Contenu
Dont worry; its not your fault. This kind of thing happens; fuel tanks crack. Its time to stop obsessing over the problem; its time to fix it. Do not skip ahead just yet. Before fixing the problem, ascertain that you have a cracked fuel tank.
Symptoms and Risks
There are two prevalent symptoms of this problem. A puddle of fuel collecting under your car, or the stench of gasoline as you drive, are two warnings that your fuel tank is cracked --- and leaking. Do not let these symptoms fester without handling the problem. With gas free to mingle with other parts of the engine where it does not belong, you risk a fire or even an explosion. Do not let nonchalance endanger your vehicle, your property, or your life.
Causes
Aging car parts crack. Its the reality of owning a vehicle: Parts of it will simply not stand the tests of time. But cracked gas filler tanks do not mean the car is composed of shoddy materials. These parts --- the plastic gas tank --- and other plastic features under the hood, like tubes, tend to crack as the vehicle ages.
Solutions
The first solution involves getting your hands dirty. The other involves paying a mechanic. The cheapest way may be getting your hands dirty. Buy fuel tank repair kits like the VersaChem repair kit. That company advertises that its kit provides the tools to seal holes and cracks up to 5 inches long, and the repair process takes less than 20 minutes. Drain the tanks gas until it is past the area where it leaks. Then, with sandpaper (this might be included in the kit), sand down the area around the crack. Now mix the provided fiberglass mix, and apply it to the crack. After the first coat sets, repeat the process to apply a second coating of fiberglass solution. If this process does not agree with you, take the car to a mechanic. Depending on the severity of the crack, it may be worth paying a mechanic to replace the old tank with new filler tank.
