Petro patch? Anyone used it before?

Post Wed Nov 06, 2013 2:10 pm

I just noticed this morning that my peteol tanks leaking a bit. I never noticed it before when id always just put 10 or 20 quid, but last night i filled the tank then noticed it this morning. I havent had a chance to get under the car and properly investigate so im not sure how big the problem is. But I was wondering if anyone had ever used or had any experiences of "petro patch"? http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B002YTLTDM
By the looks of it you can get it in a plaster sort of form or as a putty? I was wondering if anyone knew if it was any good or anything? If i could use it as a quick cheap fix it would really help me out at the moment instead of having to replace the whole tank. Cash is a bit tight atm. Any advice, reviews or tips would be much appreciated. Cheers

Post Wed Nov 06, 2013 3:47 pm

Tank will be leaking from either the filler stub pipe or the seam where the top of the tank is welded to the bottom.
The tank is difficult to access,so attempting to patch it up without removing it will be barely worth the effort.In a similar way,it's not really worthwhile installing a s/h tank,the safe and best option is to bite the bullet and buy a nice new pattern part from ECP or GSF,they cost about £150ish.
Allow yourself half a day to swap them.

Post Wed Nov 06, 2013 4:05 pm

Oh fcuk! Looks like its going to be expensive as i wont be fitting it so i will be having to pay someone for labour aswell as the part. Thanks

Post Wed Nov 06, 2013 7:00 pm

Petro-patch is only for punctured tanks really, yours will be rotten, so your doing nothing more than a temporary bodge, and as daimlerman says it will be difficult/impossible to get to a rusty seam, prep it, and patch it with the tank in the car

Post Wed Nov 06, 2013 7:03 pm

daimlerman wrote:Tank will be leaking from either the filler stub pipe or the seam where the top of the tank is welded to the bottom.
The tank is difficult to access,so attempting to patch it up without removing it will be barely worth the effort.In a similar way,it's not really worthwhile installing a s/h tank,the safe and best option is to bite the bullet and buy a nice new pattern part from ECP or GSF,they cost about £150ish.
Allow yourself half a day to swap them.

New tanks are not £150 from ECP anymore.

Post Wed Nov 06, 2013 7:17 pm

Theres is a rubber hose from the filler neck to the tank so hope thats split, cheapest and easiest repair.

Post Wed Nov 06, 2013 7:23 pm

Yeah, more like £250+ VAT now.
They were available to zoners for £90 at one time,,,,,

Post Wed Nov 06, 2013 7:26 pm

bss325i wrote:
daimlerman wrote:Tank will be leaking from either the filler stub pipe or the seam where the top of the tank is welded to the bottom.
The tank is difficult to access,so attempting to patch it up without removing it will be barely worth the effort.In a similar way,it's not really worthwhile installing a s/h tank,the safe and best option is to bite the bullet and buy a nice new pattern part from ECP or GSF,they cost about £150ish.
Allow yourself half a day to swap them.
New tanks are not £150 from ECP anymore.

Been a while since I bought one!

http://www.gsfcarparts.com/parts/fuel-e ... /fuel-tank

Post Wed Nov 06, 2013 7:54 pm

If you brimmed the tank and now it leaks, you may find out it's the rubber o-ring under the fuel pump that's perished. The tell-tale sign is a back seat that stinks of fuel, and a fuel leak if you park the car on a kerb.

Post Wed Nov 06, 2013 8:56 pm

i did fookin shite didnt work replaced my tank

Post Thu Nov 07, 2013 9:55 am

Cheers for your replies gents. I will have to try and have a proper look over the weekend and see what im going to do from there. Hopefully it dont end up costing me an arm and a leg!

Post Thu Nov 07, 2013 12:50 pm

Sadly, it will

I've been there.
Get your new tank powdercoated while you're at it, and do the rear subrame bushes and the brake lines that run over the tank. You may as well slap the whole lot with POR-15/Hammerite/Hydrate80/your rust proofing of choice and you'll definitely need to look at the bracket which the fuel filler pipe attaches to.
Sorry chap, but it's just one of those jobs that these cars need after 20 years sitting outside in the rain.

Post Thu Nov 07, 2013 1:28 pm

I've used Petro-patch befo successfully. Like a total tool I punctured my fuel tank in my Merc 190e while trying to install rivets to secure mounting brackets for rear headrests. My mechanic's suggestion was to get a small screw, with a fibre washer and tighten it into the puncture hole with some rubber to form a seal. i then used the petro-patch to cover the whole screw/washer by pushing it into the cracks. Once cured, it formed a bullet-hard, concrete like patch and sealed the whole tank really well. the 190 has a pressurized tank, so releasing the fuel filler cap always results in a resounding 'whoosh' sound. That and the absence of a petrol smell told me it did the job well enough. Still holding 4 years later. For small punctures, anyway! Good luck.