Poor fuel economy caused by.....

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 18 Jun 2012, 2:20 pm

#908682

Well I've had poor fuel economy for a long time and could smell fuel every time I parked My car in the shed..

this is the reason....

When I took the tank off I didn't see any fuel leaking...
paint was over the top of the holes...
but I could see where there had been fuel leaking onto the chassis... so I took the fuel pipe and fitting off to see if it could be leaking... tried adding rubber seals and refitting but fuel Was now leaking.. so tried all sorts of ways to try to stop the fuel leak... after a few tries... I started to wonder if it really was leaking... and found the fuel coming from a different place... so, I wire brushed the bottom of the tank after taking the fuel sender out and taking all the fuel out...
one hole appeared and then another.... I went to the local parts shop for a fuel tank repair kit and He sold Me a two pack epoxy kit [made in usa]...
I cleaned the inner holes and the outer holes [same holes really] with alcohol wipes.. then mixed the two pack epoxy and did the inside first.. on a long screwdriver.. lol
then did the out surface.. sat it in the sun.. after an hour I gave it another coat on the outside and later another coat on the outside..
The holes were actually in the lowest part of the fuel tank..
[where water would collect...]

No More fuel smells and the fuel gauge seems stuck... 😂😂

and I took the tank out to replace the front end.... not to look for fuel leaks..

LEE

- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

Governor Wolfsburg Wizard

414 posts · joined Nov 2008 · 18 Jun 2012, 3:45 pm

#908689

That stuff should be used for a temp repair only.
You need a new tank. If its holed in a couple of spots then more will appear.

vwo60 Veteran Volks Folk

2,036 posts · joined Feb 2007 · 18 Jun 2012, 5:05 pm

#908700

I have brazed a few tanks with no problems, perminent fix

Camo Custom Title Time!

1,936 posts · joined Oct 2007 · 18 Jun 2012, 5:12 pm

#908704

Lee,

this might be another reason why you feel light headed after driving her 😂😂😂

And you thought it was just the meds 😂😂😂

Kev 👍

I thought rebuilding a VW would be cheap - Shit I was wrong, just don't let the wife know !!!!

Click here for my (slowy) modded 1961 Beetle build.

vlad01 Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,270 posts · joined Jun 2010 · 18 Jun 2012, 8:24 pm

#908751

I had a similar experience a months ago, could smell fuel, them one morning when it was really cold, I open the window so I could drive with my head out coz my windscreen kept refreezing and I couldn't see for crap. I noticed the smell of fuel was like inhaling it as a liquid.

I stopped, but the difference was it wasn't my tank leaking but all my EFI lines were pissing out fuel like no tomorrow and my engine and tranny was drenched in fuel and the bumper and boot and whole underbody was wet in fuel blowing under from the air stream.

I did a roadside repair, cut all my lines back and re clamped them all, got new hose when I got to work and changed them all at lunchtime . there was nothing wrong with the hose just they were all squished out at the clamps and were too short once cut to really be used long term. They did pretty good for 20 years.

71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE

bugmaniaar Officially Full-On Dubber

295 posts · joined Jun 2011 · 19 Jun 2012, 2:55 am

#908832

If you do get a new tank..
What colour will you paint it????😂😂

Bizarre Moderator The artist formerly known as blue74l

12,789 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 19 Jun 2012, 8:20 am

#908840

Black64 wrote:That stuff should be used for a temp repair only.
You need a new tank. If its holed in a couple of spots then more will appear.

I agree
Reckoned its peppered and will start leaking again soon

Futue te ipsum!!!

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 19 Jun 2012, 9:04 pm

#908969

Black64 wrote:That stuff should be used for a temp repair only.
You need a new tank. If its holed in a couple of spots then more will appear.

Hi
I don't agree
its only where moisture of water has been sitting
and its at the lowest parts of the tank
I wire brushed it and found nothing more...

But My Son has a spare 69 tank so I'll get it wire brushed and see how it goes...

the two pack epoxy was called something like JK and was made in the USA..

actually a fellow in Canada told Me they have shops over there, that just repair fuel tanks...
the salt on the roads must eat them away over there...

LEE

- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

psimitar Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,506 posts · joined Jan 2009 · 23 Jun 2012, 10:30 pm

#909681

I've known people to weld repairs on fuel tanks but you have to know what you're doing. POR15 do a repair epoxy paint that you pour into an empty and dry tank. The epoxy will only last if it's petrol resistant.

Did you see any more dimples on the inside of the tank? They rust inside out so long as the outside paint hasn't been compromised.

Hope it lasts for you but glad you have a 2nd hand one if needed 😉

madness is in the eye of the beholder 👍