85 shortbed gas tank leak
My 85 Dodge shortbed pick-up has a plastic gas tank with a crack along the seam. Apparently no one builds a replacement tank, either plastic or metal. I've repaired the tank twice with HD fuel resistant epoxies. The last repair lasted for 2 days before the tank flexed and began to leak again.
There must be a lot of 25 plus year old plastic tanks our there so I'm sure that I'm not the only guy with this problem. A new replacement would be ideal, but I open to any suggestions.
There must be a lot of 25 plus year old plastic tanks our there so I'm sure that I'm not the only guy with this problem. A new replacement would be ideal, but I open to any suggestions.
I'm trying to avoid another 20 or 30 year old plastic tank unless i'm the only one to ever have had this problem. How many years were the plastic tanks used? A used metal replacement would ok.
Last edited by ronr85; Jul 12, 2009 at 08:59 PM.
Agree that failed plastic tanks not usual. If you are at the end of the road, here is what I would try. Clean up the patched area really well and cut a piece of plastic to fit over the area, from a milk jug or similar. Get some SEAL-ALL and apply liberaly to the patch and stick in place. Cut a piece of 1/4" plywood to cover the patch and winch everything down with a strap or two made up from metal banding (packing crates) around the tank. Seal all sets up upon contact with gas and will sometimes last for years. I know, sounds Mickey Mouse but it does work and has got me out of a jam more than once.
ive used seal all to re-seal a sending unit at the top of a gas tank. got a year out of it before i could smell fumes. i like JB weld as well.
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look and ask around locally for someone to plastic weld it. I had the same problem & my brother found a guy here in Phx who welds plastic gas tanks, he charges around $60 to do one, but what choice is there when they're not available.
look and ask around locally for someone to plastic weld it. I had the same problem & my brother found a guy here in Phx who welds plastic gas tanks, he charges around $60 to do one, but what choice is there when they're not available. In Az it's a common problem, I've seen at least three tanks cracked this way, usually right at the hanger straps.






