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How many of you have had busted gas tanks?

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Old 09-24-02, 10:52 AM
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How many of you have had busted gas tanks?

Just out of curiosity, how many have you guys had to replace your gas tank? I doubt this is a common thing, but I know it happened to me. There was a hole IN the gas tank, and I had to get a new one.


Mike
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Old 09-24-02, 11:09 AM
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Most common gas tank failure I've seen is heavy rust inside the tank, usually from the car sitting for a long time in a corrosive environment (like on the beach).

It's not that common - Mazda did a pretty good job on the gas tank. External holes are VERY uncommon.

Dale
Old 09-24-02, 11:28 AM
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I am just being curious here.

How's the rest of the car body-wise ? Do you have rust ?

If the gas tank got busted from the outside, I would double-check the integrity of the car, in particular, the state of the frame (rot wise)

Hugues -
Old 09-24-02, 01:05 PM
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The frame is not bad at all. The only rust that was found was around the wheel wells, and that was fixed. Body wise the car is doing good. And do not ask me how the tank got busted...I have no clue. And NO, I did not bottom it out.


Mike
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Old 09-24-02, 01:55 PM
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I had a hole in my gas tank of about 120 square inches.
Old 09-24-02, 03:29 PM
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As Dale mentions they rust out from inside way before the outside and usually from sitting or from people that have put chemicals that eat out the lining (such as some "octane boosters" and ethenol based gasohols).

Another reason to drain and clean out your gas tank every couple of years.
Old 09-24-02, 05:38 PM
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i don't know about having a hole in it but my old 82 supra's gas tank already fell out while i was crusing it was kinda funny
Old 09-24-02, 06:21 PM
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Originally posted by scathcart
I had a hole in my gas tank of about 120 square inches.


Mine gets a 70L hole every week or so
Old 09-24-02, 07:15 PM
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What's available aftermarket for gastanks? I know there's a weight advantage from going to a S5 tank to an S4 tank. How about an aftermarket tank? I thought I remembered a site that sold them a long time ago, I'll have to go look for it again... So how about these questions?

Steve
Old 09-24-02, 07:43 PM
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Originally posted by Scott 89t2




Mine gets a 70L hole every week or so
When I sumped my stock tank, I cut a hole in it.
Old 09-24-02, 10:01 PM
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If I were you I would not go looking for a "aftermarket" gastank. It cost me $800 just to get a new one, had to come from CA . just my .02

Mike
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Old 09-25-02, 12:15 AM
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Well, the tank on my 1980 SA rusted pretty bad on the top, but the SA tanks were built differently then the FB tanks. The SA tank had a rather light, unprotected top which tends to rust through around the fuel line barbs. I had one of those barbs break off, and after a spectacular JB weld patch and replacemant pipe was installed by yours truely, I broke off another barb. Many indecent phases were shouted, feelings were hurt... and that car was sold within a week, because I just couldn't get the damn thing to run and I needed driveway space. My FC's tank, however, looks OK.




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