punched hole in tow rig diesel tank - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

montywa · 06-08-2005, 01:31 PM

Ok, i got a hole in the rear tank on my 96 PSD F-250. Its about a 1/4" dia.
I know diesel has a higher flash point than gas and the tank is empty, so what precautions do I need to take to weld the hole. I was thinking about running a bunch of water though the tank and out the hole and then welding it up. But will the fumes still ignite??? I hear lots of storys but I would like to hear it from someone with experience welding on diesel tanks.

Thanks

rockcrawln · 06-08-2005, 02:07 PM

I think you can purge the tank with argon if you want to weld it. Or they make an epoxy to patch tanks. They used the stuff (don't laugh at me) on Monster Garage when they built the trike with the diesel motor and the guy that made the tank smaller did a shitty job welding it so they put diesel in it and it leaked like a siv. Jessie went to a truck stop and picked this stuff up... put it on and in 15 min it was good to go. Long story short... they didn't have to weld or worry about the tank turning into a bomb. You might want to look into it or maybe someone knows what its called.

adrianspeeder · 06-08-2005, 02:12 PM

When I had a gas tank welded on, the welder purged the tank with nitrogen, and kept it flowing while welding. Sure diesel is harder to ignite, but if it does it goes like 10 times bigger. Why risk it?

Adrianspeeder

montywa · 06-08-2005, 02:12 PM

Thanks, Ill look around for the epoxy stuff, what about running the exhaust from another rig into the filler on the tank while i weld it???

stunnin650 · 06-08-2005, 04:34 PM

i've welded a couple of tractor, diesel tanks with argon running though them no problems

64Trvlr · 06-08-2005, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stunnin650

i've welded a couple of tractor, diesel tanks with argon running though them no problems

+1

SCOTTS_4X · 06-08-2005, 09:26 PM

my boss does it with the exhaust from his truck, or the motor driven welder. he does this with huge in-ground tanks for gas stations and such. just make sure you let it run for a while and keep it flowing. if you are going to try and weld it with mig/tig then you would be better off using an inert gas such as nitrogen or argon.

-Scott

dumass · 06-08-2005, 09:27 PM

dry ice and water = co2 fog displaces o2, no oxygen no explosion and cheap

06-08-2005, 01:31 PM	#1 (permalink)
montywa Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Member # 24676 Location: Browns camp Posts: 192	punched hole in tow rig diesel tank Ok, i got a hole in the rear tank on my 96 PSD F-250. Its about a 1/4" dia. I know diesel has a higher flash point than gas and the tank is empty, so what precautions do I need to take to weld the hole. I was thinking about running a bunch of water though the tank and out the hole and then welding it up. But will the fumes still ignite??? I hear lots of storys but I would like to hear it from someone with experience welding on diesel tanks. Thanks

06-08-2005, 02:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
adrianspeeder Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Member # 45125 Location: Harrisburg PA Posts: 406	When I had a gas tank welded on, the welder purged the tank with nitrogen, and kept it flowing while welding. Sure diesel is harder to ignite, but if it does it goes like 10 times bigger. Why risk it? Adrianspeeder __________________ 08/02/74/66 F-250s, 97/79 F150s, 79/71 F100s 92/88/84 Broncos, 96/96 Exploders, 85 M1009

06-08-2005, 09:26 PM	#7 (permalink)
SCOTTS_4X Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Member # 12780 Location: Paso Robles, ca Posts: 1,772	my boss does it with the exhaust from his truck, or the motor driven welder. he does this with huge in-ground tanks for gas stations and such. just make sure you let it run for a while and keep it flowing. if you are going to try and weld it with mig/tig then you would be better off using an inert gas such as nitrogen or argon. -Scott __________________ "A fear of weapons is a sign of retarded sexual and emotional maturity." -Sigmund Frued

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06-08-2005, 02:07 PM	#2 (permalink)
rockcrawln Registered User Join Date: May 2004 Member # 30586 Location: Redwood Valley, CA Posts: 1,160	I think you can purge the tank with argon if you want to weld it. Or they make an epoxy to patch tanks. They used the stuff (don't laugh at me) on Monster Garage when they built the trike with the diesel motor and the guy that made the tank smaller did a shitty job welding it so they put diesel in it and it leaked like a siv. Jessie went to a truck stop and picked this stuff up... put it on and in 15 min it was good to go. Long story short... they didn't have to weld or worry about the tank turning into a bomb. You might want to look into it or maybe someone knows what its called.

06-08-2005, 02:12 PM	#4 (permalink)
montywa Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Member # 24676 Location: Browns camp Posts: 192	Thanks, Ill look around for the epoxy stuff, what about running the exhaust from another rig into the filler on the tank while i weld it???

06-08-2005, 04:34 PM	#5 (permalink)
stunnin650 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Member # 30115 Location: brentwood Posts: 210	i've welded a couple of tractor, diesel tanks with argon running though them no problems

06-08-2005, 09:27 PM	#8 (permalink)
dumass Banned Join Date: Sep 2002 Member # 13586 Location: tucson Posts: 919	dry ice and water = co2 fog displaces o2, no oxygen no explosion and cheap