I have a small leak on my truck's gas tank, I believe along the seam. Th stank has been sealed once before. I thought I would just slosh some more sealer inside after a warm soapy session (for the tank of course!). Harsh brand is a little speedy and Eastwood's is a lot more reasonable. So which brand is better? Anyone try both for an honest appraisal? And is my plan ok or should I include a muriatic acid wash as well? Thanks.
If it has been sealed before, I'd think you would need to use the same brand and kind of sealer because the different ones don't always work together. I read a bunch of stuff from all of them before I sealed my Lincoln tank, I went with the Red Kote brand in mine. Mine had never been sealed before, so I did the acetone wash before I coated mine. After a year, so far no leaks.
I have had great luck with Red Kote. My dad used it to seal the tank on our 1910 overland over 10 years ago and I haven't had an issue with it. I have also used it on several motorcycle tanks too. Best tank sealer I have ever used. Not sure about the brands the OP listed. If you do not know what it was sealed with in the first place I would look at cleaning the tank out and starting fresh. once the tank is clean I would take a look at that seam and maybe do a repair before the sealer.
In my honest opinion you should pull the tank out and take it to a radiator shop and let them repair it correctly and forget the sealer. I have sat on the side of the road on my way to the nationals with the sealer clogging the filter,,we changed 6 filters during that trip. HRP
In theory gas tank sealer should work if the tank is clean. In reality you can't buy gas anymore and the **** you put in the tank will eventually melt the sealer. Then you'll sit along the side of the road like HRP. I'm sure a good gas tank and radiator shop can do the job at a decent price. A hot running car with a plugged fuel system are the two biggest problems a rodder faces.
Unless this is something very rare just replace the tank. If it is something very rare or you need to be to work with it tomorrow deal then Permatex multi metal sealer works great with very little prep work on seam cracks. Remove the tank and completely empty it, then clean the area as if you were going to weld to it, and the stuff will be ready to run in 4 hours. That being said I would rather put a incorrect tank in till I could afford the correct tank then run a sealer.
Hotrodprimer is right. If you ever saw what one looked like inside that has been sealed, you would take it off and get a radiator shop to do it right or buy a new one. My carb problems have stopped since I bought a new tank. Here is a pic of the inside of my old one.
When I first dealt with the tank it was leaking pretty good out of the bottom. I got another and trimmed the top half of as well as the original. Took it to a rad shop and they soldered it all up and I believe they said that they sealed it as well. Now they make a repop tank. I'going to call the rad shop and see if they can work their magic again and to see if they indeed did seal it in the first instance. I'm kind of Leary of sealers to be honest. I'll take their advice and go from there. Thanks for all the comments.
I repaired a tank in multiple spots...sealed it with Kreem sealer just to be extra safe, after using the required acid mixture for the required time. Looked great...put it in my shed for 6 months with no gas inside and when I went to install it, the sealer had fallen away from the inside of the tank in multiple areas and rust was forming in the bare spots. I threw it out and bought a replacement tank. Total waste of money if a replacement tank is available...and I'd go so far as to say a waste of money on a repaired tank as well. If its repaired properly you don't need sealer!
Took mine in to be repaired the other day for the olds wagon .Got it back and it still dripped .The guy was really nice and said just bring it back and leave the sending unit in it this time so he could pressure test it when he was done.. He cut me a really good deal when I told him I bought one off flea bay and the guy was giving me a hard time about returning it because it didn't fit. Here it is before sending it out. Bruce.
Id say get a new one or get one's that close, or one that will work. I've been down that road too and its about 20 miles of really bad road, with no shoes, or water, and an ugly chick nagging all the way, with a hangover. Dont ask.
Oh I HAVE to ask...... Anyway, I contacted the shop that did the initial work and he said to bring it over on Saturday and he'll check it out. For anyone in the Vancouver area the name of the shop is Port Moody Auto Repair and Tire Shop.
You started the thread, and asked so I feel obliged. Good friends, whiskey shooters and too much beer the night before. I let the future ex-girlfriend who was a mercy gal with huge hooters drive me home. We stopped at a store for some canned chicken soup. On the way out she backed over bump stop that had already been bumped loose and the re-bar was sticking out. My freshly filled gas tank split like the ***anic in reverse. 25 gallons on the hot asphalt and she starts screaming, "Were gonna die". I scream louder drive away to the other side of the parking lot. No fire, nothing exciting though they did come out. We walk home. Not really 20 miles, just 4 in the blazing east county San Diego in July. Seemed like 20 through broken gl***. Shoes were at my friends house, because we were just going home and I forgot them. I neeeeeded water. So, There ya go.
I have never had any luck with the Kreem brand sealer. Used to be the go to stuff for motorcycle tanks. I had one that peeled and leaked all over the place after less than a month. I hate looking inside of a tank and seeing that white **** all over inside of them. I was cautious when my dad started using the Red Kote brand but have had great luck with that one for years. All this being said, there is no subs***ute for a proper fix.
I used the latest iteration of Por 15 brand tank sealer, compatible with todays alcohol laced fuels. Worked well, and no problems in 3 + months driving.
I sealed a gas tank that you could see through with the POR 15 sealer about 12 years ago but it's only been in service for about 3 years. It was the one they said was alcohol proof. So far, so good.
Here's another vote for red kote. Amazing stuff for sure and a heck of a lot less h***le to use than por15.
I bought some tank sealer back in early 70's, maybe Hirch brand..I did my tank and must have loaned it to a dozen people...Was the consistency of milk, greenish yellow color, directions were that you put it in [whole quart] and sloshed it around and drained it out, let dry for a while and do again....42 years and its still there...Had a half a can left on the shelf for years till it rotted [?] through and dripped down the wall..Needed to do my OT comet tank and got the sealer from Eastwood...I did the filler neck first and I knew I was in for trouble; way too thick and drys way too fast..Called Eastwood and they claimed I should have used it sooner [shelf life] but since the can was never opened I argued that it was just too thick...They said I could use acetone to thin, so I added a qt of acetone...Still seemed too thick but tried it..Still could not slosh around and had to do the tank in two sections [insert many swear words here]...in hindsight I would mix [thin] four to one and not use Eastwood's!!.Good side is its been at least 10 years and is holding up..
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