TANK REPAIR AND CLEANUP
How to intervene on fuel tanks?
To store the fuel needed by the engine of any vehicle, a special tank is used, which is an integral part of the fuel system.
It is a sealed container that can have different shapes and sizes and be produced with different materials.
The tanks, which are designed to contain liquid fuels (such as petrol, diesel, liquid gas) are mounted on commercial, agricultural, industrial vehicles or on cars and motorcycles.
Their location is designed to ensure maximum safety, so they are usually positioned at the rear of the vehicle and to the side of the frame.
The most important requirement is sealing, an essential feature to prevent not only the leakage of fuel in liquid form, but also in vaporized form.
The materials that are most commonly used in their manufacture are the following:
• steel:
It is mainly used for gas systems of trucks and lorries;
• aluminum:
it is used to contain petrol and therefore for vehicles powered by this fuel;
• plastic:
It is the cheapest and most suitable material for any type of fuel and therefore the most widespread.
In most cases, tanks are produced to hold gasoline, which is the most common fuel source on any type of mobile vehicle.
Regardless of the material it is made of, over time the petrol tank can deteriorate or even actually break.
In such conditions, before replacing it, it is possible to proceed with a repair, provided that you contact qualified and expert personnel, who are therefore able to intervene competently.
• First of all, it is necessary to carry out the leak test, which allows you to identify the presence of any leaks, after having made the entire transmission system of the vehicle safe.
The leak test includes various steps, which are:
– endurance tests;
– pressure analysis;
– analysis of material aging;
– permeability test.
If the tank does not hold pressure, it is essential to perform a thorough external cleaning to identify any cracks and then proceed with localized welding.
This procedure, in addition to promptly identifying any tank problems, also serves to verify its compliance and evaluate whether consumption meets expected standards.
At the end of the intervention, the tightness test must always be repeated.
• A second intervention is cleaning the tank which, with use, can easily become dirty due to the deposit of waste and debris on the bottom and walls.
When your vehicle is experiencing fuel problems, it's likely that the built-up debris is being sucked up by the fuel pump and transferred into the engine.
In these cases, it is essential to contact specialized technicians who, using specific cleaning products, can carry out a complete cleaning.
• To complete the operations, a treatment cycle with two-component substances resistant to high octane petrol is required at this point.
This is a procedure that only a few qualified workshops can successfully complete, as it requires high-level technical skills.
CDR, which has been operating in this sector for years, specializes in the repair, remediation, and regeneration of all types of tanks, with work on vehicles of all makes and models.
Thanks to the qualified skills of its staff, the company has patented several exclusive operating systems that allow it to achieve unparalleled results.
What are the main causes of tank damage?
One of the main reasons a vehicle's fuel tank gets damaged is the accumulation of debris and impurities on the bottom and walls of the container, especially if the driver is in the habit of frequently driving on low fuel.
In these cases, in fact, the fuel pump can overheat and, by sucking in air, tend to spin idly, also putting the filter out of action.
As a result, excessive movement of sediment occurs, interfering with the normal functions of the tank and therefore with the quality of the fuel.
It also happens that, due to wear, some parts of the fuel container break more or less visibly: when the breaks are not visible, the damage becomes more difficult to quantify since it is not possible to precisely repair the tank.
In such conditions, only a thorough inspection by professionals can prevent rather serious damage.
Procedures for repairing a damaged tank
To repair a damaged fuel tank, you need to perform some operations, namely:
• open the engine compartment and remove the tank;
• unscrew both internal and external bolts and screws;
• disconnect all power cables;
• remove the tank;
• empty the tank completely;
• pour a solution containing specific solvents (such as trichloroethylene) into it;
• insert previously unscrewed nuts and bolts;
• shake the tank several times;
• repeat the operation until the solution appears clear;
• rinse with pure alcohol;
• pour anti-rust alcohol into the container and leave it to act for at least 2-3 hours;
• rinse once again with pure alcohol;
• repair any breakages on the walls or bottom of the tank;
• introduce an adequate quantity of mixture obtained with remediation liquid and catalyst;
• hermetically seal the hole with a cap covered with tin foil;
• move the tank to allow the mixture to reach every point and settle over the entire surface;
• leave to dry for a few days;
• reposition the tank on the vehicle, proceeding with the connection with the cables.
All these procedures can only be performed by expert personnel as the operations require considerable manual dexterity and skill.
At CDR, you can achieve optimal results both through the use of carefully selected products and the highly qualified workforce of our technicians.
How to intervene on an iron tank?
Iron tanks require more demanding repair and remediation work as ferrous material has specific characteristics, including that of corroding over time to the point of completely crumbling.
It is clear that in these situations the risk of breakage is very high.
Furthermore, it is essential to be able to work on the parts undergoing remediation and overhaul, using specific equipment such as electrode or continuous cable welders.
Once the breaking point, its size and position on the container have been identified, it is essential to also consider the conditions of the areas adjacent to the hole, which could contribute to its enlargement.
In some cases, it is necessary to use an angle grinder equipped with a special abrasive flap disc to smooth the surface and remove the external protective paint.
Iron tanks also require definitive testing of their compactness and therefore of their post-repair tightness, given that this substrate has specific mechanical requirements.
To contact the CDR company, simply fill in the form on the website, which allows you to request a free consultation or quote.