I have had the car in our car port for the last 2 days while I work on it, so it hasn't moved. There has been a strong smell of petrol which is just getting stronger. I figured maybe the breather is blocked or something and was going to have a look.

I put my head under it and there is a big pool of petrol on the drivers side just under the filler. This explains the smell and why I've been getting bad milage from it then !

The car has almost a full tank of fuel, what the best way of emptying it?

I was thinking to release the feed Lon from the spi unit and run the pump until it's empty. Is this a bad idea?

Also, I'm planning to just take the tank and filler part off and see what's going on when it's off the car as I can't get it far off the floor to work under it properly.

Any tips on removing it? Is it self explanatory when I'm under there?

Thanks guys.

That idea of running the pump is probably the easiest way to drain it providing you have something to put it into.

Removing the tank is pretty straight forward, undo the hoses from under the back seat, loosen the boot from inside the filler cap then remove the 17mm and 13mm nut that hold the strap and the tank in place. Then with a bit of wiggling it should come out.

Fantatastic, sounds straight forward enough :)

I have an empty oil drum to put the fuel into, but I'm certain that most of it has leaked out already.

The fuel gauge has been temperamental since I got it and I attempted to remove the sender to clean the contact track but couldn't get the sender out.

Does it twist out? What's the best way of twisting it

I have read about the tanks leaking a lot, do they tend to leak in a certain place?

Thanks buddy

it will be leaking around where it bends to join into the tank on the filler neck , they all rust like a good un

just replace it with a new one , german ebay often has them at okay prices , dont be talked into any repair paste rubbish

To get the lift pump/sender unit out just a sharp hit with a screwdriver and hammer in and anti-clockwise direction should get it free.

As Steveo says new tanks aren't that expensive so well worth the money to buy a new one. Then coat it in a few layers of POR15 to protect it.

Or epoxy 121..

id go with epoxy too

plenty of whatever you decide is the best rust preventive , then jet wash or hose that area often in the rough weather

This area has proven a pain in the back side for so many of us..

mines on its 3rd tank

The last 2 Polos I've bought have required replacement fuel tanks. Seems to be getting just as common as the battery tray needing welded.

Thanks guys.

I was hopi there was a rubber hose between the the filler neck and tank that had perished etc, but sadly it's not :(

I see a tank on eBay for £85+ delivery is that an okay price?

I will deffinatly coat it, epoxy sounds like a good choice.

May be a stupid question but aren't there any plastic tank options?

no theres not a plastic tank available

85 sounds about right ...be aware the carb and inj ones are differant so make sure you get the right one

Only difference is the 2 feed pipes on the back. The carb ones still work on the injection models if you loop those pipes together....also last time I checked they were cheaper.

Good info, it was in fact for a carb model.

The hole in the tank is literally a pin how above where the filler neck enters the tank.

The filler neck if ever has about 7 tiny holes in it under the mass of rusty flakes.

I also took off the fuel pump assembly to try and clean it up and fit a new filter and if needed new pipes. I noticed there was still around 1.5 - 2 litres still in the tank so I used the external pump with a longer bit of pipe to suck it out. The pump ran for about 30 seconds then slowly died.

It does not spin any more even when connected to a full charged battery.

Would a faulty fuel pump cause mid range flat spots? I have a feeling it was slowly going bad and causing other issues.

I haven't found specific pumps for the polo, but I have found this generic one eBay item number 252132117493

Would this fit and work okay? Or am I better of hunting down the correct one?

If it is a mk2f and has an electric fuel pump then it is a fuel injection model not a carb.

As long as the litres per hour is roughly the same as the standard Polo pump then I don't see why it shouldn't work. I can't remember what the SPI pumps are rated at though :(

Great :)

I meant the tank on eBay that I found turned out to be for a carb model. As you said it's just a case of connecting the 2 ports together but figured I may as well see if I can find one that's for injection if it's the same money.

I will probably go round the breakers on Monday and find a similar vag Bosch pump if I can, not really wanting to go for a cheaper one on such an important part at least with an original you know it will dies after 20 years not 20 minutes

Thanks again guys

There is also the pipe that loops through the drivers side rear behind the rear *door card* couldn't think any other name lol if this hasent been mentioned already

There is also the pipe that loops through the drivers side rear behind the rear *door card* couldn't think any other name lol if this hasent been mentioned already

The pipe of doom?

Edited 17 January, 201610 yr by schneil

Lol probs! I remember trying to get my tank of old polo and it just would not drop then realised that pipe