Front seam leaking on Diesel tank, can it be repaired?

[rustic]

Well, the old girl is showing some wear and tear, just short of her 18th Birthday.

I was doing a few Pre MOT checks this morning, and the diesel fuel tank on my 2.7 td LWB is wet with fuel on the seam at the front edge of the tank.
Defo Diesel...:doh


It looks as though the seam has expanded with rust and either holed the tank or pressed open the seam.

I haven't the time to remove the tank and investigate yet, but can a repair be done to the tank with various "fuel tank" type epoxies etc..:nenau:nenau

There is no fuel coming down from the top, it is definitely the seam.
Even though the car is garaged, there has never been even a drop of fuel on the floor.

I was suspicious least week, when I power washed the arches and underneath and there was signs of oil in the water washed off.



Other things I found this morning...
1 nearside front wheel, slight play. sorted that by taking up the bearing by one position on the adjuster.:thumbs
2 Off side has more play...:doh Looks like the upper ball joint.
Where is best place these days to get one of these?

Other than the drop links this will be the first part of the suspension that she has ever needed from new.

It was odd..
last night I was advising Ryan how to remove the fuel tank... and now I need to remove mine.

PS is a slight fuel tank leak a fail on the MOT... I guess it is:doh


best regards,

Rust

 

[kwondo]

if you can see the leak you could get some tank repiair putty specialy for fuel tanks, its a two part sausage like roll that you mix together...could be a temporary repair..havent tried it myself though

 

[rustic]

if you can see the leak you could get some tank repiair putty specialy for fuel tanks, its a two part sausage like roll that you mix together...could be a temporary repair..havent tried it myself though

Thanks for the suggestion, might be worth a try.

I was thinking earlier, I could lower the tank on extended bolts say, to give 3 " drop, then I should be able to clean off the area, and sort it out in situ after all a body lift needs the body to be 3 " further away from the tank. So fuel filler should be ok.

Now will the fuel and return pipe need disconnecting, or will they allow 3" drop? well it will be half this at the sender, as I will only lower the front.

I need to drive a while yet to lower tank level.:doh

Then I will degrease power wash and see where the leak starts first.


I did an oil and filter change too this morning. Filter through the nearside wheel arch, still spilt oil but no more than an egg cup full.:thumbs

The full oil filter can come out nearer the front with very little spillage. MUCH easier than through the bonnet. 3/4 filled the new filter with oil before fitting

It was when I messed with the nearside wheel, I noticed the play in the bearing.
Then whilst the jack was out, I noticed the offside play. Then a quick look at the rear I noticed the fuel tank.

I was only going to do an oil change today:doh...

 

[kwondo]

always the same on my truck, look at one thing and it always ends up looking at a few more

 

[Banshee]

Kwondo

What is this "dejay midi A bar" that you've listed in your signiture?
Is that a bull bar?

 

[kwondo]

Kwondo

What is this "dejay midi A bar" that you've listed in your signiture?
Is that a bull bar?

yes chrome A Bar but it only goes up as high as the bumper,

 

[Banshee]

yes chrome A Bar but it only goes up as high as the bumper,

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.nissan4x4ownersclub.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18097

Can I have some pics?

 

[kitchenman]

I had a similar problem with a petrol van

Remove tank, drain fuel, run water into tank with hose to float off fuel residue

Drain tank leave overnight to dry out.

Plug filler hole, pressurise the tank a bit with air and find the leak with soapy water, do not overdo the pressure

Braze rather than weld, not so much heat needed, no further problems until I sold it years later.

The welder did the work outside and held the lighted torch over the filler hole at arms length in case there was fuel left, as I said my tank was petrol, diesel does not go bang so easily.

Good luck

 

[solarman216]

If it can be got at with a mig gun then weld it in situe, just run the tank to 1/4 full remove the filler to let it breath, clean it up and weld, I have many times in the past cut a hole in the top of a tank to remove debris and then gas welded it up with plenty of fuel in, no problems at all, not petrol though just fumes are enough to explode, Rick