Thread: plastic fuel tanks

If it's old and has been stored outdoors I would think so.
I picked up 8 5 gal gas cans from someones trash pile. Some had spouts and seals. I filled each with water, sealed and stood on them for 5 minutes each looking for water going somewhere. 2 had leaks then and I've lost 2 more since.

Cray mine is not leaking . I was told that plastic will break down and get into carbs . pretty much like the non ethenol hoses .

Never heard of that before.....Most new vehicles have plastic tanks and I have used plastic boat tanks for years...portable and built in. Also chainsaws, weedeaters, lawnmowers, and that type stuff have plastic tanks.

Thought the same thing but heard at academy sports they should be replaced ever so often . I am partial to hitting stumps to tear up my stuff and did not want to go this route .

If its so old that its not red anymore.....I would probably change it.

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Originally Posted by "G"

If its so old that its not red anymore.....I would probably change it.

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I would think that the seals around the cap and/or hose connection would fail long before the tank itself would deteriorate to the point of needing to be replaced.

Though, if the tank has been "above deck" & exposed to the elements during its lifetime, it may have deteriorated more quickly than one enclosed in the bilge area.

I just remember the ones I had in my previous boat, and they were still functional after nearly 15yrs. (stored in bilge area) They were nasty looking, for sure, but held up to being expanded & contracted through the years of weather (boat was always stored outside).

But, yeah .... if you have any serious doubts about the integrity of the tanks, replacing them is the easiest fix.