Are broken fuel tank baffles dangerous?

CompBunny

Hiya,

I'm afraid I don't know much about cars, but I'm fairly sure the baffle in my fuel tank has broken or corroded! I couldn't hear anything from my fuel tank before, but now when I accelerate/brake or go round corners I can hear fuel sloshing around.

As I understand it (and please do correct me if I'm wrong, I'm a new-ish young driver wanting to learn) a baffle creates sections within the fuel tank to prevent sloshing and even distribution of fuel, much like in a cigarette lighter?

Is it OK to keep driving the car like this or is it something that needs to be fixed? Immediately or at next MOT/service? Would it be expensive to fix?

Not sure if its related, but I also noticed some wet around the fuel cap.

Its an old ('92) diesel car, I'm also not sure if this makes a difference

Thankyou to anyone that can share their knowledge with me!:rotfl:

xx

poppasmurf_bewdley

Certainly not dangerous. Years ago, most cars didn't have any baffles in their tanks. It's not unusual to hear fuel sloshing about.

You could try driving and going around corners slower!

CompBunny

Thankyou Papa Smurf, just what I needed to know Never thought I'd say that!

welda

Just remember you now have a baffle plate sloshing around the tank, this could cause problems sooner or later, older vehicles without baffle plate installed during manufacture, would not have a loose plate rattling around.

Don't think plate would corrode, being imersed in diesel would prevent corrosion.

Keep an eye on tank for leaks, if not replacing.

Regards.

Weird_Nev

I'd be amazed if it does have real "Baffles" in it... Fuel tanks have been plastic for donkeys years as they're much less likely to corrode or burst in an accident. Most plastic tanks are baffled only in the way they're shaped, and fuel does indeed slosh about in them.
I can't think why you'd be able to hear fuel sloshing about when you couldn't before...

CompBunny

Thankyou for your feedback... is there any way that a novice like me can check if a baffle plate is present, and if so intact?

Its a Vauxhall Nova TD Merit Plus... K reg.

Or am I just worrying about nothing?

I know we will have to get a new car sooner or later as it is an old car now, but its my first car (got a newer one and the head gasket blew! Was relieved to be back with my old rusty friend!) and I adore it!

PsiDOC

Vauhxall Novas from any year made petrol or diesel did NOT have baffles in the tank. Niether do the corsas to present day.
Just drive it and enjoy your trusty all be it rusty and may I add bombproof engined friend.
Psi

CompBunny

Thankyou very much!

Thats brilliant, you guys have been really helpful and answered all my questions I'll try and learn to chill out a bit more about ol' rust bucket

Strider590

Your sloshing could be water trapped inside a door panel..... Caused by leaking window seals (could just be a passenger knocked the window winder down slightly when exiting the vehicle), thus allowing water to seep in as it runs down the window. It pools for a while and then eventually rusts the panel from the inside.
Try swinging the doors open/closed and see if you get any sloshing.

Or even water leaking into the boot and pooling inside the spare wheel cavity!

marlot

Strider590 wrote: »

Your sloshing could be water trapped inside a door panel..... Caused by leaking window seals (could just be a passenger knocked the window winder down slightly when exiting the vehicle), thus allowing water to seep in as it runs down the window. It pools for a while and then eventually rusts the panel from the inside.
Try swinging the doors open/closed and see if you get any sloshing.

Or even water leaking into the boot and pooling inside the spare wheel cavity!

I was just thinking the same thing. Just advised similar to someone on a different forum, and they've come back to say it was water in the rear door.

cyclonebri1

Weird_Nev wrote: »

I'd be amazed if it does have real "Baffles" in it... Fuel tanks have been plastic for donkeys years as they're much less likely to corrode or burst in an accident. Most plastic tanks are baffled only in the way they're shaped, and fuel does indeed slosh about in them.
I can't think why you'd be able to hear fuel sloshing about when you couldn't before...

Unfortuately this car is approaching 20 years old.

The only real danger apart from the fact that you state that the filler neck is "wet" (=fuel leak), is that "if" it is the baffle plate thates gone there is a chance of starving the fuel pump and they don't like that.

But this is all hypothetical as 1, you would here more noise from the tank other than sloshing and 2, if it is a steel tank the outside would rout well before the inside.

Remember the price of fuel has doubled, your "tenner" in the tank is going to slosh around alot more now than it did a few years ago:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: