My Mini stinks!

[BruceK]

Why Mini stinks. And I've put up with a fuel smell inside the car for way too long. In fact, when I park it in the garage my habit has been to leave the boot lid open, because if I leave it closed the entire car ends up with an odor of gasoline inside. So it's been an annoyance, but I found a way around it.

I finally decided to fix it. I thought the odor might be coming from the fuel tank vent hose. But I verified that was not it. So today I drained and pulled the tank out and I discovered a discolored boot floor from what must be the world's slowest leak. Just enough to produce a gasoline odor, but not enough to do anything other than stain the paint under the tank. It was completely dry there.

Next step: New tanks are very expensive, so I'm going to try and restore and seal the tank with the POR15 fuel tank kit. Has anyone here ever used that product?  From my research it looks like meticulously following the prep is the key to getting it to work.  Should seal up any pinhole leaks or seam leaks. 

[scalpel_ninja]

I've used POR15 and it bonds really well with good prep work. Definitely wear a respirator with organic vapor filters! Aside from the need for good degreasing and etching to make a successful application; POR15 is also susceptible to UV degradation. Though the fuel tank would unlikely need any topcoat to protect it.

[94touring]

Can you even identify the spot where it's leaking?

[Dan Moffet]

I used the POR15 system with perfect results. MY fume problem (the car, not me) resulted from a porous fillet neck. Minis came with a foam rubber donut around the neck, which did a wonderful job of holding moisture.

If you got the motorcycle repair kit, it came with some gauze to repair weak or damaged tank areas. I wrapped it around the neck and applied the POR15 to the outside while coating the tank inside. Job done.

NOTE: Before you start the cleaning process, you need o remove the screen element from the tip of the outlet pipe. You do that by pushing it off from the outside through the little pipe, then shake it out and add it to your "can't throw old bits out" collection.

I got the motorcycle kit plus an additional small can so I wouldn't run short. It is a 2-part coating system, so use it outdoors. Fumes were not a problem for me. Leave it to cure outdoors The stuff sticks to anything, including concrete and the painted exterior of the tank, so protect your work area.

[MiniDave]

I used a kit called "Red Coat", stay away from the "white" coating kits - no idea who makes them but that was used on Don's Pup tank and it flaked off clogging the inlet pipe and leaving him stranded more than once. He took the ultimate parts choice and bought a stainless steel tank.

I had the red coat in my Jag and after 30 years it still looked perfect......the Jag tank was also porous in spots and this stuff did the job.

POR is generally good stuff, so I would hope it does the trick but make sure it's compatible with ethanol fuels.

My green Mini is also plagued with the smell in the boot and the rest of the car, I also see no evidence of a fuel leak and wonder if I have a similar issue?

[BruceK]

Can you even identify the spot where it's leaking?

Not a clue. I suspect the pinch seam, but haven't found it.