Fiberglass Gas Tank in a '85 Chaparral

[180shabah]

Hey everybody,

I posted this elsewhere, and it was suggested that I bring it over here to the I/O forum where all the smart guys hang out.


I have found an '85 Caparral 235 XLC that I am interested in, but it has a HUGE question mark hanging over it.

It has a fiberglass gas tank beneath the floor, so it is not an easy replacement. What I need to know before making an offer is whether or not this tank is going to be ethanol stable. Or will the resins start to break down and leave me with a gas leak in the bilge?

I haven't been able to find anything other than "tanks made before the mid 1980's" when refering to ethanol problems. Any help you can provide would be appreciated.

Thanks,
John

 

[180shabah]

Re: Fiberglass Gas Tank in a '85 Chaparral

WOW! I made it to the bottom of page two with no replies. I guess I finally found iboats achielles (sp?) heel.

 

[stevieray]

Re: Fiberglass Gas Tank in a '85 Chaparral

John - fiberglass tanks are big problems with ethanol. What happens is the resins chemically react with the fuel & cause all kinds of fuel system problems with the engine. This will happen way before any leaks occur, but those are also sure to happen sooner or later. You're either looking at replacement, or hope that somebody comes up with a "bladder" type lining system that works (and gets required approvals).

This being pretty much "common knowledge" now, I guess everybody thought someone else would reply. I just stumbled across this one.