its the tank "Frost" car restorers can supply a product that you poor into your empty tank to fix leaks, i think its made by POR.usa.
But as little ship said sooner or later you are gonna have to take the pill and do a "propper job" little leaks can get not so little , usually when you dont need them to.
Good luck
regards
Squidge

 

[Bodach na mara]

There is no tape that I know that will stop a diesel leak, or even stick to a surface contaminated by diesel

 

[LORDNELSON]

Maybe it would help us to reply if you said what engine it is, where the leak is and in what model of boat? Perhaps some one has relevant experience

 

[Anonymous]

Meanwhile, can you hang a little pot under it to stop pollution and so you can see how bad the leak is, and whether it is getting worse?

 

[crms]

Fill up the tank, clean around the weep with hot detergent to remove surface diesel and and weld it. If it is only a seam weeping, the diesel inside will not catch fire whilst you hit the seam for a second or so with a weld stick/MIG.

 

[Marmalade]

If you can clean the area some cold-weld putty from B&Q might seal it - but diesel is just about the most penetrative thing ever and welding will be the only long term solution. I'd be a bit scared to weld a tank full of fuel though!

 

[Anonymous]

[ QUOTE ]
.......but diesel is just about the most penetrative thing ever....

[/ QUOTE ]Good point - maybe as good as Plus Gas or other 'penetrating fluids', dirt cheap and readily available on board.

 

[gosh]

Thanks for your replies. I was afraid it would be a problem. The leak is not enough to collect any liquid although very occasionally I notice a smear in the bilge below the offending part. It is from either the union at the bottom of the tank which is impossible to get to without taking the engine out or the SS flexible hose (about 3 ft long) from the tank to the valve. The corrugated SS hose is 'wet'. It's the sort of hose used in gas installations put in by a previous owner.
Thats the info most of you asked for but I don't think it's going to produce any magic answers

Thanks anyway

Gosh

 

[Evadne]

If diesel is leaking very slowly out of one of several fittings or an indeterminate place on a pipe, you can tie a strip of paper towel around the pipe. If it gets wet, the leak is above it, if not its below. If you can get blue towel (aka kimwipe) then the staining is more obvious.
From what you've said though, if the whole pipe is wetted with diesel then it'll be the fitting, unless its running down the side of the tank. It may be possible to seal the threads with a little ptfe tape, or it may be that inside the joint there is an imperfect seal that needs replacing, perished rubber, cracked olive or whatever. Either way it sounds like you'll have to take out the engine eventually or hire the services of a small dwarf.