Just found a gas tank leak in my 90 Blazer with a gas tank skid plate. Looks like the leak is coming from inbetween the tank and skid. A most unlikely spot unless the skid has a tendency to rub a hole in the tank?
CK5
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Gas tank leak
- Thread starter eagle mark
- Start date
Rust starts there because crud builds up and traps moisture. Commonly rusty there. Plus, doesn't help to have small sharp rocks up against the weakened rusty metal. 
I drilled four drain holes in my skid. No idea if they will really help, but they made me feel better when I put a new tank in.
I drilled four drain holes in my skid. No idea if they will really help, but they made me feel better when I put a new tank in.
Would you know if a carbed tank with work. A freind has one from an 85.
Also would a 25 gallon tank fit? I read a post of yours that says they leave about an inch clearence. But with that inch clearence would the skid plate bend off roading?
Also would a 25 gallon tank fit? I read a post of yours that says they leave about an inch clearence. But with that inch clearence would the skid plate bend off roading?
Carbed tank will work. Will not have the correct baffles for the fuel pump pickup though. People say it's not an issue with a 1/4 tank+, but thats 7 additional gallons that you won't be able to use off road or in spirited driving. Edit: I cannot recall if the fuel fill fitting on the tank ever changed. I believe it was the fill neck itself (what's bolted to the body) that changed diameter once, but the tank side I believe is the same.
There is a recent thread on aftermarket TBI tanks, can't remember if price was mentioned, but as I recall the brand was sceptre.(?)
25 gallon will fit, but that requires a new sending unit, and I don't know if '87-91 FI trucks got the 25 gallon tank, so the sending unit may not exist, and would be too expensive to waste time trying to work out the details. Buying a new 31 gallon is the way to go.
If the force is enough to bend the skidplate (which is pretty much cosmetic IMO, since it's too thin to absorb a quick application of weight of the vehicle on a pointy object) then that extra clearance would actually be a benefit. But the disadvantage of losing 6 gallons is too much IMO, unless you are truly a hardcore wheeler. In which case you'd probably have a real skidplate, and would prefer to have the ground clearance the factory skid plate takes up.
There is a recent thread on aftermarket TBI tanks, can't remember if price was mentioned, but as I recall the brand was sceptre.(?)
25 gallon will fit, but that requires a new sending unit, and I don't know if '87-91 FI trucks got the 25 gallon tank, so the sending unit may not exist, and would be too expensive to waste time trying to work out the details. Buying a new 31 gallon is the way to go.
If the force is enough to bend the skidplate (which is pretty much cosmetic IMO, since it's too thin to absorb a quick application of weight of the vehicle on a pointy object) then that extra clearance would actually be a benefit. But the disadvantage of losing 6 gallons is too much IMO, unless you are truly a hardcore wheeler. In which case you'd probably have a real skidplate, and would prefer to have the ground clearance the factory skid plate takes up.
Pookster
1/2 ton status
I have a 24 gallon tank on a 87...
The skid tank sometimes rubs through too. You'll have to see what the damage was. You can try some foam inbetween for the new tank, but that just keeps in moisture. Its a loose loose situation. Just figure out whats best for you.
The skid tank sometimes rubs through too. You'll have to see what the damage was. You can try some foam inbetween for the new tank, but that just keeps in moisture. Its a loose loose situation. Just figure out whats best for you.
GruntHunter
1/2 ton status
Tank fix
You can order a NEW tank through your local Auto-Zone (or whatever) and they don't really cost that much ... maybe $100. I had the same thing happen to me and found out that leaky tanks are NOT an uncommon problem. Like was mentioned, the skid plate traps mud wet grass etc etc and causes corrossion. Put a stock tank back in, you'll be much better off. Before you install a new tank though, go get a can of spray on bedliner and coat at least the bottom half of the tank. MONEY WELL SPENT ! I still try and flush that are whenever I can though.
You can order a NEW tank through your local Auto-Zone (or whatever) and they don't really cost that much ... maybe $100. I had the same thing happen to me and found out that leaky tanks are NOT an uncommon problem. Like was mentioned, the skid plate traps mud wet grass etc etc and causes corrossion. Put a stock tank back in, you'll be much better off. Before you install a new tank though, go get a can of spray on bedliner and coat at least the bottom half of the tank. MONEY WELL SPENT ! I still try and flush that are whenever I can though.
Good point...the stock tanks were unpainted (though appear galvanized or similar) so although I didn't have a bedlining compound, I did use POR15.
If I can get a new tank for close to $100. I won't bother calling the junk yards.
I've used the Duplicolor bedliner in a aerosol can from NAPA with great results on many things like bumpers and it sticks great to gas tanks! Paint does not.
I was thinking of adding some 1/4 plate to the bottom of the stock skid plate while I have it out. What do you think?
I've used the Duplicolor bedliner in a aerosol can from NAPA with great results on many things like bumpers and it sticks great to gas tanks! Paint does not.
I was thinking of adding some 1/4 plate to the bottom of the stock skid plate while I have it out. What do you think?
GruntHunter
1/2 ton status
I just did a real quick check on-line and found one for $108 ( http://www.gastanksusa.com/chevy-full-size-blazer-new-gas-tank-19871992.html ) so they're out there.
If you use the bed liner stuff let the tank sit upside down until it cures real good. If you install it wet or coat it in place and then install the skid plate you may get some of it sagging or dripping down onto the skid plate and kind of bonding the two together. Will just be a little more pain to get the skid plate off next time. Besides, I like to have it open there so it can be flushed out when need be. The guy who installed my tank coated the entire tank. Seems like it was around $15 to coat the whole tank.
I had gone to a local bed liner shop and they wanted $200 - $300 to coat the tank for me ..... freakin idiots !
idislikeunc
Registered Member
Sorry to hi-jack, but I've got an 87 with the 31 gallon tank. Think the shorter 25 gallon tank would fit with my current fuel pump? It's listed for the 87, but my tank is definately stock and it holds 30+ gallons.
redneckdude
1/2 ton status
the sender in the 31 gal tank would be deeper and wouldn't seat/seal at the top. 26 gal would fit a 31 gal tank but not be able to suck up the last 5 gallons of gas
I think some of our more hardcore folks need to give their input, but my thought would be that the attaching points of the skid plate would fail even if the plate itself did not.
