Thursday, February 20, 2014
How to Repair a Hole in an Exhaust Pipe
A vehicle exhaust system carries toxic fumes generated by the engine away from the passenger compartment. When an exhaust system leaks, exhaust fumes can flood into the passenger compartment, along high levels of carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide cause headaches and can even cause passengers in the vehicle to become unconscious and eventually die.
Instructions
- 1
Raise the vehicle with a floor jack positioned at a secure point recommended by the vehicle owners manual. Stabilize the vehicle by placing a jack stand under each side of the vehicle frame. Lower the floor jack.
2Remove loose dirt and debris from the area around the exhaust hole with a clean rag.
3Scuff the area around the hole with 600-grit sandpaper.
4Spray engine degreaser on the area surrounding the hole. Allow the cleaner to sit on the exhaust for 10 to 15 minutes. Wipe the engine degreaser from the exhaust with a clean rag.
5Wrap the exhaust pipe starting two inches to one side of the hole. Continue wrapping until you overlap and past the hole by two inches.
6Cut the exhaust repair tape with a utility knife.
7Run a plastic squeegee over the applied exhaust repair tape to remove air bubbles and secure the tape to the exhaust.
8Raise the vehicle with the floor jack. Remove the floor jacks. Lower the floor jack.
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
How to Fix a Hole in a Plastic Oil Tank
Plastic is a very commonplace material used for just about everything. Because so much is made out of plastic, several companies have built their empire by providing various methods for repairing it. The most important element in plastic oil tank repair is to know exactly what kind of plastic your oil tank is made of. This allows you to purchase the proper patching materials. There are multiple ways of repairing your plastic oil tank, which method you select depends mostly on how much you care about appearance versus ease of use.
Instructions
- 1
Repair your plastic oil tank with a plastic repair kit. Plastic repair kits are available at any hardware store and are relatively inexpensive. These kits contain epoxy, fiberglass cloth, application brush and sandpaper. Simply sand down the crack or hole, cover it with the fiberglass cloth, prepare the epoxy and brush it over the fiberglass to create a patch. These patches appear rough at first, but you can sand them down for a more aesthetically pleasing finish once the epoxy has set. Additionally, you can paint the patch to match the rest of the tank. Plastic repair kits are great if youre not too bothered with a rough finish.
2Repair your plastic oil tank with a plastic sealing tape. Sealing tapes are available at any hardware store and are great for an easy fix for smaller cracks and holes. Sealing tapes adhere well to any plastic type and can maintain seal in temperatures as low as -40 degrees to 180 degrees Fahrenheit. Simply apply the sealing tape over the small hole or crack to solve your problem. Note: sealing tape gets the job done, but you may have to replace it from time to time. Sealing tape is perfect for a person thats looking for a quick and easy fix to a small problem.
3Repair your plastic oil tank with a speed tip plastic welder. Speed tip welding is a technique that heats up a plastic rod while pushing a soft bead of plastic out of the tip, similar to soldering. Although speed tip welding offers the most precise plastic repair, it is also the most challenging and expensive plastic repair method. Speed tip welding is also the best method for repairing a crack or a hole in a hard to repair area such as a corner. Speed tip welding is perfect for hobbyists and professionals who really value the aesthetic appearance of the repair work.