Fuel tank leaking 5th gen

barefootkid · Post by **barefootkid** » Mon Mar 10, 2014 10:39 am

As the subject suggests, my poorly prelude has a leaking fuel tank. My trusty mechanic used the term "it's gone porous".

Basically its rotten. So what do I do?

I'm looking for some advice from the wise members here. Do I:

Replace it. Get one from a breaker, buy a new one if new ones exist? Buy an aluminium one if such a thing exists? Does anyone custom build these or is that going to be insane money?

Repair it. Seen something called petrol tank repair kit, POR15 kit. Look pretty cheap to buy then a lot of work to use it. Anyone used one? If the tank is so bad the fuel is seeping through will this even work?

I've still not fitted the plm header or got my custom ss exhaust done yet, am moving home so trying to save money, got the hole in the exhaust welded for £30 until I can afford the full shabang, but its killing me not being able to use my lude.

Thanks for reading, any advice greatfully received

The Kid

Post by **Merlin** » Mon Mar 10, 2014 11:09 am

Is he 100% sure it is the tank rather than one of the hoses that comes off it? It is much more common for a hose to fail instead of the tank itself.

89 UKDM BA4 4WS (resto job!) · Post by **wurlycorner** » Mon Mar 10, 2014 3:24 pm

Like Merlin says, be sure whether it's definitely the tank or not. If it is the tank, is it just one hole, or is he saying a large area has gone?

If it's just one hole, you can putty repair it.

I've tried this stuff before;

and it was crap - too liquid to apply properly and/or goes off too quickly.

This stuff was what I used in the end and worked perfectly;

Make sure the tank is drained down enough that no petrol is leaking out of the hole, get it dry and clean off any loose rust/ wire brush back to a sound finish, knead the stuff together, force it on over the hole, leave it to go off et voila!

Post by **rob quilter** » Mon Mar 10, 2014 4:40 pm

Merlin wrote:Is he 100% sure it is the tank rather than one of the hoses that comes off it? It is much more common for a hose to fail instead of the tank itself.

This. The 2 unprotected steel fuel lines that come off at rubber hoses from the fuel tank (located behind the rear passenger wheel) are a weak spot. They are uncoated and rust away, they then split and leak. I had the same issue, I replaced the rusted sections of fuel lines with high pressure rubber ones.

It still maybe your tank, but its worth a double check.

barefootkid · Post by **barefootkid** » Mon Mar 10, 2014 8:24 pm

Yeah unfortunately its not just those lines, we've checked those and yes they are rusty but not leaking there but up on the ramps its quite clearly seeping through the actual tank. I've gone on one of those breaker yard online thingys and got a price of around £85 delivered....

So it's rare for the tank to actually go so you guys reckon I'll be safe just grabbing a 2nd hand one and sticking it on?

I don't know whether this makes any difference but the car was off road for 3 years, possibly still with fuel in, could this be what's caused the tank to fail?

Post by **rob quilter** » Mon Mar 10, 2014 8:51 pm

Personally I've never heard of a leak from the fuel tank on a Prelude, its pretty rare I reckon. You should be all good with another tank.

Samiya85 · Post by **Samiya85** » Mon Mar 10, 2014 11:34 pm

Where r u located i may have a fuel tank for you

barefootkid · Post by **barefootkid** » Tue Mar 11, 2014 10:58 am

i'm in bolton near manchester

mercutio · Post by **mercutio** » Tue Mar 11, 2014 6:16 pm

not far from me