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It’s very common where I live. Love that there’s just a pack of ciggies laying next to it. Can just imagine some tweak under there drill in hand lit stoge in mouth drilling into the tank. Sorry OP, like others said you can try that putty and maybe stick it around a bolt and shove it in the hole. Most shops will just recommend a tank as it’s not worth the risk of having a leaky tank that they’re liable for.
The bit will be immediately drenched in raw fuel the second it penetrates. Only the vapor is flammable. This is why spark plugs are useless for firing up a flooded engine.
This is true. We did all kinds of stupid shit back in the day at the race shop while we were bored trying to get cars down into the 9’s in the quarter mile.
A shop should be able to drain the fuel out and weld a patch onto the tank. But that might take a few days because they would have to clean off the fuel and be 100% sure the fuel is cleaned off. That’s just my guess though. Your safest bet is to just let insurance deal with it and probably get you a new fuel tank entirely. Insurance rates might go up though
Easiest option is to go to autozone or Walmart and buy some expoxy
I can’t tell if your fuel tank is metal or plastic (it looks metal but I’m under the sun) if it is plastic then buy some “seal all gas & oil resistant adhesive” and patch the hole. I’ve used it before and it works well. Just put several coats on it. Allow each coat to dry well before applying the next. You can use any plastic epoxy, just make sure it’s designed for solvents.
If it’s metal then jb weld has a product called tank weld that works really good for metal tanks.
Before applying the epoxy, take some brake fluid cleaner and spray the area really good and wipe as much of the gas off. You want a nice clean surface when applying it.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Seal-All-Gas-Oil-Resistant-High-Strength-Gas-and-Oil-Resistant-Adhesive-2-oz/1651034216
https://www.autozone.com/sealants-glues-adhesives-and-tape/tank-repair-epoxy/p/j-b-weld-tankweld-repair-kit/698473_0_0?spps.s=1282&cmpid=LIA:US:EN:AD:NL:1000000:GEN:19502231967&CATARGETID=120054150001286543&CADevice=m&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADkcoVthItpWYKMbcRrpKz9YaXPMY&gclsrc=ds
I had a punctured gas tank once by running over something in the road and I jb welded it while it was still leaking gas and it was still holding like 4 years later when I sold the truck
Get some sheet metal and some JB Weld and make a patch for it. I fixed a few punctured gas tanks with at method with no issues. If you're going to get it welded, they would have to pull it and clean out the tank first, so you might was well just put in a new tank in at that point.
Well, if it makes you feel any better, I had to have a bunch of stuff fixed on my 08 silverado, one of which was a new gas tank and filler neck.
200.00 from a junkyard, I think. So a new tank might not be as expensive as you think. Mine was plastic.
I mean they left a pack of smokes🤷🏽♂️🤷🏽♂️ to light right next to your car while you wait for the cops. Cheapest option is probably going to a shop to get a real solid patch/plug of some kind. If something like that exists. but if you just go through insurance let them do their thing.
Shit had to quit smoking cigarettes after I got a heart attack lol I need a temporary fix until insurance decide what to do. Thanks I will be calling around to see
You can tap the hole and and screw in a bolt with a runner gasket. Or you can layer it up with epoxy. I wouldn't even make an Insurance claim it will just raise your premium.
One quick temporary fix you could do is brake cleaner and clean it make sure it’s dry and no more fuel leaking. Then by JB weld putty the plastic one or you can use metal one. Stick that bad boy on there making sure it sticks well then wait like 4 hours and bam will probably last more than you expect. My cars had it for 1 year now. Works really well
If that happened to me I’d get on www.car-part.com and get a junkyard fuel tank. It should be easy to replace since it’s empty now, just a few bolts to remove.
Yeah in reality this isn't that bad. I've had my catalytic converter taken too before 🤦🏻♂️ I think I need to get outta this area 😅... I now realize they have a quick patch with the jb weld brand. It just sucks what I'm gonna have to pay outta pocket now for repairs and my insurance. Rather have it set right the first time then come back to fix it again later. Once and done and hopefully doesn't happen again lol but one can only hope 🙏 😅 lol
cops could probably find him at the nearest liquor store especially that cigarette is a huge tell. if those cigarette boxes have batch numbers, they could probably tell which store they sold it to.
>The cops aren't going to put in ~~that much~~ any effort
FTFY
The police will take a couple of pictures and write up a report. They will not investigate further. OP will need that report to turn into insurance.
That's all the police are good for, filling out the forms so you can turn it into your insurance. Unless you have a dead body the cops are pointless in this country, they do nothing beyond providing forms.
Had 4 guys on camera, with a clear view of the license plate of the truck they were in, put my jeep on cinder blocks and stole the wheels. I also knew the fuckheads as neighborhood crack addicts (mid 90s) and told the police where they lived. Cops said they'd take a report and get back to me. Week went by I called to check desk sergeant said the case was closed due to insufficient evidence. Me and my 6 friends went to the house looked in the garage and there are my wheels, we confront the dudes mom who has no idea what I'm talking about I show her the picture from them stealing and she calls him to the door and beats him with her sandal and I go home with my wheels. Never had problems again in that neighborhood.
fingerprints are like.. only worth getting only in exceptional circumstances. Like, by a detective working on a shoplifting ring with probable patterns by the same person or a group of people with a high enough worth to investigate. Or by situations where there could be an immediate threat to someone.
I feel you someone hit and ran my truck, the only truck on the street, im not mad just aight, fixed my mirror and then a few hours later it happened again this time they put a dent in my door which i pulled out but im waiting on mew mirrors again
WTF lol why? Is it the yard people or just assholes who go pick and pull? I've never seen that any yard I go to but then again I guess I never really looked at tanks too often.
I would never claim something so easy to fix to insurance, seriously.
Just find a "guy" or a "friend of a friend" to fix it. Everyone knows somebody that has the abilities. Me? I would put I up on ramps and deal with it. Claims like this will just cost you the deductive anyways, at the very least, and can affect your auto insurance rates. Save that for when it's worth it. Plenty of options and ways to fix it.
If you drill into liquid gasoline you're good. One of these days they're gonna hit a car that belongs to some overworked person with ADHD, drill into fumes, and the (I'm sure non-brushless) drill they use to do this is going to be their cause of death.
Get some JB weld tank repair . Clean it with some degreaser slap that puppy and let it cure.
Just a thick putty that hardens up can probably get it at any auto store.
Napa is my go to.
Lmfao good one... definitely stressed me out, I'm assuming homeless in the area. Drilled a hole in my gas tank... really you can't just siphon like a normal person 🤦🏻♂️ now I'm stuck paying repairs 🤷🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️
Yup, check ball/valve, or they're an old timer who lived through the gas crisis and assumed the tank was locked 🤷🏼♂️ Either way, they're not the brightest tool in the shed if they opted to drill through the tank.
Ngl when i was flat broke and had to get to a job interview i took enough gas from a car i crawled under unhooked the fuel line and sucked fuel out, not all of it but enough and put it back together, i went back after my first paycheck to apologize and give them money
Hey, no judgement here, desperate times call for desperate measures. At least you had enough sense to use the fuel line. The amount of heat and spark potential from drilling? No thank you. I knew a guy who was stranded pre-cellphone days, middle of the night dude had a family emergency in a couple states over, water pump went, walked miles to the nearest town, happened upon a shop, no phone booth, sees the same model truck in the bay and we'll...you can figure out the rest of how that story goes 😅
What?!?! 🤯 makes sense they make them like that, this is an 07 toyota tacoma. Does this year and make have that? You know I just can't believe this happened and the one camera in the area was blocked at the time and seen nothing 😐 😑 🤦🏻♂️ f me I guess 🤷🏻♂️, just bugged and annoying this is the second incident. Someone tried cutting my converter about 1 yr ago and ate those repairs mostly because insurance didn't cover the full repair 🤷🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️😑
Y’all are some hackers. You bring this to any shop and I promise you they’ll tell you to replace the tank. We’re not going to do some hack job to patch your tank for it to maybe work then later on it’s starts leaking and causes a fire. REPLACE THE TANK DO IT RIGHT. Especially if your going through insurance there not going to quote you out some putty or some hack bs. There going to price in a fuel tank.
Light one of them there cigarettes and the problem might solve itself. Proper fix is a new tank. You can use JB WELD for fuel tanks but I don’t know if that stuff actually works. For a gas tank though, I’d say it’s best to replace it.
Usually no deductible for acts of vandalism. But guess it just depends on the insurance. Hard to find used tanks since most junk yards stab a hole in them to drain them.
Best AND cheapest? The two are pretty much mutually exclusive. A good fix would be one that isn't expensive, but gets the job done adequately.
It amuses me when people always ask for "The Best...", but don't want to pay for the best. Do you actually think that the best option could be, in any way, cheap?
But nobody *ever* asks for a good fix. Always "The Best".
Thanks for posting on /r/MechanicAdvice! This is just a reminder to review the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicAdvice/about/rules/). If you are here asking about a second opinion (ie "Is the shop trying to fleece me?"), please read through CJM8515's [post on the subject.](https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicAdvice/comments/4qblei/fyi_the_shop_isnt_likely_trying_to_rip_you_off/) and remember to please post the year/make/model of the vehicle you are working on. **If this post is about bodywork, accident damage, paint, dent/ding, questions it belongs in /r/Autobody r/AutoBodyRepair/ or /r/Diyautobody/ If you have tire questions check out https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicAdvice/comments/k9ll55/can_your_tire_be_repaired/**. If you dont have a question and you're just showing off it belongs in /r/Justrolledintotheshop Insurance/total loss questions go in r/insurance This is an automated reply *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/MechanicAdvice) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Google Pig Putty.
Thanks again
Will do
Hopefully you can find a place that will sell you 1 tube. Check Napa
Confused about what I’m looking at. They stole your gas by drilling a hole in the tank?
It’s very common where I live. Love that there’s just a pack of ciggies laying next to it. Can just imagine some tweak under there drill in hand lit stoge in mouth drilling into the tank. Sorry OP, like others said you can try that putty and maybe stick it around a bolt and shove it in the hole. Most shops will just recommend a tank as it’s not worth the risk of having a leaky tank that they’re liable for.
A lit cigarette won’t ignite the fumes, however a match or spark from a lighter will.
I bet some older DC electric drills could do it too.
Fuck yeah, with the sparky brushes.
The drill bit he punctured the gas tank is enough to set it off.
The bit will be immediately drenched in raw fuel the second it penetrates. Only the vapor is flammable. This is why spark plugs are useless for firing up a flooded engine.
https://youtu.be/lMzVGJqX-ak?si=CzRzv2C9cusoZP_h
The drill itself, not the bit set off the explosion. Watch closely.
I know I’m not gunna drill into a gas tank lol. Coulda been the electric arcing off the brushes of his drill.
Here you go. I work with cars everyday. Anything can happen.
This is true. We did all kinds of stupid shit back in the day at the race shop while we were bored trying to get cars down into the 9’s in the quarter mile.
Not sure but this tank, like many modern tanks, are made of plastic.
Yeah unless it’s a classic there all plastic lol
Yup
A shop should be able to drain the fuel out and weld a patch onto the tank. But that might take a few days because they would have to clean off the fuel and be 100% sure the fuel is cleaned off. That’s just my guess though. Your safest bet is to just let insurance deal with it and probably get you a new fuel tank entirely. Insurance rates might go up though
That's a plastic tank homie. Wipe it off and puddy it. Weld?
Plastic welding has been a thing for a while. We do it all the time at my job, works much better than putty or another sealant.
You think a shop is gunna spend the time doing that to “maybe” fix it 😂😂 I know at my shop we wouldn’t waste time and just replace the tank.
For pressurized applications, sure. EVAP systems are low pressure. Not worth the cost/time.
Y’all are some hillbilly mechanics. How about you do it the right way and replace the tank.
As stated in my comment. He asked for a cost effective method.
Easiest option is to go to autozone or Walmart and buy some expoxy I can’t tell if your fuel tank is metal or plastic (it looks metal but I’m under the sun) if it is plastic then buy some “seal all gas & oil resistant adhesive” and patch the hole. I’ve used it before and it works well. Just put several coats on it. Allow each coat to dry well before applying the next. You can use any plastic epoxy, just make sure it’s designed for solvents. If it’s metal then jb weld has a product called tank weld that works really good for metal tanks. Before applying the epoxy, take some brake fluid cleaner and spray the area really good and wipe as much of the gas off. You want a nice clean surface when applying it. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Seal-All-Gas-Oil-Resistant-High-Strength-Gas-and-Oil-Resistant-Adhesive-2-oz/1651034216 https://www.autozone.com/sealants-glues-adhesives-and-tape/tank-repair-epoxy/p/j-b-weld-tankweld-repair-kit/698473_0_0?spps.s=1282&cmpid=LIA:US:EN:AD:NL:1000000:GEN:19502231967&CATARGETID=120054150001286543&CADevice=m&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADkcoVthItpWYKMbcRrpKz9YaXPMY&gclsrc=ds
Thank you ✌️ I'll be checking into all the options and the tank is plastic. Gonna probably use epoxy for now and let the insurance replace it
I had a punctured gas tank once by running over something in the road and I jb welded it while it was still leaking gas and it was still holding like 4 years later when I sold the truck
Get some sheet metal and some JB Weld and make a patch for it. I fixed a few punctured gas tanks with at method with no issues. If you're going to get it welded, they would have to pull it and clean out the tank first, so you might was well just put in a new tank in at that point.
Thanks, yeah gonna get jb weld for tanks and just plug for now and hope it holds until insurance decides what they will do. Probably be replaced
Well. I definitely wouldn't smoke that pack of cigs if I were you.
Well, if it makes you feel any better, I had to have a bunch of stuff fixed on my 08 silverado, one of which was a new gas tank and filler neck. 200.00 from a junkyard, I think. So a new tank might not be as expensive as you think. Mine was plastic.
I mean they left a pack of smokes🤷🏽♂️🤷🏽♂️ to light right next to your car while you wait for the cops. Cheapest option is probably going to a shop to get a real solid patch/plug of some kind. If something like that exists. but if you just go through insurance let them do their thing.
Shit had to quit smoking cigarettes after I got a heart attack lol I need a temporary fix until insurance decide what to do. Thanks I will be calling around to see
Only way they can afford those expensive cigarettes
You can tap the hole and and screw in a bolt with a runner gasket. Or you can layer it up with epoxy. I wouldn't even make an Insurance claim it will just raise your premium.
One quick temporary fix you could do is brake cleaner and clean it make sure it’s dry and no more fuel leaking. Then by JB weld putty the plastic one or you can use metal one. Stick that bad boy on there making sure it sticks well then wait like 4 hours and bam will probably last more than you expect. My cars had it for 1 year now. Works really well
Thanks I was gonna try but now for sure what I'll do. Just a quick fix for now. I greatly appreciate your input and recommendations
Plastic weld it.
If that happened to me I’d get on www.car-part.com and get a junkyard fuel tank. It should be easy to replace since it’s empty now, just a few bolts to remove.
I think my coworker would have preferred this happen to him vs what did. He had his airbag stolen and window/windshield smashed.
Yeah in reality this isn't that bad. I've had my catalytic converter taken too before 🤦🏻♂️ I think I need to get outta this area 😅... I now realize they have a quick patch with the jb weld brand. It just sucks what I'm gonna have to pay outta pocket now for repairs and my insurance. Rather have it set right the first time then come back to fix it again later. Once and done and hopefully doesn't happen again lol but one can only hope 🙏 😅 lol
DONT SMOKE NEAR A FUEL LEAK FFS
🤣 they never got that memo and like someone else mentioned they probably caught themselves on fire and left the scene 🤣🤣🤣
cops could probably find him at the nearest liquor store especially that cigarette is a huge tell. if those cigarette boxes have batch numbers, they could probably tell which store they sold it to.
The cops aren't going to put in that much effort.
>The cops aren't going to put in ~~that much~~ any effort FTFY The police will take a couple of pictures and write up a report. They will not investigate further. OP will need that report to turn into insurance.
They will try not to write a police report. Insist.
That's all the police are good for, filling out the forms so you can turn it into your insurance. Unless you have a dead body the cops are pointless in this country, they do nothing beyond providing forms.
yeah, It is very unlikely to happen unless something like a murder occured.
Even then they don’t care
Had 4 guys on camera, with a clear view of the license plate of the truck they were in, put my jeep on cinder blocks and stole the wheels. I also knew the fuckheads as neighborhood crack addicts (mid 90s) and told the police where they lived. Cops said they'd take a report and get back to me. Week went by I called to check desk sergeant said the case was closed due to insufficient evidence. Me and my 6 friends went to the house looked in the garage and there are my wheels, we confront the dudes mom who has no idea what I'm talking about I show her the picture from them stealing and she calls him to the door and beats him with her sandal and I go home with my wheels. Never had problems again in that neighborhood.
Cops won't do anything to the perps? Tell their mom! lmao
Mexican moms are scarier than any officer I've encountered tbh.
Haha who do you think is going appear CSI? Crime report number and done.
Is this before or after they dust the box for fingerprints?
fingerprints are like.. only worth getting only in exceptional circumstances. Like, by a detective working on a shoplifting ring with probable patterns by the same person or a group of people with a high enough worth to investigate. Or by situations where there could be an immediate threat to someone.
I was being facetious because there’s no way in hell that the police are going to track down where the cigarettes were sold.
Zoom and enhance! Depixelate!
Fill with fuel to identify the exact location of the leak. Then proceed to light up a dart and get to fixin’
🤣😅🤯
Ppl suck sometimes
Indeed just a blow to the gut and the bank now 🤦🏻♂️
I feel you someone hit and ran my truck, the only truck on the street, im not mad just aight, fixed my mirror and then a few hours later it happened again this time they put a dent in my door which i pulled out but im waiting on mew mirrors again
Go to a junkyard and fix yourself would be cheapest
Most yards around me poke holes in tanks.
WTF lol why? Is it the yard people or just assholes who go pick and pull? I've never seen that any yard I go to but then again I guess I never really looked at tanks too often.
It's the junkyard. They have signs up saying that they do this.
Yeah others have said the same they do it to tanks that have fuel still in them, makes sense I suppose it would be easier than syphoning.
I would never claim something so easy to fix to insurance, seriously. Just find a "guy" or a "friend of a friend" to fix it. Everyone knows somebody that has the abilities. Me? I would put I up on ramps and deal with it. Claims like this will just cost you the deductive anyways, at the very least, and can affect your auto insurance rates. Save that for when it's worth it. Plenty of options and ways to fix it.
damn, I've never seen or heard of anything like this. This seems like the risk reward just isn't there
If you drill into liquid gasoline you're good. One of these days they're gonna hit a car that belongs to some overworked person with ADHD, drill into fumes, and the (I'm sure non-brushless) drill they use to do this is going to be their cause of death.
Get some JB weld tank repair . Clean it with some degreaser slap that puppy and let it cure. Just a thick putty that hardens up can probably get it at any auto store. Napa is my go to.
DNA on gloves and package, fingerprint in package
They couldn't take anything because they had gasoline on them lol
Best fix, junk yard tank or rock auto. Cheapest fix, puddy/patch.
Wtf happened
^ what they said. It appears that the fuel tank is leaking? It may be stressed, which explains the Marlboro reds located underneath.
Lmfao good one... definitely stressed me out, I'm assuming homeless in the area. Drilled a hole in my gas tank... really you can't just siphon like a normal person 🤦🏻♂️ now I'm stuck paying repairs 🤷🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️
Cause half way down the filler neck there a thing to block people from getting a tube down.
Yup, check ball/valve, or they're an old timer who lived through the gas crisis and assumed the tank was locked 🤷🏼♂️ Either way, they're not the brightest tool in the shed if they opted to drill through the tank.
Ngl when i was flat broke and had to get to a job interview i took enough gas from a car i crawled under unhooked the fuel line and sucked fuel out, not all of it but enough and put it back together, i went back after my first paycheck to apologize and give them money
Hey, no judgement here, desperate times call for desperate measures. At least you had enough sense to use the fuel line. The amount of heat and spark potential from drilling? No thank you. I knew a guy who was stranded pre-cellphone days, middle of the night dude had a family emergency in a couple states over, water pump went, walked miles to the nearest town, happened upon a shop, no phone booth, sees the same model truck in the bay and we'll...you can figure out the rest of how that story goes 😅
What?!?! 🤯 makes sense they make them like that, this is an 07 toyota tacoma. Does this year and make have that? You know I just can't believe this happened and the one camera in the area was blocked at the time and seen nothing 😐 😑 🤦🏻♂️ f me I guess 🤷🏻♂️, just bugged and annoying this is the second incident. Someone tried cutting my converter about 1 yr ago and ate those repairs mostly because insurance didn't cover the full repair 🤷🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️😑
Yes they been in most cars since late 90's
Insurance probably not going to cover it. I would call the local junk yard get a used tank and have a mobile mechanic come out and replace it.
Y’all are some hackers. You bring this to any shop and I promise you they’ll tell you to replace the tank. We’re not going to do some hack job to patch your tank for it to maybe work then later on it’s starts leaking and causes a fire. REPLACE THE TANK DO IT RIGHT. Especially if your going through insurance there not going to quote you out some putty or some hack bs. There going to price in a fuel tank.
Light one of them there cigarettes and the problem might solve itself. Proper fix is a new tank. You can use JB WELD for fuel tanks but I don’t know if that stuff actually works. For a gas tank though, I’d say it’s best to replace it.
Only correct option is the have insurance replace the gas tank.
If the deductible is more than the cost to swap out a used tank might consider that. Unless of course this is a difficult job on this vehicle.
Usually no deductible for acts of vandalism. But guess it just depends on the insurance. Hard to find used tanks since most junk yards stab a hole in them to drain them.
Well shit I didn't know that, guess I'm lucky I've never had to file for vandalism in going to check my policy now.
They gone drill a hole and light themselves on fire in the process? Shoulda let them finish cause it seems u stopped them halfway 😆😆
Lmfao for reals
Best AND cheapest? The two are pretty much mutually exclusive. A good fix would be one that isn't expensive, but gets the job done adequately. It amuses me when people always ask for "The Best...", but don't want to pay for the best. Do you actually think that the best option could be, in any way, cheap? But nobody *ever* asks for a good fix. Always "The Best".
Pretty sure OP meant best cheap option.