Rt4wd gas tank dent how can i pop it?

klum

As some of you know the rt gas tank has a access panel thru the seats which makes it easy to do fuel pumps on it. im curious if i have a dent in my gas tank
1. Will that cause my fuel to cut out when cornering only left turns
2.can i pop the dent out using a rubber mallet and rubber chizel without risk of detonating the gas?

I had a friend almost kill him self recently because he was sawing at a gas tank that he thought was empty and had some water in it still so im a little nervous to jump onto fixing this situation.

Jaker

Where's the dent? If you can reach it from the opening for the fuel pump or the fuel level sender (2 different openings) you're golden. Just pop it back out. If there's lots of gas in the tank, and the area you're hitting is below the gas level, go for it. I wouldn't worry about sparking with the end of the chisel inside the tank if it's below gas. It won't spark. However I would use a rubber or plastic hammer to smack the chisel.

Did your friend's experience lead to fire? I once lay under the back of my Wagon with my angle grinder to cut an exhaust bolt at the area where the flange is just above the rear LCA. Once the head of the bolt fell off, and after substantial grinder sparks, I was greeted by a stream of gasoline coming from the cut I had just accidentally made in the corner of the gas tank. No fire. Just a big mess of gas on the floor and carpet I was laying on under the back of the car.

klum

yeah he melted part of his hand off lol it looks alright now it wasnt too horrible he doesnt look disfigured or anything. im gunna give this a try tomorrow i just got a full tank of gas so i should be alright. hopefully a static spark doesnt blow me up.

cbotha

How much gas is in the tank when it starts cutting out?

How big is the dent?

The fuel pump pickup generally sits in a pocket, so unless that is the area that got crushed I don't see it causing an issue on turns.

Remember gasoline vapour is more flamable than the liquid.

Jaker

If you use a rubber/plastic hammer/mallet the only place it could spark is at the end of the chisel in the bottom of the tank under the gasoline, and that ain't gonna happen. If you're super anal, you could line the edges of the gas tank opening with duct tape to reduce the possibility of a spark even further. And instead of a chisel, why not use a long 1/2" ratchet extension. The square tip where the socket slides on is usually pretty rounded, and that'd do a better job of pushing the dent out without making charp dents in the tank. Or even better would be a 1" hardwood dowel.

Be careful and you'll be fine.

klum

So now my gas tank has a hole in it a local shop claims that they have a new replacement tank has any one had expieriance in this at all ? Am I screwed and have to repair the holes with welds?