110 fuel tank leak advice please.

MOT is Wednesday and I've got a wee problem I think.

A few weeks ago I filled the defender up to the max, proper full, right up to the top. Once I finished filling it (as I was housing the hose back into the pump) the diesel in the tank made a 'burp' and spat out some fuel?

Then a few days later I was on a proper cleaning mission under it and used a low pressure garden hose and engine degreaser. The tank was filthy with thick dirt around the filler hose and in fact everywhere.

Then last week my friend borrowed the defender and noticed some diesel drips on his drive (I have gravel). Further inspection we discovered the tank is damp with fuel.

It's only a small drip, not got last half full yet.

Any ideas what it could be? The top of the tank is dry. Thought it could be from the fuel sloshing around and leaking out of the filer hose. That's damp too?

Any help would be great please.

worst place they rot is underside due to the poorly designed cradle that sits in contact with the tank and wicks moisture n dirt between the two rotting em out quickly, in your case though it sounds more like the filler pipe has a leak if damp or it could be the breather pipe, id give em a good clean with solvent like petrol to get them dry and diesel free and see if you can spot any leakage.

if you do end up needing a new tank its worth fitting longer bolts and bolting the tank and then cradle with a spacer between the two, i bolted the tank up first and the nuts then acted as spacers when i bolted on the cradle so i have a good 15mm air gap..... also worth treating and painting really well, the black paint they come in can last less than 6 months

Untitled by The_Wild_Boar, on Flickr

Untitled by The_Wild_Boar, on Flickr

IMG_1934 by The_Wild_Boar, on Flickr

IMG_1936 by The_Wild_Boar, on Flickr

cheers steve

Steve thanks for your fast and very informative reply!!!

Making the space between the tank and the cover does sound like a really good idea.

I will look into the filler and breather pipes tomorrow.

There's leaks in it coming from rotted areas!

Please can you suggest a place to get a replacement. Also can you get extended ones that fit in the same location?

Mine leaked on the joint where the two halfs make one, it was that rotten that the rust inside was blocking the fuel filter !!

Got a replacement from Paddocks because they are brill for postage !