Fiberglass Fuel Tank: Sealer for Ethanol Blended Fuel

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Author Topic:   Fiberglass Fuel Tank: Sealer for Ethanol Blended Fuel

Phatmatt posted 11-26-2007 12:13 PM ET (US)
Has anyone tried gas tank sealer on one of the older fiberglass gas tanks. I have a 27 gallon fiberglass tank that is leaking. The leaks are from the E10 gas breaking down the polyester resin construction. Since the tank is a loss I was considering dumping gas tank sealer into it and see if this would work. In theory the gas tank sealer should create a new surface layer of material that can handle the e10 gas.
What do you guys think? Has anyone tried this already?
Thanks for any input.
Matty

Dan posted 11-26-2007 12:28 PM ET (US)
[M]aybe if your tank wasn't already damaged it might be worth a try, but when you're on the water you don't want to have doubts or misgivings.
jimh posted 11-26-2007 10:18 PM ET (US)
I have no first-hand experience with this, however I read this account of someone's attempt to construct a fiberglass fuel tank with special resins which were claimed to be resistant to gasoline. As you will see, it was a total failure:
Fuel Tank Failure!
http://www.egyptian.net/~raymacke/Cbnskif36.htm
You might also find this background material on how the tanks were constructed to be interesting:
Two sections of the narrative of construction which deal with the fuel tank
http://www.egyptian.net/~raymacke/Cbnskif17.htm
http://www.egyptian.net/~raymacke/Cbnskif18.htm
About My Figerglass Fuel Tanks
http://www.egyptian.net/~raymacke/Cbnskif27.htm
Phatmatt posted 11-27-2007 11:31 AM ET (US)
jimh,
Thanks for the come back..very good info!
Sound like it will not work unless you get really good coverage with the sealer.
Matt
frb91864 posted 11-29-2007 09:10 AM ET (US)
Phattmatt,
I have done it [i.e., applied some type of sealer to resist the effects of ethanol blended gasoline] to my fiberglass fuel tank that was deteriorating. I used KBS sealer last winter and used it all season with the E10 ethanol gas we have in Maryland. I just drained the remaining gas for the winter and the sealer seams to be holding up fine. I don't know if it will hold up long term but I am betting it will.
My tank was not leaking when I did the sealer but I wouldn't think that will matter. Do your best to get it as clean as possible inside. The kit comes with a cleaning solvent. I used a piece of chain to scuff the inside and loosen any debris.
Good luck,
Fritz
Bob of Glenburnie posted 11-30-2007 05:34 PM ET (US)
[M]y fiberglass fuel tank is four years old and not constructed with E10 resistant materials. [A]re you guys saying I can keep this tank if I seal it? [P]lease give details on where to purchase this product.
frb91864 posted 12-01-2007 10:28 PM ET (US)
KBS tank sealer. It worked for me.
http://www.kbs-coatings.com/KBS-Gas-Tank-Sealer-C38.aspx
Fritz
Bob of Glenburnie posted 12-04-2007 11:32 AM ET (US)
I went on the web site and think I found the proper product but there was no explanation as to apply the product. And what does one do with the various openings such as the vent, gas port and sending gauge? This is a Pate tank, so I'd assume I'll lose my clear volume indicator as well.
Can you guys give me anymore insight?
frb91864 posted 12-10-2007 09:20 PM ET (US)
Bob,
The directions that come with the complete kit are pretty good and explain the process. With fiberglass instead of metal you shorten the etch time to a couple of minutes.
Get a couple of threaded plugs to stick in the holes and remove before the epoxy sets. I duct taped over the gas cap hole and removed it once the epoxy was cured.
It's a fairly easy job but make sure the tank is completely DRY before pouring in the sealer.
Fritz

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Author	Topic: Fiberglass Fuel Tank: Sealer for Ethanol Blended Fuel
Phatmatt	posted 11-26-2007 12:13 PM ET (US) Has anyone tried gas tank sealer on one of the older fiberglass gas tanks. I have a 27 gallon fiberglass tank that is leaking. The leaks are from the E10 gas breaking down the polyester resin construction. Since the tank is a loss I was considering dumping gas tank sealer into it and see if this would work. In theory the gas tank sealer should create a new surface layer of material that can handle the e10 gas. What do you guys think? Has anyone tried this already? Thanks for any input. Matty
Dan	posted 11-26-2007 12:28 PM ET (US) [M]aybe if your tank wasn't already damaged it might be worth a try, but when you're on the water you don't want to have doubts or misgivings.
jimh	posted 11-26-2007 10:18 PM ET (US) I have no first-hand experience with this, however I read this account of someone's attempt to construct a fiberglass fuel tank with special resins which were claimed to be resistant to gasoline. As you will see, it was a total failure: Fuel Tank Failure! http://www.egyptian.net/~raymacke/Cbnskif36.htm You might also find this background material on how the tanks were constructed to be interesting: Two sections of the narrative of construction which deal with the fuel tank http://www.egyptian.net/~raymacke/Cbnskif17.htm http://www.egyptian.net/~raymacke/Cbnskif18.htm About My Figerglass Fuel Tanks http://www.egyptian.net/~raymacke/Cbnskif27.htm
Phatmatt	posted 11-27-2007 11:31 AM ET (US) jimh, Thanks for the come back..very good info! Sound like it will not work unless you get really good coverage with the sealer. Matt
frb91864	posted 11-29-2007 09:10 AM ET (US) Phattmatt, I have done it [i.e., applied some type of sealer to resist the effects of ethanol blended gasoline] to my fiberglass fuel tank that was deteriorating. I used KBS sealer last winter and used it all season with the E10 ethanol gas we have in Maryland. I just drained the remaining gas for the winter and the sealer seams to be holding up fine. I don't know if it will hold up long term but I am betting it will. My tank was not leaking when I did the sealer but I wouldn't think that will matter. Do your best to get it as clean as possible inside. The kit comes with a cleaning solvent. I used a piece of chain to scuff the inside and loosen any debris. Good luck, Fritz
Bob of Glenburnie	posted 11-30-2007 05:34 PM ET (US) [M]y fiberglass fuel tank is four years old and not constructed with E10 resistant materials. [A]re you guys saying I can keep this tank if I seal it? [P]lease give details on where to purchase this product.
frb91864	posted 12-01-2007 10:28 PM ET (US) KBS tank sealer. It worked for me. http://www.kbs-coatings.com/KBS-Gas-Tank-Sealer-C38.aspx Fritz
Bob of Glenburnie	posted 12-04-2007 11:32 AM ET (US) I went on the web site and think I found the proper product but there was no explanation as to apply the product. And what does one do with the various openings such as the vent, gas port and sending gauge? This is a Pate tank, so I'd assume I'll lose my clear volume indicator as well. Can you guys give me anymore insight?
frb91864	posted 12-10-2007 09:20 PM ET (US) Bob, The directions that come with the complete kit are pretty good and explain the process. With fiberglass instead of metal you shorten the etch time to a couple of minutes. Get a couple of threaded plugs to stick in the holes and remove before the epoxy sets. I duct taped over the gas cap hole and removed it once the epoxy was cured. It's a fairly easy job but make sure the tank is completely DRY before pouring in the sealer. Fritz