punctured gas tank

[osiris5009]

So I managed to run some small metal bar thing and it punctured my gas tank and I lost about a gallon in 3-4 mins. sad thing is that the car in front and the car behind me (my friend's passat) didnt get anything so I was the only one. and its only tank. Everything else seemed ok. As it is sitting out side the shop tonite, I wonder if it is fixable or will I need an new tank. And I have no idea how much either would cost. If I have to replace it I wonder where in the San Jose area I can get cheap parts and good labor. The hole was big enough to drip drop by drop but not a stream. And apparently there was a splash of gasoline on my friends windshield.

At least my gas light had just come on about 5 miles prior.

I would greatly appreciate any advice on resolving my problem.

Thanks

[A4_Andre]

sad to hear about this... replacing the gas tank will most likely cost a butt load. can they maybe weld some metal to cover up the hole?

[sighpost]

the tank is plastic so welding a patch wont work. Even it if it was metal you have to drain a tank and eliminate the fumes (which requires removing the tank) before you can weld it. You might try to find some sort of apoxy that is rated for sealing gas tanks.

[DDQ]

You want to have it replaced, just for safety reasons. I'm pretty sure that shops are required by law to do so.

[Burntaudi]

Needs to be replaced the tank is pressurized. Are you Quattro? if you are the rear suspention needs to be dropped to change the tank.

[FITZ TITS]

i patched mine with no problems.

[Starting]

guy on audiworld ran into a curb recently and punctured his. I believe it was around 800 to have a used tank installed.

[Ben@SpeedBarn]

If you only have a small hole...which you must since it's just dripping you can definately repair it. They sell gas tank repair kits at the parts stores. Just make sure you get one for a plastic tank. Metal ones may be different epoxy. I have used the kits on steel tanks fairly often on old cars and they work fine. I have a feeling that the epoxy should bound to the plastic tank very well.

[FITZ TITS]

yeah. word to the wise: don't use liquid nails cause i used that the first time and the gas ate right through it (actually that's what's pictured above, hence the air bubble). i redid it like this:
screwed a plastic screw into the hole
sanded over the screw and the tank to rough up the surface for a better bond
covered that with plastic welder
then topped that with a piece of flexable plastic
then covered that with a shitload of the platic welder epoxy.