ALKY tank leaking again, anybody use a fuel cell in the engine bay?

[Razor]

Update: I removed the shrink tube and tightened the compression fitting maybe 1/4 turn. So far it's not leaking, so pretty easy fix.

This is how to fix it "if" it leaks. Or send it back.

Dont use goop, silicone, wax, etc..

 

[poppy1440]

Hello

Mr. Julio, Mine was leaking also a few months ago and I used black silicone and it stop and has not leaked a drop since. I was not aware methonol and silicone was a no no. Do you recommend that I get a new tank although mine is not leaking now. I trust your opinion and I believe if you say its not safe it's not safe, I will get a new one because I know you are a honest person with awesome customer service

 

[Razor]

Hello

Mr. Julio, Mine was leaking also a few months ago and I used black silicone and it stop and has not leaked a drop since. I was not aware methonol and silicone was a no no. Do you recommend that I get a new tank although mine is not leaking now. I trust your opinion and I believe if you say its not safe it's not safe, I will get a new one because I know you are a honest person with awesome customer service

Methanol is a solvent. It breaks down adhesives. That is why companies now use special adhesives for parts like fuel filters on the flex fuel vehicles.

If you put some silicon on it and it doesnt leak.. great. keep an eye on it. A leak is not going to create an issue unless there is a fire beneath the leak. At that point if you have a fire beneath your alcohol tank to probably have bigger issues to worry about.

Alcohol autoignites higher than fuel. Meaning putting heat next to it wont ignite it.. Heat next to it will have it evaporate. Unless its higher than 880 degree's. At that point the fenders and plastic all melt.

Its like this. If the tank leaks.. send it back. I will repair it, exchange it, handle it. You have warranty since its a new part. If you add goop to the fittings it makes my life harder in attempting repairs to the said tank. And investigating "what went wrong".

If you want to try the simple appoach of tightening down the fitting and that doesnt work for you.. stop and send it back in. Dont create additional labor on your end.

Every tank we build gets filled up to the neck and we let it sit for at least 6-8 hours to see if there is any leak. But understand these tanks get shipped across the country.. dropped.. banged.. etc.. Before we get them.. Then they get shipped across the country in boxes getting banged, dropped, etc.. by UPS. They get installed into vehicles that go through a ton of heat cycling, vibration, ozone, etc.. One day under the hood its 150 degree's and other day its 25 degree's. Coupled with its a thin plastic tank and to make matters worse alcohol is 21% thinner than water. Some go to vendors where they sit on a shelf.. now get reboxed and reshipped. Some pass hands several times before you get it. In the end.. if its a new part and you have a problem, deal with it just like you would if you bought a new appliance, computer, camera, etc.. It has warranty.. let the MFG(me) deal with it.

I appreciate everyones concern of trying to fix the leaks with wax, silicone, goop, etc.. but in the end we are back to square zero. If it leaks.. contact me for resolution. I've handled over 3000 Buick tanks the last 7 years. The techniques in building them is to hard to get into on a computer forum over a keyboard.

Funny thing is I rarely get a phone call with the leak issue. Maybe its the user who decides to solve it on his own to be done with it. Having sold this many kits to the TR communitty, I guess its bound to happen. I wish I would get more back to learn from any procedural mistake that may be occuring while building them. FWIW, I havent had a tank back this whole year I can recall.

Thanks guys,

Julio

 

[Blown&Injected]

These cars often sit around and a relatively new part, in use, may be over a year old. It is not really fair to hold a vendor responsible for parts sold long ago just because the owners often have lots of down time.

To be clear, the candle thing is not wax. I think it is called a PEX Candle, it is the same plastic the tank is made of and when it melts it fuses with the tank like the bead of a weld fuses with the base metal. It seems the big fitting is too much for the thin walled tank.

 

[poppy1440]

Mr. Julio, I've had my kit over a year and I wouldn't expect you to warranty it. If I notice any leak at all I'll contact and get another.

God Bless

 

[Brady87GN]

2 of the 3 systems in my friends cars leak in the same place you mention and they ask me why I use so much meth...they think I am leaking too.

One used a plastic candle like repair stick from a ski shop - do not recall what the proper name of the repair stuff is but it seems like any ski shop will be able to get it. The plastic melts and drips onto the area to be built up.

I think a P-Tex candle is what you are referring to. Melt it using an old iron from a thrift shop and work it.

 

[turbot3.8]

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