Do you know any tank sealant can work without fully clean and dry the tank?

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Boater On Thames

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I have empty my tank today. My problem is that I can't make the tank completely clean and dry because it is too big and can not remove, and with limited access. So, Is there any sealant or product can seal a tank when the tank still a wet and oily? Thanks.
 
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Lucas Gan said:
I have empty my tank today. My problem is that I can't make the tank completely clean and dry because it is too big and can not remove, and with limited access. So, Is there any sealant or product can seal a tank when the tank still a wet and oily? Thanks.
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There are such adhesives but only for emergency repairs. I would certainly not trust such a repair if I were going out to sea.

www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
 
No, there isn't. The only sealant that claims to be diesel resistant when submerged, against metal, is CT1 but it won't stick properly to diesel soiled surfaces.
I managed to clean mine with a steam cleaning lance, detergents and solvent, sucking it dry with a wet vac each time.
Painfully slow and laborious, but it worked and has sealed now for over 3 years.
 
There is a relatively new soft brazing cum soldering rod on the market suitable for aluminium. If you have ever silver soldered you will get the concept.

So if you have access to repair the leaks you should have access to braze them shut with low heat brazing rods. Obviously this will need to be done with the tanks thoroughly empty. I have successfully used these to reseal aluminium water tanks that suffered crevice erosion through condensation which is probably what you are suffering from. However what I can say is if you have one leak from crevice erosion you will shortly have many more. I think I made over 100 brazes to the water tank and then had the tank surface sealed and painted to halt further corrosion. I suspect you will have to replace your tank at some point so ....

anyway, here is one brand of rod but there are many jumping on this teck

Durafix Aluminium Welding Low Temp Easyweld Rod + Brush: Amazon.co.uk: Car & Motorbike
Aluminium Industrial Brazing Rods for sale | eBay



MAPgas torch

Map Gas Plus Cylinder, Yellow, 400 g: Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

Faithfull GZWORK Quick Pro Auto Power Torch: Amazon.co.uk: Business, Industry & Science
 
Thanks. So I will just try to clean again and again see if I could make it clean and dry or not. The challenge is the tank can not move at all, and the only access is the fuel gauge sensor hold. So there is always a little diesel and water mixture left in the bottom can not reach because something separate the inside.
 
BruceK said:
There is a relatively new soft brazing cum soldering rod on the market suitable for aluminium. If you have ever silver soldered you will get the concept.

So if you have access to repair the leaks you should have access to braze them shut with low heat brazing rods. Obviously this will need to be done with the tanks thoroughly empty. I have successfully used these to reseal aluminium water tanks that suffered crevice erosion through condensation which is probably what you are suffering from. However what I can say is if you have one leak from crevice erosion you will shortly have many more. I think I made over 100 brazes to the water tank and then had the tank surface sealed and painted to halt further corrosion. I suspect you will have to replace your tank at some point so ....

anyway, here is one brand of rod but there are many jumping on this teck

Durafix Aluminium Welding Low Temp Easyweld Rod + Brush: Amazon.co.uk: Car & Motorbike
Aluminium Industrial Brazing Rods for sale | eBay



MAPgas torch

Map Gas Plus Cylinder, Yellow, 400 g: Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

Faithfull GZWORK Quick Pro Auto Power Torch: Amazon.co.uk: Business, Industry & Science
Click to expand...


He made thta look really easy, whcih means it will be almost impossible for normal man to achieve:ROFLMAO:
 
No it's easy. The only difficulty is making sure you dont overheat the parent material as ali oxide on the surface melts at a higher temp than the ali beneath. If you overheat the parent material it starts to sag. So once the rod melts pull the Mapgas further off until the rod pool starts to thicken then bring it closer etc.
 
BruceK said:
No it's easy. The only difficulty is making sure you dont overheat the parent material as ali oxide on the surface melts at a higher temp than the ali beneath. If you overheat the parent material it starts to sag. So once the rod melts pull the Mapgas further off until the rod pool starts to thicken then bring it closer etc.
Click to expand...
He has to take the tank out to do that , if so he is well to have new.
 
BruceK said:
There is a relatively new soft brazing cum soldering rod on the market suitable for aluminium. If you have ever silver soldered you will get the concept.

So if you have access to repair the leaks you should have access to braze them shut with low heat brazing rods. Obviously this will need to be done with the tanks thoroughly empty. I have successfully used these to reseal aluminium water tanks that suffered crevice erosion through condensation which is probably what you are suffering from. However what I can say is if you have one leak from crevice erosion you will shortly have many more. I think I made over 100 brazes to the water tank and then had the tank surface sealed and painted to halt further corrosion. I suspect you will have to replace your tank at some point so ....

anyway, here is one brand of rod but there are many jumping on this teck

Durafix Aluminium Welding Low Temp Easyweld Rod + Brush: Amazon.co.uk: Car & Motorbike
Aluminium Industrial Brazing Rods for sale | eBay



MAPgas torch

Map Gas Plus Cylinder, Yellow, 400 g: Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

Faithfull GZWORK Quick Pro Auto Power Torch: Amazon.co.uk: Business, Industry & Science
Click to expand...

I tried this with mapgas...its not easy....it probably needs a fair bit of practice and on a wet tank ..I think its a non starter....my advice cut it up and replace it....
 
Freebee said:
I tried this with mapgas...its not easy....it probably needs a fair bit of practice and on a wet tank ..I think its a non starter....my advice cut it up and replace it....
Click to expand...

Let me see. You failed an easy task so your advice to everyone is.... give up. Thats a classic :ROFLMAO:
 
Murv said:
No, there isn't. The only sealant that claims to be diesel resistant when submerged, against metal, is CT1 but it won't stick properly to diesel soiled surfaces.
I managed to clean mine with a steam cleaning lance, detergents and solvent, sucking it dry with a wet vac each time.
Painfully slow and laborious, but it worked and has sealed now for over 3 years.
Click to expand...

Plastic Padding Chemical Metal, designed for sealing fuels, oils, and most liquids, but it neeeds to be dry and clean.
 
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