I've got a fuel tank leak....need recommendation

[jetdriven]

It ought to be significantly less. 8K is over 100 hours of labor.   Does it really take 100 hours to find your leak?

[FBCK]

Just had Paul at Weep no More do a complete reseal, I have Monroys tanks and expected to have all four tanks done, after leaving the plane with Paul he redid the mains and told me the extendeds just need touching up as the orginal work was sloppy.  Worked out to 70 hours total and then material cost approx $700 I think), total was $9500.  I would just bit the bullet if this is your long term plane.

[fantom]

May be Don's way of saying he doesn't want to be bothered with it anymore. Can you imagine the amount of whinning he used to get from people getting a small patch jobs who then wanted every other leak that ever sprung up repaired for free.

I hear you Mitch, and I'm not suggesting any service providers are/were dishonest. Just "conservative" in their own favor.

[N601RX]

1st be sure it isn't leaking around the outboard fuel sender.  By slowly draining the tanks and determining at what level it stops leaking will give you a good idea of where the leak is.  Assuming this leak just started all at once and is a drip, I would think that it can be repaired pretty easily and the repair will last.

[Skywarrior]

Earl -

I don't believe Don M. is willing to guarantee tank patches. Nor would anyone else. A complete reseal is a different story. Highly recommend Weep No More. It started out as Bruce Jaeger's business. They have a good product, and a good process, and they give a damn. If you know Bruce, 'nuff said.

[Earl]

Quote: jetdriven

It ought to be significantly less. 8K is over 100 hours of labor.   Does it really take 100 hours to find your leak?

[Earl]

Quote: Skywarrior

Earl -

I don't believe Don M. is willing to guarantee tank patches. Nor would anyone else. A complete reseal is a different story. Highly recommend Weep No More. It started out as Bruce Jaeger's business. They have a good product, and a good process, and they give a damn. If you know Bruce, 'nuff said.

[jackn]

I have an '87K. You mentioned that you traced the leak to the tank, but I had a similar leak and found the leak inside (see photo). The fix was only a gasket. Hope this helps.

[Earl]

Quote: N601RX

1st be sure it isn't leaking around the outboard fuel sender.  By slowly draining the tanks and determining at what level it stops leaking will give you a good idea of where the leak is.  Assuming this leak just started all at once and is a drip, I would think that it can be repaired pretty easily and the repair will last.

[Hank]

Well, at least now you know what you will face sooner or later. I just had my 52-gallon tanks done last fall. The report was that the sealant was "sandy" except where it had been patched, and appeared to have been original.

My research last year showed five resealers:

1. Paul Beck, Weep No More, Minneapolis

2. Don Maxwell, near Dallas

3. Midwest Mooney, southern IL [polyurethane, 30% higher cost]

4. Wet Wingologists, Ft. Lauderdale

5. The [unreachable] folks in Oregon

Costs are fairly even between #1, 2 & 4; #3 costs much more; I didn't check #5--too far and the hills are too high.

When comparing costs, be sure to include round-trip fuel for the plane, and a round-trip airline ticket for yourself. Expect several weeks; I was quoted four, and planned six. So far, I'm a very happy customer of Wet Wingologists. No runs, no drips, no fuel spots in the hangar.

[MooneyMitch]

Dear ehscott.

Believe me, I know the feeling with this.  When you discover what appears to be a massive leak, you are in shock immediately.  I was indeed.  My entire lower wing was covered with fuel and I just could not believe what I was seeing.

It just may be worth it to get it to Weep No More!  Get it done right the first time by those who know exactly what they are doing. 

You will find it and it will get fixed and the world will be right again.

[John Pleisse]

Let's not freak out.....Mooney tank leaks are common and usually the result of hard landings and high load taxi turns, rarely sealant condition. A new $10k seal job can get cracked open in one day of heavy handed flying. Whether it is a leak, weep or seep, find out exactly what it is, then make a plan. I have patched mine 4 times in 14 years, costing me a little over $3,000. Seems like throwing good money after bad, right? Not so much... I have flown the airplane almost 1,000 hrs. Take it to Cole or a  MSC and have them evaluate it. A word of caution...have only somebody with a lot of Mooney experience messing with your tanks.

If you have to press on, my vote is for Wilmar and try to work it into an annual, to get it all right.....and make it worth the 5 hours flying time to and from.

[DaV8or]

Quote: jetdriven

It ought to be significantly less. 8K is over 100 hours of labor.   Does it really take 100 hours to find your leak?

[N601RX]

Quote: ehscott

Thats what we are doing right now.  At what level is the outbaord fuel sender on the tank?  The dripping leak definitely started all at once.  I had minor weeping around the sump and a couple of rivets but all were within acceptable levels.

[DaV8or]

As a point of reference, my '66 F has never had a strip and reseal. It has been patched a couple of times, the last time was 1995. I know planes are different and leaks are different, but not all patch jobs are good money thrown down a rat hole.

Having just posted this, I'm sure I'll go to the hangar and find a huge puddle!

[Mac201]

I am sure that Jeff will come along and give details, but Joey Cole patched a couple of leaks for him last year.  He has reported to me, so far so good.  I am sure it was a lot less than completely resealing the tanks.

[Earl]

OK, so here is the latest.  Pulled the panels and checked the fuel sending units.  Dry as a bone.  

Removed about 15 gallons of fuel and the leaking stopped so the hole must be part way down.  Have spoken to a number of reseal shops and to Joey Cole and here are my options:

1.  Take it to Ft. Lauderdale tomorrow (Wet-Wingologists) that can take it in right away for a complete reseal.  Out of service for about a month but has the longest warranty (7 years) and is mid-priced.

2.  Take it to Venice to Florida Flight Maintenance for a reseal but they sounded backed up so it is probably out of service 6 weeks.  Cost a little lower with a 6 year warranty.

3.  Wait until late summer to take it Weep No More which means either not use the plane or only fly with 20 gallons in my right tank, neither of which appeals to me.  Warranty shorter and cost a little higher but very highly recommended.

4.  Take it to Joey for a patch that he believes will work but obviously can make no guarantees.  He did imply he would not charge me if he couldn't stop the leak but I can't see how he could do that so it would probably cost me $1K-$2K and then I might still need to have it resealed (if not today then in a year, 2 years or 5 years).

All the reseal shop prices were comparable and I know that would be a valuable fix when resale time comes.  But if I can spend $1k-$2k with Joey and it gets me five years would that be worth it?  Decisions....decisions.......

[Hank]

I patched my right tank, got two years out of it. Whether or not it holds depends largely upon the condition of the sealant that the patch will overlap. My original sealant was in poor shape, the leak reappeared in short order and intensified.

[Earl]

Quote: Hank

I patched my right tank, got two years out of it. Whether or not it holds depends largely upon the condition of the sealant that the patch will overlap. My original sealant was in poor shape, the leak reappeared in short order and intensified.

[John Pleisse]

I say go to Joey...might cost you $1,000...max...if it is more sit down with him and discuss your other options. Trust me...most Mooney A&P's run from tank work, so it wouldn't be like Cole is out to take you for a ride. Joey is reputable.

[N601RX]

Quote: ehscott

OK, so here is the latest.  Pulled the panels and checked the fuel sending units.  Dry as a bone.  

Removed about 15 gallons of fuel and the leaking stopped so the hole must be part way down.  Have spoken to a number of reseal shops and to Joey Cole and here are my options:

1.  Take it to Ft. Lauderdale tomorrow (Wet-Wingologists) that can take it in right away for a complete reseal.  Out of service for about a month but has the longest warranty (7 years) and is mid-priced.

2.  Take it to Venice to Florida Flight Maintenance for a reseal but they sounded backed up so it is probably out of service 6 weeks.  Cost a little lower with a 6 year warranty.

3.  Wait until late summer to take it Weep No More which means either not use the plane or only fly with 20 gallons in my right tank, neither of which appeals to me.  Warranty shorter and cost a little higher but very highly recommended.

4.  Take it to Joey for a patch that he believes will work but obviously can make no guarantees.  He did imply he would not charge me if he couldn't stop the leak but I can't see how he could do that so it would probably cost me $1K-$2K and then I might still need to have it resealed (if not today then in a year, 2 years or 5 years).

All the reseal shop prices were comparable and I know that would be a valuable fix when resale time comes.  But if I can spend $1k-$2k with Joey and it gets me five years would that be worth it?  Decisions....decisions.......

[rbridges]

I believe Weep No More has a 7 year warranty, also.  Someone correct me if I'm wrong.  Joey quoted me around a grand to patch my leaks.  With yours being heavier, it may be easier to find/correct.

btw, Joey installed bladders but said that he could see several patch areas within my tanks.  Obviously, it had been a persistent problem.

[Earl]

Quote: N4352H

I say go to Joey...might cost you $1,000...max...if it is more sit down with him and discuss your other options. Trust me...most Mooney A&P's run from tank work, so it wouldn't be like Cole is out to take you for a ride. Joey is reputable.

[John Pleisse]

Quote: ehscott

That is where I am in leaning and I have had good experience with Joey.  His point was exactly right in that I could spend $1K on a patch and end up having the reseal done not long after because it leaks again, even from other locations. But even if I get a couple of years with no other leaks showing up I am OK with it.  Its just a crap shoot and I won't know if it was a good decision or not until I know.

If five years from now I am tooling along with no other problems I am a genius.  If 3 months from now three other leaks spring up I am a dunce.  Such is life.  I will probably take it to him and have him look it over and tell me what he thinks.  My bigger challenge is one of timing.  I have a window of opportunity with Wet-Wingologists in their schedule and mine and if I have to take it down to Ft. Lauderdale I am not sure when I can do it next because of some business travel and personal commitments, not the least of which is my daughter's high school graduation. 

[Cris]

Last year at the time I did the pre buy (Jan.) & purchased my 99' M20S it had some leaks which the seller agreed to patch. Unfortunately he wanted the guy who had done the repair to do it again less than a year and just 7 hrs latter. I elected to have my local MSC do it at a higher cost but I did not have to fly the A/C 600 nm back to the sellers mechanic  pay for airfare etc. Anyway had I known that this was the 3rd repair I might have done something differant. I had the tanks patched and so far so good. The previous repair was just shoddy. It depends in large part on who is doing the work. I've been told it also depends on how one lands the A/C. In the long bodies dropping it in can cause a leak or so I am told.