replacing petrol tank!

rare_stuff

Is it worth it? It's an early model Fiat Cinquecento with 80k+ on the clock, only minor issues really, it went through the MOT in January with just having to have some work done on the front brakes - New pads & discs. Otherwise it's in fine working order and gives no trouble and great economic motoring.

Am surprised the MOT didn't alert us to corrosion of the petrol tank, it seems to be leaking from a corner seam which looks quite rusty. As it's an injection the tank is pressurised and not helping!

Is this going to be an expensive repair, is it worth fixing, should I maybe look at selling it to a DIY/hobby mechanic to repair or should I just scrap it and reclaim the tax I just put on it (less than a week ago!)

Any advice would be appreciated.

TIA

R.

colin79666

It's probably only worth the repair bill if you plan to keep the car for a good bit longer yet and that's presuming its not too costly to have it repaired/replaced.

greyteam1959

Even if it is a fuel injection engine the tank is certainly NOT pressurised !!
If you can DIY it depending on the cost of the tank it might be worth repairing.
Thing is tho if the new tank is £200 and you have to pay somebody 3 hours time at £60 an hour to fit you are up near the £400 mark.........
If you dont do many miles it may be worth doing...... but if you are doing loads of miles something else is going to drop off sooner or later

rare_stuff

mervyn11 wrote: »

Even if it is a fuel injection engine the tank is certainly NOT pressurised !!

hmmm!

Not so sure about that myself, there does seem to be a pressurisation of some description. the car won't actually start if the petrol cap is not in place, and even when you do start it for just a few moments there is a pressure build up in the tank and this is noticeable when you open the filler cap by a hiss and a release of air. I've checked around and a replacement tank is only £50-60 but the labour will probably double that, and they'll probably insist on half the exhaust system needing replaced.

I'm going to try some leak stop stuff for a temporary measure, but as has been said, with tank replacement cost, labour and the fact the exhaust is blowing a bit, it may be time to get shot.

Shame really as it was a good, economic, nippy, little, run-around, great for bombing about the city and easy to park almost anywhere! Though driving around in 2.5tdi VW Transporter, people do tend to get out of the way a bit quicker!