Suitable material for a gasket

[John_d_Smith]

I need to replace a gasket between my heater fuel tank and it's sender unit. The tank will be containing either diesel or Kerosene will silicone be ok?

 

[alan17]

I cannot see any problem with that. Just do not use excessive amount.

 

[Martin_J]

Solvol Blue Instant Gasket - Easy to find on the internet - It's sold in places like Halfords I seem to think. Never questioned the difference between that and unlabelled silicone sealant. But it says it's better quality, resilient to diesel and great for use on plastics.

 

[30boat]

Don't ever use silicone near petrol or diesel because these fuels will dissolve it.You should use a anaerobic gasket sealant wich is found in any motor parts dealear.Loctite and Holdtite make them.

 

[savageseadog]

I might consider using sikaflex

 

[maxi77]

Perhaps making one out of the proper material for the fluids involved would be the best solution

 

[lenseman]

There is one 'gasket' which has not been mentioned and it is the one I always use:

<span style="color:white"> ............ </span> <span style="color:red"> Hylomar </span>

Made under licence from Rolls Royce.

Perhaps I sould have spelt the word in blue? <span style="color:blue"> Hylomar </span> /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

 

[Avocet]

Does petrol / diesel really disolve silicone? I thought it was spectacularly inert?!

Also, are you replacing a gasket that had any particular thickness? In some applications, the thickness of the gasket is critical (like the cover plate on raw water pumps). If this application is similarly critical (doesn't sound like it), it's worth making yourself a gasket out of something about the same thickness. RS sell gasket paper in various thickneses. Just put the paper over the flange and rub hard with a grubby thumb or tap lightly with a small mallet - you get a nice impression of the flange underneath to cut round.

 

[30boat]

You can check for yourself.Petrol is a great silicone cleaner/remover.Diesel will also turn it into mush.Don't ask how I know.

 

[DinghyMan]

Try Frost's for both the gasket-in-a-tube and the real stuff

 

[Avocet]

Even when it has set? Now you mention it, I'm struggling to remember a time that I've used silicone in a fuel application but I've used plenty of it with mineral oil applications and no ill effect.

 

[30boat]

I used some automotive silicone gasket on a plastic diesel tank lid and had to clean it out soon after because it was desintegrating badly after only a week.I believe Sikaflex (polysulfide) would have worked because according to an article I read it was developed for the Mosquito plane fuel tanks .

 

[Refueler]

Good old fuel quality Hermetite.

or if really desperate .....

Cut out from Corn Flake packet and greased - as we did as youngsters on our m/bikes, scooters etc.

or cut-out from a thin cork tile, a thin sheet of rubber mat ...

Of course local Car Access. Shop may have suitable sheet of material to use ?

 

[Lakesailor]

Gasket Specialists Eriks UK

ERIKS UK
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