Oh gosh (NOT my normal language but I'm being polite!),
This morning at 8:00 am Jesse took our - purchased used and had inspected by a diesel mechanic before purchase- 2005 GMC Sierra Diesel Dually in for 100,000 thousand mile service. Also asked them got check out why we had diesel fuel in our driveway. I've been bugging him about that for a while. Seemed to only happen when we filled the fuel tank. After calling them for info for not calling us with status by about 3 pm they called and apologized, seems they had a bus up on their only big lift and actually got our truck up. Whoever installed the auxiliary fuel tank behind the cab of the truck drilled thru the bed of the truck right into the fuel tank. $1,000 replacement. What can you do, who could have caught that error? This is after $1500 electrical repair last month to RV. Sometimes I think a S&B B is less expensive! Ok, enough whining, we're third owner of this truck - just a note to look closelyat how auxiliary tank is installed onto bed of truck.
Glad we received our income tax refund in just 6 days after filing!
Sherry
Oregonhiker said
10:46 AM Mar 2, 2013
Hi Sherry,
I used to be a manager at an auto parts store a few years back and we sold a product that was made by Permatex/Loctite that repaired small holes in fuel tanks. You might look at that option if you haven't already replaced the tank. I would certainly try that first as it was only a few dollars versus the tank replacement cost. It can only be used for metal tanks also. Good Luck, Rick
-- Edited by Oregonhiker on Saturday 2nd of March 2013 10:54:02 AM
GENECOP said
11:45 AM Mar 2, 2013
I found this doing a search
Ray: This van is old enough to have a metal tank. So, go to your nearest auto-parts store and buy yourself a fiberglass gas-tank repair kit.
Tom: The kit you want consists of a piece of fiberglass mesh, along with a little paintbrush and a special epoxy that won't get eaten away by gasoline.
Ray: The first thing you have to do is drain the tank. That may already have been done for you, thanks to the jerk. But if not, you need to siphon the remainder into a suitable container (i.e., not a co-worker's travel mug) and give yourself a dry surface to work with.
Tom: Then you need to sand the area around the hole. Get as close as you can to the bare metal, because if you leave any rust, the rust eventually will fall off and take the patch with it.
Ray: Then get a pair of rubber gloves, and follow the instructions on how to mix the epoxy. Be aware that it gets very hot to the touch once it's mixed.
Tom: You smear a layer of the epoxy around the hole with the paintbrush, then you embed a piece of the fiberglass mesh in that epoxy so the mesh sticks to it and bridges the hole in the tank.
Ray: And then you "paint" the mesh with a solid layer of the epoxy, and once it dries, voila! No more leak.
Tom: It'll work, Linda. We use it every time an irate reader or customer punctures one of our gas tanks. And that happens all the time! Good luck, and keep up the good work.
(Car Talk is a nationally syndicated column by automotive experts (and brothers) Tom and Ray Magliozzi. Write to them at the Car Talk Web site.)
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-- Edited by GENECOP on Saturday 2nd of March 2013 11:46:29 AM
GENECOP said
03:17 PM Mar 2, 2013
That's bad news......but stay focused on the prize, these are just obstacles on the way to the good life...How long ago was the tank installed? Do you have records of it? Someone besides you should be footing this bill.
WestWardHo said
03:48 PM Mar 2, 2013
Hi Gene,
Thanks for the encouraging comment. We're going to get all the obstacles out of the way now so there will be none on the road! Yeah right
We are the third owner of this truck. There were no records with it. Don't know who, where or when the auxiliary tank was installed. Extended warranty doesn't cover this. Had it thoroughly checked out but unless someone dropped the tank or filled it full (and what dealer is going to do that?) we don't know how we could have found the hole. The carfax report was clean. We are guessing this is why a low mileage truck was traded. Guess we'll just chalk it up for experience.
Sherry
PIEERE said
05:38 PM Mar 2, 2013
I hope you got a good deal on the truck when you purchased it. I also think I would have an inline manual shutoff valve installed while the work is being done; you never know. Just like RV plumbing a shutoff at the sinks, shower and toilet would be nice to have them shut off if you have a leak. Would be able to shut it off and at least use the others. Had to replace the heat pump/AC unit on a new home we bought about 2 months after the home warranty ran out; That was in 1983 and cost about 5K $$$$ with the labor.
Lucky Mike said
05:47 PM Mar 2, 2013
As being a master of kinks in plans and ill dealt complications !!!!!.....................hang in there, there is always a happy side to every disaster and the time will come when it will put a smile on your face and one hundred others as you tell the story!!!
Soon your going to be out here and we are all ready to sit around the fire and laugh and share what life has given us, cant wait to see you there!!
WestWardHo said
06:58 PM Mar 2, 2013
Thanks for all your replies. Hope we get to meet each of you soon!
Pierre,a shut off valve on the main fuel tank?
Rick, the hole is big enough to stick your finger in and they also said there was dirt in the fuel tank.
Sherry
Oregonhiker said
07:11 PM Mar 2, 2013
Ok, probably too big of a hole then. The epoxy is only good for up to a 3/8 inch hole. It sounds like it is bigger than that if you can get a finger in it.
WestWardHo said
07:19 PM Mar 2, 2013
Thanks Rick. Maybe your info will help someone else!
Oh gosh (NOT my normal language but I'm being polite!),
This morning at 8:00 am Jesse took our - purchased used and had inspected by a diesel mechanic before purchase- 2005 GMC Sierra Diesel Dually in for 100,000 thousand mile service. Also asked them got check out why we had diesel fuel in our driveway. I've been bugging him about that for a while. Seemed to only happen when we filled the fuel tank. After calling them for info for not calling us with status by about 3 pm they called and apologized, seems they had a bus up on their only big lift and actually got our truck up. Whoever installed the auxiliary fuel tank behind the cab of the truck drilled thru the bed of the truck right into the fuel tank. $1,000 replacement. What can you do, who could have caught that error? This is after $1500 electrical repair last month to RV. Sometimes I think a S&B B is less expensive! Ok, enough whining, we're third owner of this truck - just a note to look closelyat how auxiliary tank is installed onto bed of truck.
Glad we received our income tax refund in just 6 days after filing!
Sherry
Hi Sherry,
I used to be a manager at an auto parts store a few years back and we sold a product that was made by Permatex/Loctite that repaired small holes in fuel tanks. You might look at that option if you haven't already replaced the tank. I would certainly try that first as it was only a few dollars versus the tank replacement cost. It can only be used for metal tanks also. Good Luck, Rick
http://www.permatex.com/products/product-categories/specialized-maintenance-repair/professional-repair-systems/permatex-fuel-tank-repair-kit-detail
-- Edited by Oregonhiker on Saturday 2nd of March 2013 10:54:02 AM
I found this doing a search
Ray: This van is old enough to have a metal tank. So, go to your nearest auto-parts store and buy yourself a fiberglass gas-tank repair kit.
Tom: The kit you want consists of a piece of fiberglass mesh, along with a little paintbrush and a special epoxy that won't get eaten away by gasoline.
Ray: The first thing you have to do is drain the tank. That may already have been done for you, thanks to the jerk. But if not, you need to siphon the remainder into a suitable container (i.e., not a co-worker's travel mug) and give yourself a dry surface to work with.
Tom: Then you need to sand the area around the hole. Get as close as you can to the bare metal, because if you leave any rust, the rust eventually will fall off and take the patch with it.
Ray: Then get a pair of rubber gloves, and follow the instructions on how to mix the epoxy. Be aware that it gets very hot to the touch once it's mixed.
Tom: You smear a layer of the epoxy around the hole with the paintbrush, then you embed a piece of the fiberglass mesh in that epoxy so the mesh sticks to it and bridges the hole in the tank.
Ray: And then you "paint" the mesh with a solid layer of the epoxy, and once it dries, voila! No more leak.
Tom: It'll work, Linda. We use it every time an irate reader or customer punctures one of our gas tanks. And that happens all the time! Good luck, and keep up the good work.
(Car Talk is a nationally syndicated column by automotive experts (and brothers) Tom and Ray Magliozzi. Write to them at the Car Talk Web site.)
Post a commentShare on email E-mail a friendPrinter friendly Subscribe to RSS feed
Share: Share on twitter TwitterShare on facebook FacebookMore Sharing Services More...
-- Edited by GENECOP on Saturday 2nd of March 2013 11:46:29 AM
Hi Gene,
Thanks for the encouraging comment. We're going to get all the obstacles out of the way now so there will be none on the road! Yeah right
We are the third owner of this truck. There were no records with it. Don't know who, where or when the auxiliary tank was installed. Extended warranty doesn't cover this. Had it thoroughly checked out but unless someone dropped the tank or filled it full (and what dealer is going to do that?) we don't know how we could have found the hole. The carfax report was clean. We are guessing this is why a low mileage truck was traded. Guess we'll just chalk it up for experience.
Sherry
Soon your going to be out here and we are all ready to sit around the fire and laugh and share what life has given us, cant wait to see you there!!
Pierre,a shut off valve on the main fuel tank?
Rick, the hole is big enough to stick your finger in and they also said there was dirt in the fuel tank.
Sherry
Ok, probably too big of a hole then. The epoxy is only good for up to a 3/8 inch hole. It sounds like it is bigger than that if you can get a finger in it.