Gas tank leak? My old truck developed a leak in the gas tank. When I cleaned off the bottom, the hole was?

Question

just as round as if it had been drilled with a drill bit.

It was just about one sixteenth inch diameter.

I have heard of soap being used to temporarily seal

small leaks. Some years ago a friend of my wife

had a similar leak in the very bottom of her tank.

(which I patched). Could this be a way of stealing

gas. Drill the hole, catch the gas in a bucket, seal

the hole, then it is ready for next time.

I have never stolen gasoline, but I have had gasoline

stolen from me. Has anyone heard of this being done

(or done it themselves). Can rust or corrosion do this?

Is this common? I'd like to know. Thanks friends!

Answer 1

Usually gas is siphoned out of the tank...i have not heard of this technique...the tank could rust but it is not likely to make a perfectly round hole when it does...i would find some tank sealer and see if this happens again since gas is so expensive i can say it wouldn't surprise me if someone was stealing gas...Good Luck

Answer 2

jb weld or remove the tank and clean out the tank and weld it up

have done this to many tanks metal and plastic  

also you have to let the tank complety dry out or water it down good or the tank will catch fire or blow up if done wrong

becarfull and do it right

if the job is to big for you to handel take it to the shop

hope this help  

Answer 3

yes corrosion can do this to a gas tank. best thing to do is take it to a radiator shop and have it repaired. any gas leak is not good.

Answer 4

Never heard of the soap method, but it is possible to seal a small hole with any kind of wax. now is it a hole that was drilled to steal fuel? the only way to honest answer this question is to remove the tank drain the fuel and inspect the inside. is the hole inside shows tear out coming in to the tank then it was drilled. IS this a plastic tank or metal? if it was metal (As you mentioned old truck) there is a possibility that the tank is just starting to rust out.  

Answer 5

Corrosion shouldn't make a clean hole.  I have also had gas stolen from me and really it's very simple the way thieves do it.  All it really takes is a hole punch and that's good enough to make a hole large enough to steel gas from. I've never heard of soap being used to plug up a hole.  Normally my thieves aren't kind enough to even try to repair.  If this keeps happening I suggest putting a large flat piece of metal about three inches below your take that way it is much harder for some one to get to the take itself.  Not cheap but also doesn't have to be expensive and can pay itself off pretty quick.  the best way to patch any hole is to get some metal in a tube and that stuff works very well.