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Hmmm this is my experience and why I went with the sealer. Ultimately its your money and I can't argue a new tank will fix it.
I've had tanks leak on two trucks. The first was a 101 which was an alloy tank where over time the braze eats the ally and the joints go. In that case I went with a new stainles item from the owner's club. It was expensive but really a thing of beauty. The second one was my 109 SW which I have fixed with POR15.
I cut up the 101 tank to see how bad it really was and you couldn't actually see any holes yet it peed away 30 gallons (At least it wasn't $4 each at the time) in the time it took me to cross Tucson. The braze joint had become porous. I had the 109 tank pressure tested at a radiator shop and they came back saying it was only a pin hole yet that was able to leak away five gallons of water in about 2-3 hours when I tested it.
The thing is that unless the fuel you put in it just pours straight out the bottom then most leaks are actually tiny holes in which case the tank can be structurally sound, just not fuel tight. Tank sealers are designed to be flexible to cope with metal expansion and flexing on the truck. In that it has a skidplate on the base you would have to ding it hard to cause failure at which point I would suspect any tank.
If you want to know the extent of the leak then take it to a radiator shop and for about $20 they will pressure test it.
There is enough sealer to do two tanks but it is a one shot deal. Once the can is open it has to be used so you would want both tanks cleaned prepped and ready to go.
Cheers
Gregor
I've had tanks leak on two trucks. The first was a 101 which was an alloy tank where over time the braze eats the ally and the joints go. In that case I went with a new stainles item from the owner's club. It was expensive but really a thing of beauty. The second one was my 109 SW which I have fixed with POR15.
I cut up the 101 tank to see how bad it really was and you couldn't actually see any holes yet it peed away 30 gallons (At least it wasn't $4 each at the time) in the time it took me to cross Tucson. The braze joint had become porous. I had the 109 tank pressure tested at a radiator shop and they came back saying it was only a pin hole yet that was able to leak away five gallons of water in about 2-3 hours when I tested it.
The thing is that unless the fuel you put in it just pours straight out the bottom then most leaks are actually tiny holes in which case the tank can be structurally sound, just not fuel tight. Tank sealers are designed to be flexible to cope with metal expansion and flexing on the truck. In that it has a skidplate on the base you would have to ding it hard to cause failure at which point I would suspect any tank.
If you want to know the extent of the leak then take it to a radiator shop and for about $20 they will pressure test it.
There is enough sealer to do two tanks but it is a one shot deal. Once the can is open it has to be used so you would want both tanks cleaned prepped and ready to go.
Cheers
Gregor
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