The coolant tank in my truck has a weird defect where it has been eaten away in a small spot. It looks like it started on the outside of the tank, and is slowly working its way inward. There is now a pinhole that can let air into the system that I'm trying to repair. Any tips that would be helpful?
Start out with what kind of plastic it is.
Read:
Short version: Probably heat and the same kind of plastic as filler. I have somewhat successfully welded a seat pan by lighting a piece of the same plastic on fire and dripping it into the crack. It worked better for me than the HF plastic welder tool, which while I think that is a useful tool, it takes some practice to get right.
I used an unidentified plastic rod and a soldering iron to fill holes I accidentally drilled in a kawasaki bayou gas tank. It didn't leak last I checked.
My coolant overflow on the JD4410 has been repaired twice (ten year interval) with a hot melt glue gun.
I don't have anything to lose. A replacement tank is $110 at the local parts stores which seems absurd for a simple injection molded plastic thing that cost $10 to make.
Soldering iron and other bits of plastic are my go to! Big crack on a bumper got reinforced with metal screen wire melted around the crack. Hole in a lawn mower gas tank worked well with just grey RTV and numerous interior plastic has been fixed with washers and bits of wire with some filing. Had to spend an entire day on the interior of a 1991 Mustang, but the common ashtray break is now much better!
Bruce
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