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Gas tanks
- Thread starter Arnold
- Start date
Depends on a lot of variables Arnold - How thick is the tank? (it will tell you on the label) Is the tank protected from outside sitting water? Is the tank mounted correctly with no areas/straps/capture points for corrosion? Is the tanks inside water problem controlled? (mostly diesel issue)
I have seen poorly installed 0.90" tanks fail within 10 years or less and well installed and maintained tanks last over 25 years.
Hope this helps
I have seen poorly installed 0.90" tanks fail within 10 years or less and well installed and maintained tanks last over 25 years.
Hope this helps
Funny you should ask!! I have a 97 Silverton 310 Express Cruiser, and I just replaced both tanks in it.
[:-cry]
One was leaking and the other one was holding pressure. I was told that the life expectancy is between 12 and 15 years.
Have someone check the tanks REAL well prior to purchasing. Replacing them is a major expense.
$$$$$$$$
[:-cry]
One was leaking and the other one was holding pressure. I was told that the life expectancy is between 12 and 15 years.
Have someone check the tanks REAL well prior to purchasing. Replacing them is a major expense.
$$$$$$$$
A lot depends on what was put in the tanks. Any alcohol containg additives designed to remove water from gas, tend to nform a corrosive mixture that is heavier than gas. It goes to the bottom and corrodes the tanks. To many gas tank failures in 310's to be a coincidence. No matter how well you have them checked prior to purchase, there's no guarantee they won't leak in the near future. It's a crapshoot, especially with ethanol.
Ditto to Greg's post. Smitty too is right on target as well as far as how the tanks were installed. From my readings on the internet, most tanks rot from the inside out, which makes it real tough to figure out if the tanks are bad. Pressure test is good, will tell you if there are leaks at that point in time, but certainly will not tell you if they will leak a week , a year or 10 years from then.
As far as "installation" goes. I read a few years back that certain Silverton models the tanks were prematurely leaking. It was about the "installation", It seems that the tanks need to breath (air circulation around the tank). The models in question (tanks leaked prematurely) were mounted directly on the floor, as opposed to having them mounted off the floor using blocks. The use of the blocks kept air circulation on the bottom of the tank. I do know, in my 2004 34c, the tanks were indeed blocked.
You may want to "Google" your boat your looking at to see if their are known problems with tank failures.
Best of Luck
Walter
As far as "installation" goes. I read a few years back that certain Silverton models the tanks were prematurely leaking. It was about the "installation", It seems that the tanks need to breath (air circulation around the tank). The models in question (tanks leaked prematurely) were mounted directly on the floor, as opposed to having them mounted off the floor using blocks. The use of the blocks kept air circulation on the bottom of the tank. I do know, in my 2004 34c, the tanks were indeed blocked.
You may want to "Google" your boat your looking at to see if their are known problems with tank failures.
Best of Luck
Walter
My bass boat has an Al tank that is still sound, 1987 model. Tank has never been out of the boat but it's a trailer boat. And it's always had 40:1 premix fuel/oil in it so I'm sure the Quicksilver Premium+ oil has had a lot to do with preserving the inside of the tank.
- Joined
- Jan 20, 2002
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- 802
I seriously doubt that. He will probably note the age of the tank and remark that the age may or may not be beyond the expected life of the tank-if any remarks at all. The most common cause of tank failures is from the outside in. If the tank remains dry from the weather i.e. is properly supported off the platform it is seated on via stringers, slats or whatnot...and not exposed to rain or water, 20+ years of life is not uncommon. The tanks on my '86 Carver Mariner failed because the tanks were partially held in place by 3/4 X 3/4 trim moldings that held water up against the tank causing corrosion on the welded corners of the tank. I now have an '89 Carver without the wood trim moldings and not subjected to rain water and still going strong. Your results may vary.
quote:
Originally posted by Arnold
Would a surveyor be able to spot potential problems with the tanks?
As mentioned, other than a installation problem (Known problem) or something "visual" on the outside of the tank. The answer would be NO!.