Ethanol damage to tank

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fatboy
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Ethanol damage to tank

#1 Post by fatboy » Fri Mar 27, 2020 2:15 pm

It's been a while since I did any work on the Falc, so this morning I uncovered the neglected thing.
The tank is suffering from numerous blisters,large and small, if you press them a small amount of fuel seeps out.
The tank is now porous.....bigger!
Is it repairable?
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mangocrazy
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Re: Ethanol damage to tank

#2 Post by mangocrazy » Fri Mar 27, 2020 8:40 pm

Oh dear. To be honest, I doubt it. Once fuel is leaking through the tank walls, I suspect it's game over, player one. Other people may know better, but once the integrity of the tank has been breached I don't know of any way to repair it. First thing would be to get all fuel out of the tank and clean the insides with lots of hot soapy water, then leave it to dry out. It might be possible to coat the inside of the tank (the name Caswell springs to mind), but I couldn't guarantee it.

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Re: Ethanol damage to tank

#3 Post by fatboy » Mon Mar 30, 2020 2:03 pm

A replacement has been found !
It will be receiving the sealant treatment, I was shocked at how quickly the tank succumbed, a few months ago it was two small blisters now it looks like a cholera victim
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Re: Ethanol damage to tank

#4 Post by mangocrazy » Mon Mar 30, 2020 9:19 pm

Glad to hear it! Things are only going to get worse on this front - next year sees the introduction of E10 fuel... :smt011

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Re: Ethanol damage to tank

#5 Post by fatboy » Tue Mar 31, 2020 2:44 pm

mangocrazy wrote:
Mon Mar 30, 2020 9:19 pm
Glad to hear it! Things are only going to get worse on this front - next year sees the introduction of E10 fuel... :smt011
That is not good news for any plastic tank, time to read up on the best sealants, including Caswell, your memory saves you well Graham !
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Re: Ethanol damage to tank

#6 Post by zoidberg » Tue May 04, 2021 8:03 pm

Has anyone sealed their tank with Caswell stuff? Considering doing mine before E10 fuel becomes commonplace

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Re: Ethanol damage to tank

#7 Post by mangocrazy » Wed May 05, 2021 4:56 pm

From what I've heard it's a temporary solution at best. Give Griff a ring at AP Workshops and he'll give you chapter and verse. He's seen hundreds of them...

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