I think my fuel tank is leaking... DO NOT USE THIS UNSAFE REPAIR METHOD

[tpenfield]

While corrosion of aluminum tanks is a concern, there are benefits of aluminum over a plastic tank.

- Internal baffles and bulkheads to prevent sloshing of gas
- No odor permeation, whereas a plastic tank will give off a slight gasoline smell as it ages
- Support & Structural Strength - Aluminum tanks can be and usually are bonded by foam to the stringer grid of a boat. This gives the maximum amount of support for the tank as well as adds rigidity to the boat's structure.

Plastic tanks offer a more economical approach, but lack those benefits.

 

[fixingstill]

From Marine Tex directly. See below. The question how long is long time.

Good afternoon, Derek .
Thank you for your interest in Marine-Tex products.
Marine-Tex putty is a great product that simplifies some of the more difficult repair projects.
For your particular application, the Marine-Tex Gray is recommended. Due to some of the new additives found in fuels, Marine-Tex putty
is resistant to diesel fuel and gasoline. It will resist gasoline, but over time, the gasoline will begin to break down the epoxy. This occurs at
a very slow rate, however. As a result, use extra epoxy and overfill the areas to be repaired. It will take the gasoline a very long time to get
through the excess epoxy.

The repair may be performed as follows:
empty the gas tank.
clean the gas tank thoroughly.
sand the area of the sections to be repaired using 80 grit sandpaper.
if the holes are small, you can simply apply the putty directly over the holes. For larger holes, you could use fiberglass tape to bridge wider areas. In either case, as stated previously, use extra epoxy to overfill the areas.

Visit our website at www.marinetex .com for answers to lots of frequently asked questions.
Please feel free to contact us at any time if you have any further questions.

Thank you and kind regards.
Thomas Hatton | Customer Service Representative
ITW Engineered Polymers
130 Commerce Drive | Montgomeryville|PA 18936|USA| +1 267 646-1437
Direct: +1 267 646-1446 | E-mail: thatton@itwep.com |LinkedIn

 

[Benny67]

I'd save that letter for the possible lawsuits you could be saddled with.

My opinion, it's just not worth the risk. It's a ticking time bomb at the very least. It could leak and catch fire in moments..It might happen so fast you wouldn't have time to react...OR it might never happen.. on your watch that is, some poor bastard 15 years down the road might fall victim to it.

Good luck to you...

 

[fixingstill]

If it lasts 15 yrs, it is better than what this original aluminum tank did. Even if it lasts 10, it is no brainer deal to me.

 

[kcassells]

I wish this post would end or be deleted. Your boat you can do what you want. I think everyone has chimed in that cares.
Bada BOOM.

 

[GA_Boater]

Marine-Tex told you in the email it will break down over time, so slather more on to extend the unknown time. What kind of advice is this?

This thread is closed because safety is paramount, not a secondary issue. The thread title is being changed as a warning.