Need Help With Leak

budbud7 · 07-21-2018, 08:42 AM

I have a fuel tank leak on my bus. We are in Mississippi on vacation. Does anyone know of ways to repair a diesel fuel tank. The tank is almost 3/4 full. The leak is a fast drip. Maybe 3-4 drips per second. We are at the Holiday Inn and it has a good puddle running down the lot. The leak is near the corner perhaps the weld. Too fast to really pin point it.

PNW_Steve · 07-21-2018, 08:46 AM

DIY option:

https://www.amazon.com/Versachem-901.../dp/B002N5JAO2

ol trunt · 07-21-2018, 11:29 AM

A million years ago and in another era, when our old skool gas tanks developed pin hole leaks (from rust) people would scrub "Ivory" soap into the holes to stop the leak--it worked. Back in the 60's and 70's when I spent a lot of time off roading I used the trick to seal the leaking rolled crimp on a couple of poorly made 5 gallon gas cans. Once I had the seams filled I wiped off the excess and covered the filled seams with Bondo. Ten years later, still no leaks. If your leaks are small and you haven't found a better option you might try using the old soap trick. If you do, let us know how things went. Jack

Ninjakitty · 07-21-2018, 01:30 PM

I used in weld to seal a pinhole leak on the gas tank of my old Mazda truck. Drained the tank, JB welded the hole. Never leaked. Don't know if that's safe but it worked.

Ninjakitty · 07-21-2018, 01:30 PM

Could also try marine putty in the stick. Not sure if it reacts with diesel when it dries, but you could test it out in small cup.of diesel off to the side.

milkmania · 07-21-2018, 02:00 PM

JB Welded bottom side of tank on a '69 Nova when I was a kid... several years later it was still holding.

damn, I miss that car!

david.dgeorge07 · 07-21-2018, 05:01 PM

That’s too bad. Ugh. Let us know how it turns out.

budbud7 · 07-21-2018, 10:14 PM

Just got back in from working on leak. I got some putty from Auto Zone for leaking tanks. Its dripping so fast and holding a flash light is not working. I brought two package of the putty so I'll try the other one in the morning. Perhaps that stuff on Amazon is better but I need it now. I have a hairline crack about 1.5" long on a weld, which I think makes the job more challenging.

budbud7 · 07-21-2018, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ol trunt

A million years ago and in another era, when our old skool gas tanks developed pin hole leaks (from rust) people would scrub "Ivory" soap into the holes to stop the leak--it worked. Back in the 60's and 70's when I spent a lot of time off roading I used the trick to seal the leaking rolled crimp on a couple of poorly made 5 gallon gas cans. Once I had the seams filled I wiped off the excess and covered the filled seams with Bondo. Ten years later, still no leaks. If your leaks are small and you haven't found a better option you might try using the old soap trick. If you do, let us know how things went. Jack

I might try the ivory soap if I can find some. If i can stop the flow 10 seconds I think I can apply the putty.

budbud7 · 07-22-2018, 07:46 AM

Well so far the leak has stopped. Thanks to the info and tips here. i had packed some iris spring soap so I used it and it worked. I also put that putty on top of the soap. Don't know if that putty will stick to the soap but it is not leaking. Once we start driving it may start back because of the flexing of the bus but we are good for now. Thanks again and give God the glory!

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