What To Use To Repair A Plastic Gas Tank

How to Repair a Polypropylene Gas Tank

by C.Fifty. Rease

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You lot cannot repair a damaged polypropylene gas tank with epoxy or a plastic tank repair kit, because gasoline will quickly dissolve the epoxy and the leak will reappear. Polypropylene is a thermoplastic, which ways that you can utilize heat to melt the plastic and create a permanent repair in the polypropylene gas tank. To heat the polypropylene, y'all need to utilise a specialized tool that has a controlled oestrus output. This reduces the chance that y'all will scorch the surface of the gas tank, which will result in an ineffective repair.

Step ane

Drain the gasoline from the polypropylene gas tank and remove the damaged polypropylene gas tank from the vehicle, per the vehicle's repair manual, with the mechanic's tool set.

Step two

Remove whatever gasoline residue from the gas tank past pouring 1 pt. of acetone into the damaged gas tank, swirling the acetone around in the gas tank and pouring the acetone into the 1-gallon plastic bucket.

Step three

Pour a small amount of acetone on a clean rag and wipe the damaged area of the polypropylene gas tank to remove gas residue from the outside surface of the gas tank.

Step 4

Allow the gas tank to dry thoroughly before proceeding.

Step v

Plug in the plastic welder, plow the heat control knob to 575 degrees Fahrenheit and prepare the plastic welder aside to preheat.

Step half dozen

Ready the polypropylene gas tank with the damaged area facing upwards.

Pace vii

Place the speed tip against the damaged gas tank. When the surface of the damaged area starts to melt, drag the speed tip across the damaged expanse to tack-weld the surface of the polypropylene.

Step viii

Align the speed tip with the starting time of the tack weld, slide a length of polypropylene filler rod into the speed tip, and push the filler rod into the melting tack weld.

Step 9

Elevate the plastic welder along the tack weld while pushing the polypropylene filler rod toward the surface of the gas tank.

Footstep x

Clip the polypropylene filler rod with the side cutters when you attain the stop of the tack weld. Slide the speed tip over the cut filler rod to fuse it to the surface of the gas tank.

Step 11

Lay multiple passes of filler rod if the damaged area of the polypropylene gas is wider than ane width of filler rod.

Allow the welded area to cool thoroughly before you reinstall the gas tank in the vehicle.

References

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