Any way to patch this hole??

[jymbee]

Mechanic applied some kind of "goop" (not sure what it was) but it didn't last that long. Must be some product out there that I could use to patch this hole and avoid having to buy a new tank?

Mice had quite nest there when it sat for some time last winter but for the life of me I can't imagine that there weren't a lot of better tasting things to chew on than my gas tank!

 

[BigBoyToys]

Maybe try some "Hot Melt Glue".

 

[flyerdan]

That can be welded with a plastic welder, unfortunately the good ones are rather expensive. Maybe rough it up with a rotary rasp in a drill or die grinder and try some two part epoxy. If the holes are big enough that it would run through into the tank, and you can't reach it from the inside to put some backup tape in, maybe some of that epoxy putty?
I'd opt for the weld if at all possible. Perhaps ask around at some of the places that work on mowers and things with plastic tanks, they might be able to tell you who does that type of repair. If you had the tank off and prepped it would only take a few minutes to fix.

 

[KenB2920]

I agree, use a plastic welder. I bought one for about $150 and it was worth every penny. Be sure there are no fumes in the paint in the tank.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Doesn't look that big.

Permatex 82180 Ultra Black Maximum Oil Resistance RTV Silicone Gasket Maker, 3.35 oz. Tube Amazon.com: Permatex 8218 Ultra Black Maximum Oil Resistance RTV Silicone Gasket Maker, 3.35 oz. Tube: Automotive

 

[Steave]

I'd try the gasket sealers first, if by chance that don't work take it by a radiator shop and they can repair it. They weld plastic radiators all the time and could weld your tank also.

 

[Billrog]

Seal all made for gas tanks.

 

[Turbys_1700]

I repaired a tank similar to this using a soldering iron to melt the area and filling with a melted plastic zip tie.

 

[jymbee]

A number of great suggestions! Thanks to all for the input. Given it's a pretty small hole I'll probably start with some of the most inexpensive recommendations as to materials that can be used and see how that works out. I'll post back the results-- good or bad.

 

[TractorGuy]

Weigh your safety against the cost of a new tank.

 

[dickfoster]

Maybe try some "Hot Melt Glue".

Hot glue is just styrene, the same stuff that foam coffee cups are made from.

I'd JB weld it or even try some epoxy putty. Clean well before any kind of adhesive is applied.
I took up a plastic tarp up in my shed that had a big hole chewed right through the middle of it. It was folded so they chewed through two or three layers. Friggin rats and mice will chew and eat anything. For some reason they really relish plastic insulation on wiring too. They got to my wifes car when she parked it up there a few years ago. The cover for the alternator terminal is chewed half off along with some other plastic they deemed tasty. I like to feed them Just One Bite but you have to be careful that other critters can't get to it.

 

[bcp]

Your wiring is insulated with mouse food.

soy wire insulation - Google Search

Bruce

 

[Lineman North Florida]

I just went through this when my wife poked a hole in my Gravely lawn mowers gas tank, I bought a cheap plastic welding kit from Harbor Freight and when I was through you couldn't even tell that there ever was a hole, mine was also in the bottom corner of the gas tank. It has been over a month and it hasn't dripped a drop, so this one ain't no hearsay, I'll guarantee you with a little prep by roughing the area up and then lightly heating area around hole and melting the plastic welding rod into the hole and surrounding area you will have a good patch. Good luck. Charlie.

 

[roadhunter]

I repaired a tank similar to this using a soldering iron to melt the area and filling with a melted plastic zip tie.

This ^^. It's just polyethylene and it melts when it gets hot. I'd recommend removing the tank and inverting it for the repair so if you got it too hot it wouldn't sag in. The key is getting the base hot so the filler bonds. Might even be able to just squeeze it together once it's hot.

 

[Egon]

The epoxy paste or bondo.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I fixed a couple of cracks on the bottom of my fuel tank with JB Weld 5 years ago and it is still holding. LS sent me a new tank but I had already fixed it by the time it came in so I still have that tank in the box waiting for the JB Weld to fail.

After removing the tank, I started the repair by acetone cleaning the areas well to remove any diesel on the area, then roughed it up with a wire wheel on my grinder. Put on the JB Weld and let it cure for 24 hours and reinstalled the tank/

Since your repair is on the top within reach thru the filler cap, I would clean the inside with acetone, put a piece of tape across the hole to keep the JB Weld from dripping thru then follow with cleaning the outside. It already looks sufficiently rough so just apply a generous amount of JB Weld.
IF there is an obstruction inside your tank to prevent you from reaching inside, start with a pinch of epoxy putty to seal the hole, then follow on with the JB Weld. Total cost should not exceed $10.

 

[PILOON]

FYI, I have used hot glue gun with the usual glue sticks with good success on everything from gas tanks to Cessna wing tips.
Roughing up the area helps as does thorough cleaning with a strong solvent.
As you melt the glue stick kind of swirl it to blend the stick with the poly tank surfaces.
Mt plastic 'fenders' on my travel trailer are glue gun stick repaired and have withstood many travel miles.
One 5 gal jerry can has a glue gun parch and I don't hesitate to transport fuel in it.
As I said, heat enough to blend the gun stick with the base plastic.

Another product that will work well also is windshield adhesive sold in tubes at auto parts stores.
As always a good clean oil free surface is mandatory.

Forget silicone as that simply peels off, also forget epoxies as they will also peel away.

From the photo you show, a simple hot soldering iron to melt and fuse the crack closed would also work.

 

[dstig1]

Sigh. Nothing sticks to polyethylene, which is likely what your tank is made of. Nothing attacks it either,which is why they use it for fuel tanks... Epoxy won't stick. Hot glue might stick (as it is generally polyethylene based, but not likely as the base material is still not hot. Your best bet is melting it back together with an iron, but even that may not hold

 

[kcott1973]

Seal all made for gas tanks.

I used Seal-All on a Mantis tiller fuel tank with a large crack and it works great. It is fuel resistant and an amazing product. It gets pretty firm and still a little flexible.

eclectic products manufactures it.

 

[Turbys_1700]

Sigh. Nothing sticks to polyethylene, which is likely what your tank is made of. Nothing attacks it either,which is why they use it for fuel tanks... Epoxy won't stick. Hot glue might stick (as it is generally polyethylene based, but not likely as the base material is still not hot. Your best bet is melting it back together with an iron, but even that may not hold

Agreed. I used a soldering iron to melt the plastic gas tank on my pressure washer couple years ago and it is still holding today. Once I melted the affected area I filled it in with a plastic zip tie. That worked nicely since they are made with polyethylene. I found this solution on YouTube. I am not that smart.