The Triumph Dolomite Club - EzBoard Archive

I just got home from a trip away, to be told that my car was leaking petrol. When I got home, it was coming from the plug underneath the tank. The plug was pretty badly decayed, and fell apart when I pulled it. The amount of petrol leaking down didn't seem to change. <br>
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I disconnected the battery and drained the tank. While it was draining I took all the crap put of the boot, and I could see petrol around the sides of the tank in its recess. I've disconnected everything, and am now ready to get the tank out to take a look at the underside to see what's what. <br>
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I then found that I couldn't get the little metal pipe that comes out of the tank to clear the small hole left in the side of the car. the metal pipe will rotate in its mounting, but I can't get a full rotation on it to see if it will unscrew. Does this sound like standard, or am I missing something?

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...is a flared union with a brass pressure nut, just like a brake line but bigger. There will likely be a bit of insulation or mastic around it to stop it chafing on the boot floor where it passes through the hole; remove this and you should be able to get a spanner on the hex of the pressure nut. Once undone it will pull out of the tank and allow you to lift the tank out. They do tend to keep turning once they are undone.<br>
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Sorry to say you are probably looking at a replacement tank; fixes from experience tend to last a short while and then cost you a tank full to discover!<br>
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Oh, by the way...DO NOT WELD AN EMPTY TANK, believe it or not they are safer full!

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I think I may just be in luck. I managed to get the tank out with the pipe on with a bit of wiggling, and I think I figured out why there was petrol there.<br>
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The only way the tank would come out was with the union twisted downwards. As I twisted the tank to clear the rear wing, petrol started coming out. <br>
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The garage had to take the tank out a few weeks back to weld in a new support for my exhaust pipe. I guess they would have done the same thing, and petrol probably came out of the tank as it was going back in. I guess the pool that was there ate through the plug, which was why it started leaking.<br>
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Apart from a bit of what looked like surface rust (I'll try and find a digital camera to take a picture of it to check if it's ok) the tank looked fine, and wasn't leaking, even when tilted at the angle it was in the car on my driveway.<br>
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I shall have to wait till tomorrow to drain the rest of the petrol from the tank and refit it, and I shall also check if the tank has leaked at all while out of the car.<br>
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If the garage spilled petrol when taking the tank out it would have evaporated pretty quickly...and they certainly wont have left any in when welding nearby!!!<br>
Even if they spilled some when refitting the tank it would have sloshed into the spare wheel well and generally stunk a bit until evaporating again...<br>
The rusty pathc on your tank is proly a bit porous...or there will be a pin hole somewhere or the union wasnt tight enough.<br>
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Jonners

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Funny thing is that if it really is leaking, it must have only started in the last couple of weeks, or since the tank was last removed, as I'm pretty sure something would have been siad if the tank was leaking.<br>
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Assuming it is knackered, I shall need a new one. I just got a little queasy at the price of one at R*****s. Does anybody know where I might get a reasonably priced replacement?

<p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p206.ezboard.com/bthetriumphdolo ... avepoth</A> at: 30/5/05 1:24 pm<br></i>

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Looks alright. I guess I could get this to play it safe. Is there any way of making sure it's fuel-tight, other than filling it with pertol and checking for leaks? Can I put sealing gunk of some sort in it?

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Unfortunately petrol is a very good solvent for most things that come as liquid and then set by evaporation; this is why most tank seals are short lived.<br>
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The only way of testing a tank is to put fuel into it; a tank will lose fuel before it noticeably loses air pressure for example. I would suggest your tank was on its way out and the recent disturbance finished it off. They always go at the bottom; the tank is suspended in the boot and was no doubt placed on the ground right way up whilst it was out. That'd be enough I reckon!<br>
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I have a couple in the shed that whilst known good when they were taken out, have now been out several years apiece. You are welcome to one so long as you collect, and if it works ok you give a tenner to Cancer Research or the Woodland Trust (I used to say any worthwhile charity, but someone once took the piss and made a donation to one of those charities that just keeps the administrator comfortable and makes no noticeable impact on society!)

<p>1973 Dolomite Sprint<br>
1974 Dolomite Sprint<br>
1977 Dolomite Sprint<br>
1979 Dolomite Sprint<br>
1980 Dolomite 1500HL<br>
1998 Lotus Elise<br>
1999 Alfa Romeo 166</p><i></i>

I'd disagree with the statement that all sealants are short lived - I have used the Frosts treatment on my tank and found it excellent (I know others too on here who'd agree). It's expensive but I think a worthwhile investment.<br>
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Can be done in a day and will seal just about anything (if done correctly.<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START ;) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/wink.gif ALT=";)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->

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When I needed a tank I paid about 15 quid to someone off here, who even drove down to drop it off! Was a good one too, near perfect condition, stil doing fine to this day <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /smile.gif ALT=":)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
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My old one didn't leak though, just had a build up of rusty powder clogging the outlet, not sure if I've still got it though.<br>
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I don't think you're anything like local enough for me to suggest popping to the breakers up teh road - There's three cars up there all with tanks, but I've never found the time to check them or get a price I'm afraid.

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you could buy 2 complete 1300's for the price our percy wants for that "new" tank....<br>
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Ive had good results with Frost repaired tanks too...<br>
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Jonners

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