So, what is everybody doing for s14 gas tanks these days?

[Ryosuke Takahashi]

Maybe this fuel tank problem is a blessing indisguise. If a fuel cell was installed in the trunk. Wouldnt that extra space where the OEM one sat create more clearance to further raise the subframe?

[fliprayzin240sx]

Originally Posted by Kingtal0n

I wonder if S15 will fit

I already know they have the same 'lid'

There has to be a car with a similar shape tank out there somewhere. Somebody needs to just measure 999 of them to find it.

BTW where do they tend to crack? I have a 96 that isn't cracked yet and wondering when/where... too lazy to look it up... /spooonf

Typically would crack just above the banding strap for the tank.




I cut into my back seat to get to it and plastic patched it when mine cracked.

[DRIFTER-M]

Originally Posted by simmode1

Ahhh the main reason I got rid of my Zenki... aside from the shitty sunroof trim moulding.

IIRC, the issue seemed to only affect Zenki and not koukis from the last time I broached this topic.

Have fun with this one, guys.

I’ve seen the theory, but like FaLKon240 below, I have known kouki people it affected too - so I don’t think the theory of it being a Zenki issue only is completely true. There is another theory that the crack is caused by bad subframe bushings causing the subframe to bounce / put pressure on the tank. Maybe there is some validity to that? Would be interesting to see if someone with solid or poly bushings experienced the problem after replacing the bushings.

The real issue IMO is that Nissan used plastic. It was stupid.

Originally Posted by afishysilvia

I’m around 250,000 miles on chassis with no issues at all (95 Zenki). Why not just go with fuel cell?

Fuel cells are not cheap (at least for safer and reputable ones), not super easy to hook up, and simply unsafe for a Daily or a street cruiser. A rear end collision could be disastrous, You def have to fabricate a firewall and cage/ tube the trunk area to guarantee the safest fitting. You also lose trunk space, lose capacity in many cases, and lose simple stuff like fuel gauge readings.

Originally Posted by FaLKoN240

I just picked up tank #3 yesterday. I have a 98...

Sigh. Friggin Nissan.

Originally Posted by Agamemnon

All the tanks are the same spanning all years.
Laurels,R33/34, etc all share the same tank. Who knows with Nissan replicating old parts for Skylines maybe will see an updated tank for us S-chassis folks.

Nissan today cares very little (re: not at all) about us. I can’t see that happening

Originally Posted by loser101

Should start a gofundme fund to make injection molds of the gas tank.

Originally Posted by feito

Wasn't someone recently having a hard time giving a good one away? A real shame if that went to the trash. Anyway, only thing I can think of is a custom made metal one. Shouldn't be that hard for someone with experience. As long as it's seated properly, the rest should be easy.

To answer both of you - I once floated this on a local board a few years back. I thought it would be simple, doesn’t sound hard right? A dude that I know has extensive knowledge of fabrication and meta engineering chimed in and apparently it’s actually a seriously difficult process and would be insanely costly. I don’t remember the reasons, but gas tanks are apparently much more complex than one initially thinks. I thought of a go fund me up until his super detailed response, and I realized it was incredibly unlikely it would ever happen.

Originally Posted by Ryosuke Takahashi

Maybe this fuel tank problem is a blessing indisguise. If a fuel cell was installed in the trunk. Wouldnt that extra space where the OEM one sat create more clearance to further raise the subframe?

Definitely a positive aspect. I just feel like there are several negatives as well, and not sure it justifies it fully.

Originally Posted by fliprayzin240sx

Typically would crack just above the banding strap for the tank.




I cut into my back seat to get to it and plastic patched it when mine cracked.

A good fix (when it works), but definitely a band-aid. Still thinking cell is the best “permanent” route, but ugh. I really am thinking about doing the pesky subframe pull just to get mine coated in rhino shield while it is still mint, and see if that ends up making a difference in the long run.

[Kingtal0n]

Originally Posted by DRIFTER-M

There is another theory that the crack is caused by bad subframe bushings causing the subframe to bounce / put pressure on the tank. Maybe there is some validity to that? Would be interesting to see if someone with solid or poly bushings experienced the problem after replacing the bushings.

very interesting idea. I wonder if there is a correlation between manual transmission cars + cracked fuel tanks, given the prevalence of bad subframe bushings and manual transmission vs automatic cars without that issue. The 96 I have is original auto, still auto, and doesn't have a cracked fuel tank yet...

so anyone with an auto car, acquired a cracked tank with the auto and good subframe bushings... all it would take is 1 person to come forward to more or less eliminate the theory.

[Agamemnon]

Originally Posted by Kingtal0n

very interesting idea. I wonder if there is a correlation between manual transmission cars + cracked fuel tanks, given the prevalence of bad subframe bushings and manual transmission vs automatic cars without that issue. The 96 I have is original auto, still auto, and doesn't have a cracked fuel tank yet...

so anyone with an auto car, acquired a cracked tank with the auto and good subframe bushings... all it would take is 1 person to come forward to more or less eliminate the theory.

My original 95 auto developed a crack in the typical spot while it was still an auto with decent condition bushings.

I suspect it’s a manufacturing defect. Every leak I’ve heard of is in the same spot every time. I’d be willing to bet that the plastic gets very thin in the area.

[Ryosuke Takahashi]

Originally Posted by DRIFTER-M

There is another theory that the crack is caused by bad subframe bushings causing the subframe to bounce / put pressure on the tank. Maybe there is some validity to that?

When I pulled mine out the oem bushings were still fresh. No play or stress cracks. Very firm for a old car. Even all the subframe arms weren't oxidized and very easy to break loose without much effort. But I remember the hose under the engine bay for the fuel filter burst. And when I went to replace the fuel filter, I checked it out and it was very constipated. Barely any air pressure could get through. So I'm thinking maybe it caused some back pressure in the fuel system causing the actual tank to crack open. My car is also a 94 auto

[Kingtal0n]

Originally Posted by Ryosuke Takahashi

When I pulled mine out the oem bushings were still fresh. No play or stress cracks. Very firm for a old car. Even all the subframe arms weren't oxidized and very easy to break loose without much effort. But I remember the hose under the engine bay for the fuel filter burst. And when I went to replace the fuel filter, I checked it out and it was very constipated. Barely any air pressure could get through. So I'm thinking maybe it caused some back pressure in the fuel system causing the actual tank to crack open. My car is also a 94 auto

isn't a 94 a convertible S13 with a metal fuel tank

[MrMigs]

Originally Posted by DRIFTER-M

I’ve seen the theory, but like FaLKon240 below, I have known kouki people it affected too - so I don’t think the theory of it being a Zenki issue only is completely true. There is another theory that the crack is caused by bad subframe bushings causing the subframe to bounce / put pressure on the tank. Maybe there is some validity to that? Would be interesting to see if someone with solid or poly bushings experienced the problem after replacing the bushings.

As a matter of fact... I've had solid subframe bushings for i dunno... 5-8 years now. My S14 has 405,000 miles on it. Never had a cracked fuel tank. Dunno if that's a coincidence or if that's the reason.

Err someone mentioned something about clogged fuel filter and excess pressure in the tank. I'm been running a z32 tt fuel filter for the longest time. Dunno if that makes a difference or not either. Maybe less prone to clogging vs oem 240sx-sized fuel filter. I dunno, just throwing some ideas out there.