Welding Near a Fuel Tank: Grassroots Motorsports forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

Subscribe get a full year for only $23.95 Sample Free Test Drive—no strings attached

June 15, 2009 5:38 p.m. procainestart Dork

I recently saw some forum advice for welding near a fuel tank that included removing all of the fuel. This didn't sound like a terribly good idea to me because now, instead of some percentage of the tank containing volatile vapors, the entire tank is filled with them, yes? Wouldn't you want to purge the tank with some inert gas?

On the other hand, aren't all modern fuel tanks sealed, in which case removing the fuel isn't necessary, and that ventilating the area should be sufficient? And further, don't hundreds of muffler monkeys weld near gas tanks day-in and day-out?

In other words, what's the RIGHT way to weld near a fuel tank without auto-barbecuing oneself?
June 15, 2009 5:52 p.m. walterj Dork

fill it with gas
June 15, 2009 6:08 p.m. Nashco SuperDork

Common sense is king.

Bryce
June 15, 2009 6:29 p.m. Jensenman SuperDork

How near? What's it made of?

1" is a lot more dangerous than 6". If I could smell even a hint of fuel odor, that puppy's coming COMPLETELY OUT.

Toyman and I did a roll cage in a Saturn recently, the rearward brace mount plates had to go on the floor pan right over the plastic fuel tank. The car went WAY up in the air, the tank got dropped about 6", then a spotter with a garden hose and spray nozzle was stationed below to watch for craziness. I would weld about 1" and the spotter would then hit it with water from below. Like Bryce says, common sense.
June 15, 2009 7:29 p.m. Trans_Maro Reader

Fuel doesn't burn, vapours do.

Empty is WAY more dangerous than full.

Welding near the tank should be safe enough as long as there's no leaks or hint of fumes as Jensenman said.

Shawn
June 15, 2009 11:56 p.m. kevinSC1 New Reader

Jensenman wrote:

Toyman and I did a roll cage in a Saturn recently,

Good to hear of another caged Saturn out there...