Rusted Fuel Tank

Technical questions and answers about the Mazda Bongo

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Dangermike
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Rusted Fuel Tank

Post by Dangermike » Sun Aug 02, 2020 9:12 pm

Hello,

So found a small puddle under the Bongo today,
Smells awfully like diesel,

Looked under and it’s wet around the seams and a potential Leak down the side,

It looks like the seams may have rusted? Is this common?

A replacement tank seems rare / non existent.. so I guess it’s a pull out and weld up job?
Bob
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Re: Rusted Fuel Tank

Post by Bob » Sun Aug 02, 2020 9:42 pm

Not heard of this before, diesel being an oil it's not likely to have rusted from inside, outside is open to the wild world.

Bongo Spares might be able to help.
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g8dhe
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Re: Rusted Fuel Tank

Post by g8dhe » Sun Aug 02, 2020 9:43 pm

Can't say I have ever heard of such a problem! I think someone reported a damaged tank from something in the road striking the tank but never a rust problem.
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Bongolia
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Re: Rusted Fuel Tank

Post by Bongolia » Mon Aug 03, 2020 12:22 am

When I had the tank out of mine it was badly pitted on the top around the shoulders luckily caught in time, treated and painted all good now.
Have you recently brimmed the tank? Could it be just from a perished fuel hose.
Easy enought to lift the sender cover in the floor and check if you havnt a side conversion that is.
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Dangermike
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Re: Rusted Fuel Tank

Post by Dangermike » Mon Aug 03, 2020 2:39 pm

Thanks for the reply’s all,
So filled the tank up the other day, and it was that night that the leak happened,
Looking under the car this morning , although still wet , the was a lot smaller drip on the floor,

Going to cleaner up around the tank tonight to see if any more drips appear

Unfortunately the van has been converted and the floor is laminate! So checking the sender or pipes from above it not easy!

On holiday atm, so don’t have space/tools to drop the tank!
Typical!
Bongolia
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Re: Rusted Fuel Tank

Post by Bongolia » Mon Aug 03, 2020 2:50 pm

Bugger!
As you filled it it could just be the return pipe leaky. As long as you run 3/4 tank that should do the trick till you can get back, in the meantime have a good holiday.
Dangermike
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Re: Rusted Fuel Tank

Post by Dangermike » Sun Aug 09, 2020 9:53 pm

So I tried to have a look under, without lifting it up,
Took a few photos so you can see what’s going on,
It seems that everything is dry after an inch about the seam...

Will have another proper look tomorrow now that I am home,

Also seems to leak worse when parked facing up a hill

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pauldeb
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Re: Rusted Fuel Tank

Post by pauldeb » Thu Aug 27, 2020 7:24 am

Any update, OP? Did you find the culprit?
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