I noticed my 1980 Dodge pickup is leaking gasoline from the plastic gas tank. I haven't looked for where it is leaking from other than I am sure is from the tank and not some hose or fitting. It also leaks while it is full to about half a tank. Is there something that I can use to repair the leak available at the auto parts store? I don't know if it is a crack or a hole.

TIA

bwhitejr

_________________
'72 Duster (Performance 360)
'83 Ramcharger (Performance 318)
'80 TrailDuster (360)
'80 D-150 Truck (See Below)
CompCams 252S, Holley 390cfm, Offy manifold
Ported, Polished and Gasket Matched
P4286813 Springs,0.040 Overbore,
0.090 Shaved Head

I don't know what your tank is made of, but many are made of polyethylene and I've never had any luck sealing that; nothing really sticks to it well. Usually a seam goes; the repair I've heard most about is to remelt it. I've tried gas tank sealers that look and smell like white latex paint w/o much luck, and tried fiberglass & polyester resin and had that last for a while. I also tried fiberglass & epoxy that I was assured by the vendor was gasoline resistant - it dissolved overnight.

In the end the fix I ended up with was a new tank. If you find something that works, please let us know.

I tried the commercial sealer from the auto parts store...it didn't work.

I then found a special (expensive) adhesive made specifically for polyethylene. To verfy that it would work in my application, I called 3M and spoke to the engineer who designed the product. She said it would not work if exposed to gasoline or gasoline fumes. I tried it anyway, but it failed within a few days.

Not to be discouraged, I spent $200 for a guaranteed-to-work plastic welding kit. It didn't work...the aged plastic was too dry to weld.

I was out around $300 and untold hours of labor, but in the end I still had to find another tank, so my suggestion is that you don't waste your money and time trying to fix it...just get a new tank.

After 29 years of service that gas tank doesn't owe you a penny.

Confirm that it IS the tank that's leaking, not some attached pipe, then order yourself a new one.

- Mac

I spent a little time looking on the Internet for a new one and couldn't find anyone that sells them. Plenty of D50's and Caravans, but no D-150 pickup gas tanks.

I you know who sells them point me in the direction.

bwhitejr

_________________
'72 Duster (Performance 360)
'83 Ramcharger (Performance 318)
'80 TrailDuster (360)
'80 D-150 Truck (See Below)
CompCams 252S, Holley 390cfm, Offy manifold
Ported, Polished and Gasket Matched
P4286813 Springs,0.040 Overbore,
0.090 Shaved Head