Wonderful start to the week...

"RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars" (rallydarkstrike) 01/27/2020 at 17:56 • Filed to: Money, Gas tank

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I’ve noticed a slight sme ll of petrol when next to my car in the past week. Seemed to only happen when the tank was above half full. I had Humdrum in for an oil change today and had the mechanic look into it, and joy of joys, the tank has rusted through at the top side of the weld seam in the middle between the top half and bottom half...pretty commonplace for similar tanks in cars here because of the salt in the winter.

Even with undercoating, it’s hard to get undercoating sealant on TOP of the tank, even with an undercoating ‘wand’ because of clearance, so it’s common for them to rust from above...thus the top side of my tank’s weld seam is now leaking anytime I fill it past half. Explains why I’ve lost like 100km of fuel economy on the last tank, so that was a lot of gas (and therefore money) wasted, ARGH ... :(

I’d checked underneath several times and never saw ONE DROP dripping, and no puddles (yes, I know gas evaporates quickly), so not sure where it all went, but sure enough, he showed me the telltale signs of a leak from where the leaking gas was dissolving away the undercoating on the tank as it ran down the side. Quote to repair it is around $750...boo. :(

My X-type is too a real Jaguar > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 01/27/2020 at 18:06

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I’m honestly surprised your car doesn’t have a plastic tank my 2011 BMW 2007 Dodge Ram both do.

facw > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 01/27/2020 at 18:06

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Ban rust!

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > My X-type is too a real Jaguar 01/27/2020 at 18:19

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I am too, but they all had steel from the factory and I can’t find any replacement tanks in plastic :/

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > My X-type is too a real Jaguar 01/27/2020 at 18:19

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I am too, but they all had steel from the factory and I can’t find any replacement tanks in plastic :/

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > facw 01/27/2020 at 18:21

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I wish!!!

benjrblant > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 01/27/2020 at 18:32

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On the upside, if you order a replacement tank, you’ll have a great opportunity to repaint it before installing it. 

Mercedes Streeter > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 01/27/2020 at 18:55

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I was fearing this. My Festiva had the same exact problem. Seam leaks are notorious on steel tanks used in salty areas. Also like my Festiva, I bet your leak was heavier when the car was in motion, thus giving you a false impression when you were looking the tank over with the vehicle stopped.

Small seam leaks can sorta be patched up, but you’ll only really be buying time until it leaks again.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > benjrblant 01/27/2020 at 19:31

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Apparently my garage orders used tanks instead of new tanks. New tanks are made of thinner, crappier quality steel and rust more quickly, so they only order used OEM tanks in good shape from the Southern inland US of all places where there is no salt air and very little in the way of winter, meaning no salty roads.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Mercedes Streeter 01/27/2020 at 19:40

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Exactly. I love my car, and it’s in really good shape otherwise, even the body considering the salt, so I’ll be booking an appointment to get it repaired when they can fit me in.

pip bip - choose Corrour > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 01/28/2020 at 02:57

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time to pull the tank re seal it and get rustproofed while its out

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > pip bip - choose Corrour 01/28/2020 at 05:15

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They're going to rustproof the new one as it goes in, top and bottom.