Sealant for diesel fuel gauge?

[PetiteFleur]

I fitted a mechanical fuel gauge to my Plastimo plastic tank last year & thought I had made a good seal using the supplied cork gasket. However I overfilled my tank a week ago and it is now seeping diesel via this gasket. Which gasket/goo is suitable for resealing this gasket?

 

[lenseman]

It really depends on how you intend to try and fix the problem.

The correct method is to drain down, replace gasket with a new one. and if I were doing it, I would use 'Hylomar' (the blue jointing compound sold under licence from Rolls Royce).

If on the other hand you just intend to cover the leak with a "Slap it on all over 'Enry' type of fix" then a 'two tube' compound from Halfords:

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/store...tegoryId_165691

The fact that you have fitted into a plastic fuel tank might suggest that the tank walls flex as the tank is filled? You might have to think whether a rigid sealant will do the job long term?

I would go the Hylomar route. /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

 

[PetiteFleur]

Thanks for the tip - I've got some Hylomar somewhere in my shed and do have a new cork gasket so I'll try that route first. The gauge is fitted in the top in the correct place so I'm asuming it's stiff enough.

 

[lenseman]

OK Dick, glad it is in the top, won't need much draining down. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Does it have a gasket on both the inside and out?. Might be worth while using Hylomar on both sides but you will need to use a cleaning agent (meths) before applying the Hylomar.

Also, if you have cut a hole in the plastic tank, make sure there are no whiskers of plastic around the hole, especially on the inside which might be effecting the seal?

I might see you up a Felixstowe Ferry as I have a job to do on a yacht up there soon.

In a previous life I was an RAC Engineer and Hylomar was the jointing compound of choice. The Hermetite (Green or Red) were too horrid to even contemplate! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Awful stuff! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif