Ways to prevent a exploding tank?

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I have welded many gas tanks without exploding by putting a flex pipe from a running engine into the fill hole to fill the tank with carbon monoxide . I know some guys fill the tank with water but was wondering if anyone had a better way to do it,as most of the time with me its a aluminum tank from a boat with a cracked seam. Just wondering?   Jims Welding
Reply:I have welded many fuel (gasoline & diesel) tanks with the method you use with fuel still standing in the tanks. I learned the method in a local college class many years ago. After explaining the method to a class, I was shown an MSDS on gasoline, diesel and then carbon monoxide. It just so happens that carbon monoxide is MORE explosive than the fuels. The theory is that carbon monoxide replaces the oxygen in the tanks and prevents an explosion. This theory seems to work as I have personally used it hundreds of times...BUT!!Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize we cannot eat money.                                         -Cree Indian ProverbSA 200 LincolnVictor Torches
Reply:Over the last few years, this subject has been discussed ad nauseam. If you do a little searching, you should be able to find much more than you'll want to read. Lots of warnings.BTW, there is very little CO in most exhaust; it's CO2, N2 and water vapor primarily.
Reply:Hello Gremlin, here's one for your consideration. Empty the tank and fill it with enough water so that you can put some dry ice in it. The resulting "fog" will provide a large enough dose of CO2 to prevent any sort of combustion from taking place. Not my trick personally but one that I am familiar with. Best regards, Allanaevald