Buying Guide For Fuel Tank
Your vehicle’s engine requires fuel to function, which is stored in a fuel tank. Diesel and petrol are highly flammable substances, therefore it demands safe storage. Any kind of shock or impact force can cause significant damage to your tanks compromising the safety of your vehicle. This buying guide will assist you to understand fuel tank failures, their consequences, types, and benefits and help you in purchasing the correct fuel tanks as per your vehicle’s requirement.
1. What Is An Automotive Fuel Tank?
2. What Type Of Fuel Tank Should I Choose?
3. What Factors Should I Consider Before Buying A Fuel Tank?
4. Which Top Brand Fuel Tank Should I Choose?
5. What Are The Symptoms Of A Bad Fuel Tank?
6. How Much Will It Cost Me For A New Fuel Tank?
1 What Is An Automotive Fuel Tank?
A fuel tank is used to store automotive fuel. Fuel is necessary for automobiles but is also a dangerous substance due to its high flammability characteristics. Fuel tanks are regarded as an important safety-related part as their failure during automobile collisions may result in fatal events. Depending on the construction material and mounting location gas tanks can be classified into metal, plastic, auxiliary and standard tanks.
Top Picks For Fuel Tanks
2 What Type Of Fuel Tank Should I Choose?
Based On Material
Fuel tanks are generally made from metal (steel or aluminium) or plastic (High-Density Polyethene). Plastic tanks offer better safety features compared to their metal counterparts but at a higher cost and are suitable for drivers who love to travel cross-country or anyone willing to pay an extra amount. While metal tanks provide a favourable balance between safety and fuel capacity and are more pocket friendly.
- Plastic tanks are 30% lighter whereas metal tanks are made of stainless steel or aluminium.
- The best thing about plastic tanks is they lack seam welds, therefore making them less likely to rupture in a crash, thus having a better life expectancy.
- Plastic is an insulator and does not generate sparks during an impact and is a bit more flexible in terms of springing back to shape after an impact.
- Metal tanks have better structural strength than plastic and are unaffected by extreme underbody temperatures.
Based On Mounting location
1. Auxiliary Fuel Transfer Tanks
Auxiliary tanks or fuel transfer tanks are fuel storage tanks that work in tandem with the primary tank to provide additional fuel on top of the standard tank. In cars and SUVs these the tanks are installed ahead of the rear axle and connected directly to your stock tank, while in trucks it is mounted on the carrier behind the diver cabin. These tanks can be either gravity fed that will keep filling your main tank and you won’t notice any changes in fuel levels of your main tank until your auxiliary tank is empty or they are electric pump-driven tanks that come with a switch that you can flip to fill the stock tank when you see fit.
Benefits Of Auxiliary Transfer Tanks
- Save your money if you are passing through a route where fuel costs are high.
- They extend your mileage range as you can drive more miles between fill-ups and save your time.
- Tanks are built from a combination of high-quality and heavy-duty materials meeting official safety requirements.
2. Standard Replacement Fuel Tanks
Standard tanks are located underneath the vehicle at the rear axle and are factory fitted which serve as the primary tank for your vehicle. You can purchase standard replacement tanks from available brands depending upon your requirement and budget.
3 What Factors Should I Consider Before Buying A Fuel Tank?
A. OE Vs Aftermarket
OE-made fuel tanks offer superior performance and reliability but it comes at a cost of higher price and no additional features like warranty offers and additional fuel capacity. Whereas, quality-made aftermarket fuel tanks are robust, can offer larger tank capacity, and are compatible with most vehicles. If you are a cross-country enthusiast, then an aftermarket tank along with an auxiliary could prove to be a lifesaver against the restricted capacity of OE tanks at a more competitive price. If you drive in urban areas then it is possible to select either an OE manufactured tank or an aftermarket tank weighing among the features as per your vehicle’s requirement.
B. Based On Material
Tanks are made up of either metal (steel or aluminum) or plastic (High-Density Polyethene). Plastic tanks are lighter, have a better springing effect, and do not have seam welds making them less prone to rupture at joints during collisions. Whereas, metal tanks can withstand higher underbody temperatures. If you are willing to spend some extra money for safety and capacity then plastic tanks are a better option compared to metal tanks. Otherwise, metal tanks offer you a good balance between the two.
4 Which Top Brand Fuel Tank Should I Choose?
Dorman Fuel Tanks
Dorman is one of the leading manufacturers of automotive components and their products are precision-engineered and offer different types of repair solutions for the large majority of vehicles on the road, including new galvanized steel tanks, fully restored plastic tanks, direct replacement fuel filler necks, and powder-coated fuel tank straps.
Fuel Tank Part Number: 576-146, 576-323, 576-329, 576-341, 576-109, and more.
Features:
- Galvanized steel tanks are powder coated for better durability and corrosion resistance.
- Plastic replacement tanks are sterilized and leak tested.
- Locks and gaskets are included in all tanks for a complete and reliable repair.
- Fuel straps are powder coated for longer service life.
- Exclusive limited lifetime warranty.
For more information and a detailed product line, visit the Dorman Fuel Tanks section.
Spectra Premium Fuel Tanks
Spectra Premium is the world-leading steel fuel tank manufacturer and a tier-1 fuel tank OEM and applies advanced product and process innovation from concept through manufacturing. They have rich experience in manufacturing automotive components and offer a wide range of options to choose from.
Fuel Tank Part Number: TO13A, HY16A, JP2B, F1G, F12A, and more.
Features:
- Fuel tanks made of stainless steel can achieve a lighter weight than plastic with a globally available, sustainable material that is recycled through a long-standing network of recycling businesses.
- Made of high-quality corrosion-resistant Ni-Terne Steel.
- Built to meet or exceed manufacturer’s specifications.
- Extensive quality control at all levels of production.
- Leak, road, and fit tested to ensure performance.
- Perfect fit guaranteed.
For more information and a detailed product line, visit the Spectra Premium Fuel Tanks section.
Holley Fuel Tanks
Holley has been the undisputed leader in fuel systems for over 100 years. That work continues today through Holley’s market-leading products as well as through Holley’s family of best-in-industry brands. Holley family offers you a spread of products to select according to your needs.
Fuel Tank Part Number: 19-100, 19-132, 19-123, 19-112, 19-117, 19-120 and more.
Features:
- Tanks are galvanized and powder coated to avoid corrosion.
- Trustworthy designs backed by a team of product specialists.
- Complete bolt in solution for your EFI conversion
- Includes new tank straps
For more information and a detailed product line, visit the Holley Fuel Tanks section.
5 What Are The Symptoms Of A Bad Fuel Tank?
Like other components, fuel tanks show indications of deterioration. The best way to identify the condition of your tanks is to look for the below symptoms:
- You find small puddles of fuel underneath your car at every parking spot.
- A sudden surge in average monthly fuel budget due to higher fuel consumption, thus indicating the possibility of leaks.
- On inspecting the fuel tank of your vehicle you can see visual leakages.
6 How Much Will It Cost Me For A New Fuel Tank?
The price range for fuel tanks varies from $135 to $1233 according to the type of fuel tank, brand, and vehicle you drive. Depending upon your budget you can select from below mentioned range:
- Between $100 – $150: You can find good affordable tanks in this range but fewer options are available.
- Between $150 – $200: At this range, you can find tanks with larger capacity providing more gallons of fuel storage and can select among some best manufacturers.
- Over $200: At this range, you can find better quality tanks with better coating materials and protection layers like galvanized steel and also Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) compatibility.
Dorman OE Solutions Fuel Tanks – Part Number Catalog
| Category | Part Numbers |
| Dorman OE Solutions Fuel Tanks | 576-409, 576-556, 576-341, 576-109, 576-358, 576-413, 576-552, 576-402, 576-177, 576-195, 576-383 |
Spectra Premium Fuel Tanks – Part Number Catalog
| Category | Part Numbers |
| Spectra Premium Fuel Tanks | TO19B, GM67A, F88A, NS20A, GM23C, HO5, GM18D, GM15A, HO14A, GM11B, GM1C, F1E |
