Expert: Mike Evans - 4/29/2010

Question
QUESTION: MIKE,
I AM TRYING TO FIND A GAS TANK FOR A 1995 MERCURY VILLAGER 3.0.  I HAVE SEARCHED EVERYWHERE I CAN THINK OF-CAN YOU HELP ME FIND A PLACE TO GET ONE OR TELL ME WHAT I CAN DO WITH MY EXISTING TANK? I HAVE HEARD THAT YOU CAN CLEAN THEM WITH ACETONE AND LINE THEM WITH SOME TYPE OF PRODUCT. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!

ANSWER:      Fuel tanks can be lined with a coating that prevents rust and seals small leaks.  Any radiator shop can do this for you.  If I needed a new tank I would try (in this order), a salvage yard, a radiator distributor, and the dealer.  You don't say what is wrong with the existing tank, but they can almost always be repaired.  Price a new one, though, you may find it is more cost effective.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: EXISTING TANK IS RUSTED ON THE INSIDE AS I FIGURE ONE FROM A SALVAGE YARD WOULD BE.  HAVE TRIED TO FIND A PART # OR A DEALER WITH NO SUCCESS-ANY SUGGESTIONS?  WHAT IS THE COATING THAT A RADIATOR SHOP WOULD LINE THE TANK WITH?

Answer
    There's no real reason that a salvage tank would be rusted, so long as the cap is still in place.  Rust needs water, which cannot, under normal conditions, get into the tank.  A dose of contaminated fuel could do it, of course.  That's why you should always buy your fuel at a busy station, they have much less contamination in there tanks.

    I don't know what they use to seal the tanks, but I wouldn't even think of doing it myself.  Motorcycle shops sell stuff for sealing small fuel tanks, but even it is hard to apply correctly.

    I can't understand why you can't find a dealer, there are thousands of them.  If you don't have a local Mercury dealer, the Ford dealer could get it for you.