How To Repair Hole In Steel Gas Can

When yous go a pinhole leak in your fuel tank, not only are you literally pouring money onto the ground, but also creating a dangerous situation. Repairing a fuel tank tin get hard, especially when the it is total of fuel. Not to worry, there is a temporary solution to your fuel drip problem: gas tank repair. While the real solution is to replace the fuel tank, that is not e'er viable in the short term. Emergency repairs are oft critical and so y'all can go to work or perform other duties that crave a car.

Gas Tank Repair Options

Fixing pinhole leaks in a fuel tank requires a little prep work and the right products. JB Weld has been making epoxy repair products for more xl years, and the reason  y'all know the name is because the stuff just plain works, but you need the right blazon of epoxy. Ii-part liquid epoxies do not work very well for a gas tank repair when the tank is in the car and has fuel in it. While the gasoline does not interruption downwards the epoxy, it will seep through it earlier it cures, leaving you dorsum in the aforementioned situation. What you demand for a moisture repair is JB Weld Autoweld or SteelStik epoxy putty stick.

JB Weld Steel Stik is easy to employ, and considering it is in a putty form, it is stable in your glovebox for emergency repairs too.

This dirt-like epoxy is a two-part putty that yous mix past kneading the two components together. The epoxy comes in a single stick, the ii components are already measured out, you simply cut off yet much y'all need, brew it together, so apply it to the part being repaired. The epoxy hardens after v minutes, and is fully cured in one hr.

Because the epoxy is clay-like consistency, fuel (or other liquids) tin't seep through information technology or around it. Once cured, the epoxy can withstand 300-degrees and 900 psi of pressure, so it volition be perfect for your leaky gas tank. This is the fastest way to go along that expensive fuel in the tank and not on the asphalt.

Supplies

JB Weld also makes a gas tank repair kit, which consists of a tube of epoxy putty, fiberglass cloth, sandpaper, and an applicator. This repair is the same as the SteelStik, but adds some additional force with the fiberglass. This is best used in larger repairs or on a tank with multiple pinhole leaks.

Repairing your tank is easy, yous do need a few things earlier you go started:

• Epoxy putty
• Sandpaper (80-180 grit is fine)
• Absorbent towel (red shop rags are non absorbent enough, use paper or terry cloth)
• Can of brake cleaner or carb cleaner (optional, but a proficient idea for a better repair)
• Pencil

Getting Started

Brainstorm the process by locating the leak. Sometimes it tin can be tricky to find the leak, so use the towel to dry out the tank and spotter for the leak. You may demand to clean the tank with the brake cleaner to help get in obvious. In one case you discover the leak, mark it with the pencil.

Information technology is hard to meet, but in that location is a small hole in the upper right center of the fuel tank sump.

Clean the area around the leak. Y'all desire to clean at least three inches around the damaged area. Employ the sandpaper to sand the tank, covering the entire three inch area. Take it down to bare metallic. The sanding does two things – cleans any paint, rust, and road crud from the gas tank repair area, too as gives the epoxy something to grab onto. It works meliorate than smooth metallic.

Using a sanding cake, the paint and rust calibration was removed from the tank.

Here'south a ameliorate wait at our pinhole leak.

Spray the area with the cleaner and wipe it downwards. You volition probable have to do this several times.

Using some CRC non-chlorinated brake cleaner, the area was cleaned and wiped dry.

Cutting off an amount of epoxy that you think will embrace the repair. You don't demand to cover the entire three inch expanse, but y'all definitely want enough to cover the hole and a skillful area beyond it.

Using a razor blade, a small amount of SteelStik was sliced off and the wrapper removed.

Knead the putty to mix the two colors uniformly. The color should be a dark gray.

Mash the chemical compound together until it is a uniform low-cal gray color.

Once mixed, clean the area to exist repaired over again, wipe it dry and immediately press the putty into the eye of the pigsty.

Printing the putty to the tank. It will nonetheless be leaking, that is okay. Piece of work the putty into the hole and press the edges down effectually the area until information technology seals the leak.

Work the putty flat against the tank, ensuring the hole is sealed. Y'all don't want a big glob on the tank, you want it to be smoothen and flat.

Go on to work the putty on the tank until it smooth and all the edges are secure.

The putty should harden in v minutes, and fully cured in one hour. Look at least an hour to drive the machine. We advise watching the tank for leaks over the adjacent x-15 minutes, and so check it subsequently the hr has passed. Your gas tank should now exist repaired and ready to bulldoze. Don't forget that while this gas tank repair should last a long time, it is a good idea to become a new tank on the way so you can supplant it. If the pinhole was caused by rust, y'all are virtually guaranteed to get another leak soon.

The final results yield a secure repair until we tin can replace or weld the tank. Nosotros left the tank full subsequently several weeks and the repair still holds.

Check out all the JB Weld products available on NAPA Online or trust 1 of our 17,000 NAPA AutoCare locations for routine maintenance and repairs. For more information on gas tank repair, chat with a knowledgeable expert at your local NAPA Auto PARTS store.

Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Jefferson Bryant View All

A life-long gearhead, Jefferson Bryant spends more time in the shop than anywhere else. His career began in the machine audio industry as a shop manager, eventually working his way into a position at Rockford Fosgate as a product designer. In 2003, he began writing tech articles for magazines, and has been working as an automotive journalist ever since. His piece of work has been featured in Auto Craft, Hot Rod, Rod & Custom, Truckin', Mopar Muscle, and many more. Jefferson has also written iv books and produced countless videos. Jefferson operates Red Clay Rodz, his personal garage studio, where all of his magazine manufactures and tech videos are produced.

Source: https://knowhow.napaonline.com/gastastrophe-jb-weld-gas-tank-repair-guide/

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