Fuel tank leak

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

thecantaloupeman

Full Access Member
Joined
May 14, 2019
Posts
447
Reaction score
144
Location
US
First Name
Dawson
Truck Year
1978
Truck Model
C20 Silverado Camper Special
Engine Size
350
Lol, tanks are cheap. If I go to the effort to drop one, I replace it.
I'm not dropping it. I was going to try and clean the neck on the truck.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
 

gotyourgoat

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 27, 2014
Posts
2,117
Reaction score
3,418
Location
NRV Virginia
First Name
gotyourgoat
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
c10
Engine Size
smokin' 305
Will that get all the corrosion off?
The pads come in different abrasive levels like sand paper. If the corrosion is THAT bad you won't have to worry about it. You are getting a new tank.

The tank actually looks pretty clean to me. Probably a 1-2 brew job. It could be stretched to a three+ brew job if you are good with breaks and some complaining about awkward positions with it being underneath.

Clean up the outside, pull apart, clean up the mating surfaces, reassemble. Proudly proclaim awesomeness for having saved costs and downtime of having to replace tank. Keep how easy it was to yourself and put a new scrubby in the kitchen cause you just killed the old one.:cheers:
 

thecantaloupeman

Full Access Member
Joined
May 14, 2019
Posts
447
Reaction score
144
Location
US
First Name
Dawson
Truck Year
1978
Truck Model
C20 Silverado Camper Special
Engine Size
350
The pads come in different abrasive levels like sand paper. If the corrosion is THAT bad you won't have to worry about it. You are getting a new tank.

The tank actually looks pretty clean to me. Probably a 1-2 brew job. It could be stretched to a three+ brew job if you are good with breaks and some complaining about awkward positions with it being underneath.

Clean up the outside, pull apart, clean up the mating surfaces, reassemble. Proudly proclaim awesomeness for having saved costs and downtime of having to replace tank. Keep how easy it was to yourself and put a new scrubby in the kitchen cause you just killed the old one.:cheers:
Can you link me to those 3M pads? Am I just supposed to do it by hand? Or do I need an angle grinder/Dremel? I don't exactly have the money for a new tank at the moment, so I'm hoping this is all I need to do to fix it, but if not, I suppose I could pay someone else to fix it, or save up to replace the tank.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
 

DanMcG

Full Access Member
Joined
Jun 28, 2014
Posts
1,076
Reaction score
1,884
Location
Central NY
First Name
Dan
Truck Year
1978 1985
Truck Model
k10 k10
Engine Size
400 350
I'll also go to the big box store or local plumbing supple and get an expandable pipe plug to cork the tank inlet. It will keep the gas vapors in the tank and also keep possible debris from getting in.
 

gotyourgoat

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 27, 2014
Posts
2,117
Reaction score
3,418
Location
NRV Virginia
First Name
gotyourgoat
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
c10
Engine Size
smokin' 305
Can you link me to those 3M pads? Am I just supposed to do it by hand? Or do I need an angle grinder/Dremel? I don't exactly have the money for a new tank at the moment, so I'm hoping this is all I need to do to fix it, but if not, I suppose I could pay someone else to fix it, or save up to replace the tank.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
They're usually next to the sandpaper in the store. Probably don't need the real aggressive stuff though, should be able to get away with just using a kitchen scrubby.

Might be over thinking this. Maybe it just needs cleaned off and re seated with a fresh clamp.
 

thecantaloupeman

Full Access Member
Joined
May 14, 2019
Posts
447
Reaction score
144
Location
US
First Name
Dawson
Truck Year
1978
Truck Model
C20 Silverado Camper Special
Engine Size
350
They're usually next to the sandpaper in the store. Probably don't need the real aggressive stuff though, should be able to get away with just using a kitchen scrubby.

Might be over thinking this. Maybe it just needs cleaned off and re seated with a fresh clamp.
Yeah I'll give it a look.
 

thecantaloupeman

Full Access Member
Joined
May 14, 2019
Posts
447
Reaction score
144
Location
US
First Name
Dawson
Truck Year
1978
Truck Model
C20 Silverado Camper Special
Engine Size
350
Had the same problem on my 84 when I bought it and it was due to corrosion on the tank neck. I removed the hose and used a cutting wheel fitted with a metallic brush and polished the neck. I used a rolled up paper towel stuffed into the neck to prevent debris from getting in and a vacuum cleaner to suck out the debris and paper towel after cleaning.

I then cleaned out the interior of the hose with 620 grit sand paper about as far back as the neck will go. I treated the neck with aircraft alodine sealer to prevent future corrosion and reinstalled the hose and put in a new clamp.

This was 4 years ago and haven't had a leak since.

Sent from my moto g(6) plus using Tapatalk
So I just took off the hose. At least one end of it. I think the hose was my issue. It looks like it has some cracks in it and it bulged around where the neck attaches to it. The neck itself looks totally fine.
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images


Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
 

thecantaloupeman

Full Access Member
Joined
May 14, 2019
Posts
447
Reaction score
144
Location
US
First Name
Dawson
Truck Year
1978
Truck Model
C20 Silverado Camper Special
Engine Size
350
Had the same problem on my 84 when I bought it and it was due to corrosion on the tank neck. I removed the hose and used a cutting wheel fitted with a metallic brush and polished the neck. I used a rolled up paper towel stuffed into the neck to prevent debris from getting in and a vacuum cleaner to suck out the debris and paper towel after cleaning.

I then cleaned out the interior of the hose with 620 grit sand paper about as far back as the neck will go. I treated the neck with aircraft alodine sealer to prevent future corrosion and reinstalled the hose and put in a new clamp.

This was 4 years ago and haven't had a leak since.

Sent from my moto g(6) plus using Tapatalk
So I just took off the hose. At least one end of it. I think the hose was my issue. It looks like it has some cracks in it and it bulged around where the neck attaches to it. The neck itself looks totally fine. Now my issue is that I can't get the other side of the hose off. It almost feels like metal and is super rotted to the metal underneath. Any ideas of how I can rip it off?
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images
You must be registered for see images
You must be registered for see images


Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
 

1985c20

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 21, 2019
Posts
143
Reaction score
187
Location
Torrington, CT
First Name
Chuck
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
C20
Engine Size
350
Slice down the side with a razor blade and try to get a pick or small flathead under it to release the bond. Sometimes after you slice it if you can get a pair of curved jaw channel locks around it you can get it to twist and it'll loosen up.
 

thecantaloupeman

Full Access Member
Joined
May 14, 2019
Posts
447
Reaction score
144
Location
US
First Name
Dawson
Truck Year
1978
Truck Model
C20 Silverado Camper Special
Engine Size
350
Slice down the side with a razor blade and try to get a pick or small flathead under it to release the bond. Sometimes after you slice it if you can get a pair of curved jaw channel locks around it you can get it to twist and it'll loosen up.
I thought of that and sliced it, but for some reason it is extremely hard where it attaches to the metal underneath. I'm wondering if there is a hose clip that rotted into the hose and I can't see it from the side I'm looking at. I tried slicing it, and the scratches it made looked like metal. Is there any other tools I can use to try and cut it besides a razor blade? Maybe I just need a stronger blade idk.
 

1985c20

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 21, 2019
Posts
143
Reaction score
187
Location
Torrington, CT
First Name
Chuck
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
C20
Engine Size
350
Did you take a hose clamp off that end? there should be one on there so if you haven't removed one yet then yes I'd say there's one hiding under there.
 

Red Rex

Full Access Member
Joined
Jun 3, 2014
Posts
320
Reaction score
533
Location
Middle Ga
First Name
Andy
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
K 1500 4 WD shortbed
Engine Size
350
Might put some Kroil on the edge of the hose and let it penetrate between the hose and the neck. Same for any clamp on the hose as well
 

DanMcG

Full Access Member
Joined
Jun 28, 2014
Posts
1,076
Reaction score
1,884
Location
Central NY
First Name
Dan
Truck Year
1978 1985
Truck Model
k10 k10
Engine Size
400 350
I'd remover the filler neck housing from the box side and work on it on a bench. if the clamp is still on you can use a hacksaw or Sawzall to cut through it.
 

gotyourgoat

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 27, 2014
Posts
2,117
Reaction score
3,418
Location
NRV Virginia
First Name
gotyourgoat
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
c10
Engine Size
smokin' 305
Well hell, that's cleaner than a repop tank.
So I just took off the hose. At least one end of it. I think the hose was my issue. It looks like it has some cracks in it and it bulged around where the neck attaches to it. The neck itself looks totally fine. Now my issue is that I can't get the other side of the hose off. It almost feels like metal and is super rotted to the metal underneath. Any ideas of how I can rip it off?
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images
You must be registered for see images
You must be registered for see images


Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
 

thecantaloupeman

Full Access Member
Joined
May 14, 2019
Posts
447
Reaction score
144
Location
US
First Name
Dawson
Truck Year
1978
Truck Model
C20 Silverado Camper Special
Engine Size
350
I'd remover the filler neck housing from the box side and work on it on a bench. if the clamp is still on you can use a hacksaw or Sawzall to cut through it.
I tried this and it worked! Great idea! Made it loads easier. Now my biggest problem is finding a filler hose to replace it. I found a new vent hose, but I now need to find where to buy a 1-3/8" hose with a 90 degree bend. Preferably not lmc because I'd like to have this thing driving within the next few days. Anyone know where I can buy this part? Do any auto parts stores sell them? Or something that will work? I'd appreciate the help.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
42,207
Posts
911,360
Members
33,708
Latest member
btrain04
Top