Windstar end of the road? - need fuel tank

[searcherrr]

I have been through quite a bit (as some of you veterans on here know) with this van and now that I was finally at a point of a renewed lifecycle on it I find myself now again at a point of bewilderment.

I sprung a gas leak. Hoping it was something easy, I brought it into the shop and they found the fuel tank cracked at the top stemming from the fuel pump mount hole. They won't repair it and want to replace it.

Then comes the barrage of phone calls to everywhere known to man to find a replacement fuel tank. What I learned along the way was deafening to my rebuilt Windstar ears..... in that nearly NO ONE ships fuel tanks...... almost NOBODY... especially a salvage yard, which really is my only hope. Ford has discontinued them altogether and no dealership has one anywhere across the US.

Thinking I was in luck, I found a salvage yard that listed a 25 gallon tank 70 miles away. Drove there today to find it was the 20 gallon tank. It was a beautiful great shape tank too, but it was 5 gallons smaller than I need or would be willing to deal with since that would amount to about 100 miles less per tank.

During the drive of shame back from the salvage yard, I had my last only hope in mind on ebay. I just ordered it for a huge whopping $210 total including haz mat shipping.

Do any of you know if the 20 gallon tank will fit on my 95? I think it will, but it is meant for the 3.0L version and not the 3.8L version that I have. I may go back and get that 20 gallon tank at the salvage yard if it will mount right up, unless it is all slightly different.

DOES ANYONE ELSE KNOW IF A SOURCE FOR THESE FUEL TANKS THAT WILL DO SHIPPING? IF SO, I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP A TANK ON HAND FOR BACKUP. I cannot believe I'm at a point where I'd face letting go of the van after a new engine and transmission just because of a large piece of plastic.

The shop won't repair the tank either. I would like to myself and have them put it back in, but they don't trust it and say insurance won't allow it. I don't see why JB Weld wouldn't work though... or some good gas leak sealant stuff.

[tempfixit]

Here are some places that may be of help.


Green Sales http://www.greensalescompany.com/Garage%20Sale.htm


PI Ford Parts http://pifordparts.com/


Miller Obsolete Ford Parts http://millerobsoleteparts.net/


Rear Counter Auto Parts http://www.rearcounter.com/


Aron Marketing http://www.aronparts.com/special.html


Dealer Mine http://www.dealermine.com/AboutUs.aspx


Car Parts Store http://www.carpartsestore.com/proddetail.php?prod=1L1Z-14A504-GA


Guerra International http://www.guerrainternational.com/search/

hope this helps

[olopezm]

Hi searcherrr,

I googled and found this page:

http://www.partshotlines.com/parts/f...fuel-tank.html

I also used the ZIP code listed in your profile and found 4 fuel tanks in the state of Louisiana, as well as many others in your country.

Hope it helps.

Oscar.

[Windstartled]

Fuel tanks are one of the rare items that end up costing as much used as they do new, thanks to prohibitive hazmat shipping fees. If I were you I'd either try to fix it myself or use the smaller tank from the junk yard. For a crack I reckon black Automotive Goo ought'a do the trick.

[searcherrr]

Could something wrong with the EGR or fuel pressure relief valve have caused my gas tank to crack? Besides a bottoming out... what conditions could lead to a gas tank cracking?

Rare items indeed. I appreciate all the links, but what a lot of people don't realize is much like merchandise is rebranded from china, a lot of these salvage yard searches are all based off of the same salvage yard search engine, but recolored, re-logoed etc... I use car-part.com and you will notice the exact same worded search results from there in other sites. Basically I called several in my search results in LA and all .. yeah ALL told me the tanks had been sitting there too long and that they wouldn't sell'em to me because they sat on the shelf for too many years. Thereafter I noticed at least 5 of the ones I called delisted them from the web.

However, there is some light at the end of the tunnel. Someone at the shop I have my van at suggested a LOCAL junk yard that I didn't even know existed... and low and behold they had/have one in stock still on a Windstar sitting there. I bought it earlier today for $145 and I will pick it up locally next week.

On top of that, I found the ONLY other tank I could find on the entire internet (ebay) that would ship it to me via special freight (hazmat). In any case last night I bought the one on ebay, not knowing about the one at the local salvage yard. So now I will have a backup tank and I may keep and repair my old one too if they will save it for me.

Like Windstartled said... the hazmat stuff is a real pain in the a$$. Its very silly to me honestly... all they have to do is clean and dry the tank and package it well ... but whatever. I just feel like so many used GOOD tanks have gone to waste because of the federal government's rules... .most of the junk yards just trash the tanks (found this out from phone calls due to this) and again most junk yards will not ship these.

In any case I thank you all for your input and help and again if anyone else knows of a good stockpile of fuel tanks anywhere, keep the posts coming.

[Windstartled]

Originally Posted by searcherrr

[b]In any case I thank you all for your input and help and again if anyone else knows of a good stockpile of fuel tanks anywhere, keep the posts coming.

Oh I can tell you where you could get at least 20 used tanks but that's because I live near one of the largest salvage yards in North America, if not the largest. It is part of the LKQ network, which also operates large yards in the US, they are the largest supplier of used parts in North America. While they will not sell you a used fuel tank off their shelves, they will let you purchase it if you remove it yourself from a vehicle on their lot and sign a waiver, and won't offer a warranty like they do for most parts. But hey, it's not that hard to tell if a tank is good or not once you pull it out the vehicle. In some states LKQ uses the name Keystone, or LKQ Keystone. I don't know if there is one in Louisiana but it's worth checking.

http://www.lkqcorp.com/

[12Ounce]

Some radiator repair shops also repair fuel tanks.

[wiswind]

The 20 Gallon tank was also for the 3.8L Windstar.
My '96 had a 20 gallon tank.
The 25 gallon tank was available as an option.....I think it came standard on the LX version also.
So...what that means is that there are MANY more 20 gallon tanks out there.
The only thing that you might need to do to put a 20 gallon tank on is different straps that hold the tank in place......but I don't know for sure if you need that or not.
Rockauto lists the fuel tank strap SET for the 20 gallon tank for $24.79.
As for the shorter cruising range.....I did fine with the 20 gallon tank, and the vast majority of folks with Windstars are doing the same.
YES, it is an adjustment....but one that you can make.
If I were you......and you can locate only a 20 gallon.....I would get it....and the strap set.
I looked up the fuel tank filler "neck".....the part that goes from the fuel tank up to the cap.....and they don't specify 20 gallon or 25 gallon.....same for the lock wring (holds fuel pump in place).
That would imply that these parts are the same between the 2 sizes.

In short......the LX units should have a 25 gallon tank.........and the MAJORITY of the rest will have the 20 Gallon tank.