View Full Version : Sealing a crack in plastic gas tank
Hookmaster
01-10-2002, 09:30 AM
Is there a kind of glue or sealant that would fix a crack in a plastic gas tank? It would need to be gas resistant and stand up to vibration.
Formerly John in MN
Hookmaster
01-10-2002, 01:03 PM
BTTT
perchjerker
01-10-2002, 02:06 PM
The only way I have found to fix one in to use a plastic welder. Its kind of like a soldering iron with a flat tip. They also have sticks of filler plastic that you can use to melt in with the repair. I used one on an old snowmobile tank once. It held up. It really depends on the location of the crack and why it broke in the first place. Personally I would just replace the tank and not worry about a patch holding up.
AquaMan
01-10-2002, 02:09 PM
Adhesives are great for metals and other hard surfaces because the surface offers a strong bonding agent. Plastic, on the other hand, is more difficult to glue unless you can some how melt the seam chemically or physically.
Where is the crack or spit? If near an edge or corner, I think the only way to go is to remove it and have the plastic "welded" back together since that structural point will be prone to split again of simply glued. Check you Yellow pages and get on the horn with some plastic tank resellers. They would be my first choice.
You will most likely have to remove and clean out the tank for this processes since heat and gas fumes don't mix well.
Anyone else have any thoughts?
AquaMan~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It all begins and ends at the water's edge...
perchjerker
01-10-2002, 02:17 PM
I was thinking, a radiator shop might be able to fix it. They deal with plastic raditators all the time these days. Might be worth a shot. (and of course they would have to clean out the tank. They make stuff called purging solution just for that purpose).
plastic tanks are cheap. my advice to you, throw it away and buy a new one. safety first. Ray
bountyhunter
01-10-2002, 03:15 PM
A new tank IS THE ONLY ANSWER don't screw around throw it away now .I'm sure you've seen tv shows where BOATS BLOW UP ! buy it today
Cangl
01-10-2002, 05:33 PM
The way plastic expands and contracts then taking pressurized gas and fumes? Sounds like all the makings of a major disastor. Fumes alone can kill, and with the possibility of gas seeping to every corner of your boat a fire may be the best thing for the boat!?
Dont fix it it,. only cost 34.00 for a 6gal. new if that that is what you have, if not call the boat CO. on info. to do right?
Yes in deed. When there is an explosion, you'll get out and you will be floating on the lake with your ice chest. Ray
I just seen a post, on a Plastic tank ,go to a Radiator Shop, I have seen some real Bonehead remarkes but from you I would like to see more on line for safty .
I don't mean to be smart-##### about this, but is there a difference between a leaky gas tank and a terrorist bomb or a Molitov cocktail? Think about it? Only need something to set it off.