XSPEC 30 litre diesel tank – leaking seal

[TheDocAUS]

The yellow XSPEC 30 litre diesel tank is mounted on XSPEC Window Utility Frame. These tanks come with an integrated funnel/spout/pourer in the cap. When the tank is sealed, the funnel points inside the tank. If you are pouring out fuel manually, the funnel is reversed and it gives you a funnel to go into the car filler neck.

WORD OF CAUTION: when the funnel is inside the tank make sure the funnel is flat against the opening and not at any angle, even a slight one. I recently had a small diesel leak out of my tank. I stopped and found a small amount of diesel across the back of the car, when doping a walk around. I thought the cap may have come loose, it was tight. Off I went.

I kept a close eye on the tank and it was leaking again. I stopped. The cap was not loose and everything looked sealed, until I undid the cap. When I did that, I could see the funnel was not flat against the container opening, leaving a very small gap in the rubber seal – the source of the leak. It was not visible until I undid the cap.

I am now sourcing a cap without a funnel to avoid this problem. XHQ are helping. I will put the funnel cap in the car if I need it - I normally use the electric fuel pump. This way I can always ensure a good seal when putting on the cap.

LESSON: check the car when you stop to find these issues early.

The red 20 litre XSPEC Petrol tank also has a reversible funnel.

Petrol model

 

[Tazzieman]

To add, the rubber seals in these types of funnelled tanks are IME a bit suspect. And when exposed to heat/UV/compression or accidental pinching, deterioration is inevitable.
Might be worth sourcing Viton ones for anything mounted to a vehicle. At least carry a spare.

 

[TheDocAUS]

To add, the rubber seals in these types of funnelled tanks are IME a bit suspect. And when exposed to heat/UV/compression or accidental pinching, deterioration is inevitable.
Might be worth sourcing Viton ones for anything mounted to a vehicle. At least carry a spare.

Tanks are made in Australia {EDIT: apparently not}, but I cannot find the details. I have in the past.

I am after a spare for both tanks, preferably with no spout.

I will also source some Viton gaskets, when I know sizes. EDIT: 40mm is the outer diameter of the gasket. The outer diameter of the cap is 50mm.

 

[m16magni]

Yes, I've had a bad experience with that sort of funnel/seal on a plastic fuel jerry. The seal is prone to stretching as it ages and won't seal the funnel.
A soon as mine arrived from XHQ I realised that the seal and funnel used are also not a standard size so I got online and ordered a spare kit from AliExpress.
I am pretty sure the tanks are not made in Australia. There is no place of manufacture stamped on the tank but if you read the warning labels stamped on it, the English appears to be translated from another language.
The manufacturer is 'Long-Haul' and I bought a second tank online which proved to be identical to the XHQ one when it arrived. I just had to pay a few bucks for the locksmith to match the locks from the second tank to the keys from the first tank.
The tanks work really well with the XSpec mount, especially using an electric pump on the driver side. However, I was a little disappointed that you can't put 30L into them when they are mounted sideways on the vehicle, but 26L is still better than the standard 20L jerry.
Viton is a good idea and I will also have a look for a seal in that, but it might be easier just to find a cap and o-ring that fits.

 

[TheDocAUS]

Yes, I've had a bad experience with that sort of funnel/seal on a plastic fuel jerry. The seal is prone to stretching as it ages and won't seal the funnel.
A soon as mine arrived from XHQ I realised that the seal and funnel used are also not a standard size so I got online and ordered a spare kit from AliExpress.
I am pretty sure the tanks are not made in Australia. There is no place of manufacture stamped on the tank but if you read the warning labels stamped on it, the English appears to be translated from another language.
The manufacturer is 'Long-Haul' and I bought a second tank online which proved to be identical to the XHQ one when it arrived. I just had to pay a few bucks for the locksmith to match the locks from the second tank to the keys from the first tank.
The tanks work really well with the XSpec mount, especially using an electric pump on the driver side. However, I was a little disappointed that you can't put 30L into them when they are mounted sideways on the vehicle, but 26L is still better than the standard 20L jerry.
Viton is a good idea and I will also have a look for a seal in that, but it might be easier just to find a cap and o-ring that fits.

Did you find cap without the funnel?

I have ordered Viton gaskets. I will confirm they fit before you buy them.

You can only get in 26 litres when mounted. If you fill the tanks up off the car, you can get close to 30 litres in. But it means you need to take them off again to empty them into the car.

 

[m16magni]

Did you find cap without the funnel?

I have ordered Viton gaskets. I will confirm they fit before you buy them.

You can only get in 26 litres when mounted. If you fill the tanks up off the car, you can get close to 30 litres in. But it means you need to take them off again to empty them into the car.

I need to take the cap down to the plumbing section at Bunnings to find out what the thread is.
Yes ...too much effort for me to lift the full tank above my shoulders every time I want to fill or empty it so in my case the convenience of filling and emptying it mounted is well worth 4L....It's a sad thing old age!