EEVEE

So coming home from work in the dark i reacted to late to a piece of rebar in the road and punched a hole right in my gas tank. What would be better? new is 130+ bucks from what i just looked at and i have yet to call a junkyard.

Idunno

Hmmm, me thinks the gas tank skid plate was AWOL from your truck as it is from mine. I'd get a junkyard dog and swap everything out. Ask them if they have the gas tank, and the skid plate as well. Obviously, you would not be suffering a holed tank if it was installed.

RockinRonnie

As the fuel tank is plastic I would not have a problem going used don't have to worry about rust so get a used one make sure its clean and install! Yes a skid would be great but a lot around without not a deal breaker but yes nice.

Idunno

Just out of curiosity you might call around and see if there's a service that repairs the plastic tank. It may be cheaper. I have a plastic welder which I use for repairing all sorts of plastic parts. You just need to know the kind of plastic used in the jeep tank, which I'm suspecting to be a basic nylon matrix. The link below would make that repair pretty easy. It doesn't just put a patch over the damage, it fills the hole completely with new material making the repair integrally sound. Mind you, a full face respirator will be required because nylon gives off formaldehyde fumes. If it were me I'd weld-repair the damage but I've plenty of experience with plastic welding. You might find someone local to bring the tank to. Or, yea, replace it if you're not comfortable putting a repair on the tank. Junk yards guarantee their parts (usually) so you should be pretty safe with a used one.

https://www.harborfreight.com/plasti...ure-96464.html

Ralph77

Where did you find one for $130? I am almost positive that you can not buy a new plastic gas tank. Pretty sure Napa does not sell one cause I think I checked once just for the hell of it. I did find this poking around now.

http://www.dodgeparts.com/2001-jeep-...100179AD-item/

But that is crazy. Plus I am willing to bet that if you did order this they would email you after you did saying that they don't have it and their inventory was wrong

If you could actually get a new one for $130 guess it would depend on what the boneyard would charge. While I usually go for new parts with the tank being plastic I would probably go used. Easy enough to clean. Figure it is not rusty. I am guessing the $130 tank is not a Mopar. Plastic is funny. Don't really know if I would trust an aftermarket one made in China. If it is not molded just right where the fuel pump ring screws on to the tank, etc.

Be aware that I am noticing 2 different parts numbers for tanks.

5210 0179 1998 XJ, 1999 XJ
52100259 1997 XJ

'00 and '01 are the same part number as '98 and '99.


On a side not I am going to have to research that plastic welder. I am really curious about that. Never seen anything like that before and I can think of a couple things I would not mind trying to fix with it.

RockinRonnie

Used one around here are listed for 45/50 bucks 98 thru 01 will be the same tank some late 97 will be the same but mid 97 and down will be diff. that's when the went to the plastic tanks I'm sure someone will jump in here if I'm wrong!

The plastic welder works great for trim and such used one a lot in the body shop but would not use one to fix a gas tank!

Ralph77

I figured it was something to do with a change over year. I am going to have to look up the part number for a gas tank for a '96. Cause if some '97's came with steel tanks shouldn't we be able to put them in all XJ's?

RockinRonnie

All I know is 97 was the change over year and while I worked at Mopar parts manufacturing plant for about 12 years June was always the model year change time so that is what I was going off when I said mid 97. the part nimbers you listed are correct for 97 and down and 98 and up but used does show 97 and up for used so who knows!

Morat

Having dealt with rusty tanks in my old BMWs I'd take a plastic tank every time. I doubt there's much difference in strength between them. Also, if you put rebar through a metal tank it's more likely to spark! If you're worried, there are skid plates after all.

Idunno

A steel tank will dent in the colder climes where plastic will probably crack from an impact. I don't understand marrying a plastic tank to an off-road rated drive train, or leaving a plastic tank exposed to road hazards like the OP encountered.

EEVEE

oops my apologies i was looking at a 96 and down tank you guys are correct new xj tanks are expensive af! Well anyways i got another tank from a friends donor jeep now i wish i got that 45 dollars in gas back.......

dave1123

The reason manufacturers went to plastic tanks was at one point the fuel additives they were putting in the fuel eat thru steel tanks, especially ones that were already rusted on the inside! The Feds stopped using that additive because it really didn't work anyway, but by then the damage was done. Adding ethanol to the fuel did more to control emissions.

EEVEE

And in! even finally removed the wire hanging from the exhaust while i was under there dont want to waste another trip lol