Leaking Diesel tank

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

I have two 15 gallons steel diesel tanks one of which has developed a leak. The tanks are bespoke shaped, therefore it may be easier to replace it with a flexible fuel tank. Has anyone used one of these flexible tanks? do you know of a supplier?. Is it easy to repair my old steel tank?

 

[Spyro]

Can you see the leak? If it is just one small spot rub back to clean metal and fix with glass fibre matt and epoxy from outside. good for many years.

 

[dingdongs]

this is what you need and will even repair an engine block too;http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/6-x-JB-STIK-W...9?pt=UK_WSJL_Wholesale_GL&hash=item35b0625859

 

[lenseman]

If time is of the essence, Evo-stick manufacture a Tank Weld (similar to the Stick-Weld above but for about a fiver from Halfords:

http://answers.halfords.com/answers/4028/product/526616/questions.htm

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_199433_langId_-1_categoryId_165691

I carry a tube onboard all the time.

 

[cliff]

Is it easy to repair my old steel tank?

Might be, depending on the overall condition. Assuming you can remove the tank check where the leak is coming from - seam or through the sheet/plate - if a seam has split it can be re-welded after cleaning. If the tank material has corroded away then either weld in a new section or fabricate a new tank using the old one as the template. Personally I would avoid epoxy putties unless for a very temporary "get me home" fix.

 

[Bodach na mara]

I don't know if flexible fuel tanks are made of the same stuf as flexible water tanks but if they are, I would not go near them. I han flexible water tanks on my last boat. One chafed through in a small hole due to the motion of the boat on the mooring. That was not so bad as I just seemed to use a lot of water. Then the top came off the other and filled the bilges with my drinking water. I would hate that to happen with fuel.

 

[LeonF]

I don't know if flexible fuel tanks are made of the same stuf as flexible water tanks but if they are, I would not go near them. I han flexible water tanks on my last boat. One chafed through in a small hole due to the motion of the boat on the mooring. That was not so bad as I just seemed to use a lot of water. Then the top came off the other and filled the bilges with my drinking water. I would hate that to happen with fuel.

See my updated post on flexible water tanks.

 

[macd]

I don't know if flexible fuel tanks are made of the same stuf as flexible water tanks but if they are, I would not go near them. I han flexible water tanks on my last boat. One chafed through in a small hole due to the motion of the boat on the mooring.

I wouldn't argue with you regarding flexible diesel tanks, but wonder what sort of flexible water tanks you had your problem with. The cheap ones are certainly frail and prone to chafing or simply splitting (I've been there).

I have two flexible tanks on board. One, I think, is over 30 years old and still seems as sound as the day it was made. The other, in what turned out to be similar material, I had custom-made (by a company which also makes hovercraft skirts, which I imagine need to be pretty tough). I don't know what the material is, except that it resembles a thick, cloth-reinforced rubber. I've had no problems with either.

 

[Csail]

Mine are flexible and no probs except not knowing how much fuel is left.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Can you see the leak? If it is just one small spot rub back to clean metal and fix with glass fibre matt and epoxy from outside. good for many years.

Capricious had "just one small leak" in her fuel tank last year. On inspection, it turned out that the tank had rusted from the inside out, and that "one small spot" was pretty much all the bottom being paper-thin! Fortunately the tank was angular and (just about!) removable, so we got a new one fabricated. Should be good for another 20 years - that's how long the last one lasted!