Gas in the bilge - Page 4

whatknot · #31 11-26-2007, 04:24 AM

I hope this link gets you to my 60 gallon tank schematic.
If not, search for Fuel Tank Specs Directory posted by whatknot (me). Also posted is manufacturers name and address. Break the foam to tank seal and then go to a marina. Tie the tank off and pull it out with the lift. Get beer and a smoke. good luck

Tank specs are at the top of the page.

http://www.wellcraftv20.com/cgi-bin/...9058;start=6#6

Stillrunning · #32 11-28-2007, 02:13 PM

I filled up a few years ago and when I got home I notice the smell of gas. I went to the boats plug and had a small trickle of gas comming out. I checked all hoses and anything else and came to the conclusion my tank was leaking. I took a seradded (spelling) knife and cut between the tank and foam and then could pop the tank out. Now after sucking out 60 gallons of gas and removing the tank I could not find a single leak so back to the boat I went. Come to find out that my vent was cracked and when I added the oil it overflowed the tank and instead of coming out of the vent it leaked down into the boat. At first glance it looked just fine but when I reached up to check the fill hose I hit the vent line and saw it moving. My point is to check things out real good before tearing out the tank. Atleast I did get to clean out the tank and give it a freash coat of paint adding maybe a few years to its life.

wpearch · #33 11-28-2007, 08:18 PM

something else to check your hoses the older hose get eaten by the ethanol they put in the gas it a good idea to replace all but the fuel fill at least

whale · #34 11-28-2007, 08:52 PM

I checked all the hoses and no apparent leaks. Also, with about 20 gallons in the tank and the supply valve turned off at the tank I found about 1/2-1 gallon of gas in the bilge the next day. Seems to me if there was a problem with any hose from the tank back it would stop the leak if the valve is closed. Also, if the tank is only 1/3 full then the fill and vent would not be the problem. They were also easy for me to inspect and appear OK. I haven't had time to do any work on it lately......I hate that it gets dark before 5 pm. Maybe this weekend....

willy · #35 11-28-2007, 10:26 PM

It is not the hoses Kev, Fillet had replaced them prior to my purchase, I did not check all of them but they looked pretty new. Not sure about the vent hose though, a leak or crack as said previously could be what I smelled when I filled it and drove home.
I beleive you are right about the leak when containing only a third of a tank, that would be a breakdown in the metal somewhere I would think.

bradford · #36 12-01-2007, 02:33 AM

It goes without saying, BE CAREFUL!!! The fumes are worse than the gas itself. One spark and you might not need any help removing the tank! :o :o :o

Skools Out · #37 12-01-2007, 03:27 AM

my tank did the same in my 21 but found the holes took tank out drained and filled with water too the top till it was totally busting at the seams thenfound the minor leak at a bad weld fixed and good to go. they do make a product that is guarrantted to work on boat tanks to fix leaks for ever.

2ndchance · #38 12-01-2007, 11:05 AM

Whale,
Do yourself a favor, pull the tank and do a thorough inspection. The tank on my 1980 V was foamed in and had what I thouht was minor pitting from water being held agianst the tank by the foam was actually major pitting. I started noticing a slight gas smell in the late summer that seemed to get worse over time. I pulled the tank again :( and power wire brushed the entire tank. I found 3 leaks in the tank without even pressure testing (I left 5 gallons of gas in the tank) and all I did was clean the corrosion from the pits. I rolled the tank so that the gas would be against any suspect areas. There are several products available to patch the tank as a stop gap measure if you can't swing a new one right now. I used Marine Tex epoxy and after grinding out every area that was suspect I patched them with the product. It won't pretty but the tank is below deck anyway and it does not leak :). I have started a new tank fund and will replace it in the spring I hope. As a safty note, use a brass wite wheel if you power wire brush your tank, sparks are not a good thing around a fuel tank ;D.

whale · #39 12-01-2007, 07:47 PM

Well, after several hours of cutting foam the tank still will not move at all. I am trying to see if I can get a wire under it....I like that idea but I can't get the wire underneath. I broke out the pressure washer but I just managed to make a big mess. I think my 2300 psi washer is not enough power to really blast out the foam. The space around the tank is so tight it is very difficult to get anywhere. I'm thinking I need to customize some kind of tool that will allow me to cut a bit of foam from the underneath and thereby get the wire under it. Anyway, a couple pics from the other weekend....

The fuel gauge float is a tad rusted on.....

Siphoning out the gas from the tank..

msbhammer · #40 12-01-2007, 10:14 PM

Think I posted it before, but I thought Parissht said that there is something you can spray on the foam that will disolve it. Other then that, get out a 10 pound digging bar and start tearing it out. Keep us posted. ;)