Brainy Posted May 31, 2015 Report Share Posted May 31, 2015 Has any experienced a pool of petrol on top of either tank? I filled both tanks ups recently and left it over night, when I returned there was a puddle of petrol on top of the drivers tank. A hole or perished breathe pipes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nelly Posted May 31, 2015 Report Share Posted May 31, 2015 If you have a later S1 then it should be like the S2, which has a thick rubber tube which connects the fuel filler neck to the tanks. It has clamps top & bottom to secure them. The first thing I would check is this pipe and connections, as any leak would result in the fuel running down the side and ending up on the top of the tank. The breather pipe comes off at an angle and goes back down into the tank any way, but again you could check the connections as I think these are secured by jubilee clips. Early S1's had tanks with longer fuel nexks but I would still think the same principle applies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
molemot Posted May 31, 2015 Report Share Posted May 31, 2015 Have a poke at it...soon find out if it's rusted through...(!) Mopping up all the petrol puddle should give you a chance of seeing where the stuff is coming out. Takes me back decades...first time I filled up the 1947 MG TC, before I rebuilt it with the supercharger. We were off to Teignmouth to visit the Grandparents....and I had parked the beast outside out house in Kew. Walked out to the car again and there was a puddle underneath....the bottom of the tank was leaking!! TC tanks were an afterthought, hung on the back of the car by two chromed straps.... Full tank, 13 1/2 gallons, and no way of draining it!! Found the hole and screwed in a chunky self tapper....covered it with stuff called PetroPatch...http://www.granvilleoil.com/product_info.php?prod_id=2is their latest stuff. Back in the 1960s it was cloth type patch with some magic fluid to saturate it with and provide adherence. Used it more in hope than expectation but it was fine!!! Lasted through to getting the tank off some years later and doing a plumbed in tinplate patch repair...hooray for old bean cans, great when you're skint and 22....(!) Before getting near a fuel tank with a torch, need to get the vapour out. Running the car exhaust into the tank for a few minutes worked for me.... Quote Scientists investigate that which already is; Engineers create that which has never been." - Albert Einstein Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM PilotSteve Posted June 24, 2015 Gold FFM Report Share Posted June 24, 2015 hope it the fuel hose!i found mine to be rusted under the foam on top of the tank ,think i read somewhere that the small windows above the tanks can be the culprits, it not a difficult job just a pain good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike6 Posted June 24, 2015 Report Share Posted June 24, 2015 Not sure if your tank is similar to mine but I sprung a leak where the return pipe goes into the top of the tank. It was the compression washer which needed replacement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilW Posted January 3, 2017 Report Share Posted January 3, 2017 Hi all. I have both my tanks out and have discovered some pin holes on the top of one tank. Really does not appear too bad. Probably go down the POR15 tank sealant route as a believe it is a pretty good product. Can anyone offer any experience of using this product? Additionally what is the reason for the foam on the top and underside of the tanks? The top piece I can not really see any use it being there and the bottom I suppose for cushioning on the piece stuck to the body but as it appears this foam is causing dampness/rust issues has anyone took it away for good and added an alternative support system? Maybe for sound deadening?? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM Barrykearley Posted January 3, 2017 Gold FFM Report Share Posted January 3, 2017 I'd be tempted to either replace or repair and then treat with por. The holes won't go away that's for sure. good luck Quote Only here once Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nelly Posted January 3, 2017 Report Share Posted January 3, 2017 Hi Phil I was going to repair my tanks but ended up replacing them. The foam I think is just to cushion the tanks and it also helps hold them in place. The general advice is to use closed cell foam when replacing as it doesn't hold water, which is what I did but my tanks are now alloy so they won't rust regardless. If you do go down the refurb route I have two tins of tank sealer I purchased but never used. I think they are OK, PM me if you want them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilW Posted January 3, 2017 Report Share Posted January 3, 2017 Barry 99.9% will repair. Just got to find someone who will cut and weld a section bearing in mind it's a fuel tank. Im sure with a very good wash out it will be fine. hardly smells of petrol even now after 3 weeks empty. Will then carry out the POR treatment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lotuseaters Posted January 3, 2017 Report Share Posted January 3, 2017 Phil PNM Engineering has someone who will weld tanks and pressure test them . But in my experience I would not even go there just replace them both with alloy ones from Sj's if its started to rust it wont stop with welding and POR 15 it will carry on deteriorating in time . And they are a major pain in the arse to change with the engine in ! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold FFM Barrykearley Posted January 3, 2017 Gold FFM Report Share Posted January 3, 2017 Or have some beauties made..... i found a great coded welder who made these out of stainless and pressure tested them for me. 1 Quote Only here once Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lotusfab Posted January 3, 2017 Report Share Posted January 3, 2017 Nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chillidoggy Posted January 4, 2017 Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 Has anyone given any thought to having their tanks made from plastic? I'm having a new boat built, and specifying plastic tanks this time around. This is the place they're coming from - http://www.tek-tanks.com/ Quote Margate Exotics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swindon_alan Posted January 4, 2017 Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 Are you turning yours into an Airfix kit Ian? Quote I tempted fate...now my Esprit V8 IS in bits...(sob) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chillidoggy Posted January 4, 2017 Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 No, I've already fitted aluminium tanks, but the plastic ones are custom-made, and very durable. Not too expensive, either, so I wondered if anyone had considered them. Quote Margate Exotics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Escape Posted January 5, 2017 Moderator Report Share Posted January 5, 2017 16 hours ago, ian29gte said: No, I've already fitted aluminium tanks, but the plastic ones are custom-made, and very durable. Not too expensive, either, so I wondered if anyone had considered them. How does the price compare to aluminum tanks from SJ or the like? I can confirm those alu tanks are very good quality: I recovered both from my bured out SE and have already fitted one to my current SE (because the original tank had developed the inevitable leak). No more petrol smell! What I don't understand is how the tanks could have survived, seeing as the glass from the tailgate was melted and the rims partially burned... There was even a decent amount (several liters!) of petrol-like fluid left inside! Quote I have made many mistakes in my life. Buying a multiple Lotus is not one of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chillidoggy Posted January 5, 2017 Report Share Posted January 5, 2017 Custom-made tanks need a custom price, but I know a few guys that have used them on their boats, and I thought the price was reasonable compared to the stainless-steel ones that they would normally fit. I guess it depends on the amount of work required. The boatbuilder I'm using now only fits plastic tanks to all the boats he builds. Quote Margate Exotics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.