Emergency fuel tank repair

Signman

For petrol you can't go past a cake of soap. Cut a wedge and force it into the split/hole. It will mix with the petrol to form a putty that sets like rock.

Used it across the Nullabor in an old Holden (it was still a gravel road then). It was a mate's car and as far as I know it was still in place when he sold it some time later.

Not sure if it works with diesel or oil ... "Kneadit" (epoxy putty)??

Water tank ... "Kneadit" ??

Cheers

The first time we went in the Redex Bash (1987) the petrol tank took a hiding from small stones thrown up and we used Bluetak to seal the leaks - worked like a charm.
What was the car? 1962 Valiant S.
We prevented future problems by fitting some old conveyor-belt rubber as a shield, both vertically in front of the tanks as well as beneath the tanks.

Burn a heap of spinifex and use the tar type residue as a putty also good for plastic jerries.

Ram a bit of dry hard timber to stop the flow and seal around with shaved cake soap.

If the above methods are no good ensure esky is well stocked and find a shady tree and wait till some one turns up.lol

years ago I used a fuel tank repair putty on a valiant that was available from local servo. Have used aqua putty on diesal fuel tanks. Great stuff it is sellys knead it aqua putty and will do water tanks radiators etc will dry underwater (we would use it on sharp edges at the pool) also for water tanks salastic is another

Used the soap in a Myers Manx beach buggy on the way to Broome from Sydney and the soap heldthe whole way (the split happened near Mt Dare)

I think the soap may still be in the hole - 10 years later???

I used a 2 part epoxy which is sold at CBC bearings which comes in a Grey Round Plastic Tube approx 30mm dia 200mm long .Plastic Metal I think they call it.
Grey outside with a white centre. you cut a small piece off and need it into a white putty then clean the area and press it on. Sets in a couple of hours. You can use to do all sorts of repairs and cures underwater.I used it to set the Kettle Handle on the Kettle as it went loose and worked a charm.Cost $16.00 and can be kept in glovebox.

I'd go for the cake of soap as a short term fix - I always carry one handy with just enough water to make it easy to "smear/squeeze" into a hole.

35 years ago, on a family camping trip out of Mullewa WA, we put a hole in the HR fuel tank going thru a dry creek. Out with the soap and no problems. We were camped for a week so we (Dad I mean - I was 10) drained out the fuel, mixed up a bit of the old three day cure Araldite and plugged it with that.

The Araldite was still there some six years later!

A

(I always carry the Araldite now - only the 5 mins stuff but it can do some great things!)

a short self tapping screw will plug a pin hole in a tank. A bit of rubber, soap or a filler of some kind will help it seal better too.

I think the stuff your talking about is called Epoxy Ribbon. It's been around since the 70's and I still see it every now and then. I've used it a few times. It's a permanent repair, sets hard, and will outlast the car.