Fuel safe sealant

[glengold]

I recently replaced my fuel gauge and sender. The sender came with a cork seal which i used, the problem is that all of the holes didn't line up perfectly. a few of the screws are in at an angle and I believe that one isn't there at all. When I fill the tank up all the way I have gas leaking out of one side of the mounted sender. My question is what would be a safe material to use to help seal this leak. I thought about drilling the holes in the sender so they'd all line up then filling in the bad holes with JBWeld. However, I am unsure to its reaction with gas. Also i thought if i used some thread sealer on the ones that aren't straight that it may stop the leak, again I'm unsure to its reaction with gasoline. Anyone have some ideas?? Its a plastic gas tank with the cork seal and the metal sender. Thanks guys

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: Fuel safe sealant

As I recall there are 5 holes on the fuel senders. You'd think they'd be evenly spaced, but they aren't. There's one and only one way for those holes to line up, kind of sounds you fell into the same trap as many others with that.

 

[ajgraz]

Re: Fuel safe sealant

Is the cork seal still re-useable? Are you looking for something to coat the cork with, or something to replace the cork with?

 

[glengold]

Re: Fuel safe sealant

Is the cork seal still re-useable? Are you looking for something to coat the cork with, or something to replace the cork with?

Cork seal is fine, I just can't get all of the screws tight enough to keep it from leaking, so i thought there would be something I could put on the cork seal and the tank and the sender that is safe to use with fuel. The mount is off to one side of the tank so I can only mount it facing one way, so that the float doesn't hit the side of the tank and read empty all the time.

Anyone ever used some form of sealant around fuel? I thought marine clear sealant would get ate up from the fuel.

I will go check and see if I can get them to all line up one way but remember having to try different ways until I got it to where it is, with most of the holes lined up!

 

[starcraft1982]

Re: Fuel safe sealant

My mechanic told me he had always used "a product in a yellow tube w/red and black writing"and he loved it.Said he could no longer find it.Lo and behold,I was in DOLLAR GENERAL and happened to see a sealant in there for $2.50!Bought one and took to him.He was excstatic!Its called seal-all(i believe)and says right on the front of tube "gas and oil resistant.Should be all you need.Ive used it on my sender to tank seal and have had no issues whatsoever.I really like it and use for lots of things.hope you find it.

 

[glengold]

Re: Fuel safe sealant

starcraft, sounds like what I need, I just went out there and removed/ repositioned the sender. I made the float arm shorter bc it was only showing 1/4 tank when full. When reattaching to the fuel tank I had to add some washers to several of the screws. When i tightened them down i saw fuel spreading from the cork seal being compressed at each screw hole. Hopefully I'm good but will look for some seal all just to have in case.

BTW, there is nothing like the feeling of turning on the bilge and smelling/seeing gas, pretty scary. Thank God no one in the boat smoked cigarettes!!

 

[BF]

Re: Fuel safe sealant

ditto "Seal All"... yes, yellow/black/red tub and does well with gasoline. It can be found at auto parts places around here. I've heard of people using a glob of it on a sheet metal screw to seal small punctures in auto gas tanks. A friend did a road-side fix this way without even draining the tank, and it held for years later, until he sold the vehicle. BTW, also works pretty well for fixing small leaks in vinyl inflatable things (tubes, air mattresses etc), when rubber cement doesn't stick well.

http://www.biosafe-inc.com/sealall.htm

 

[donzi gt230]

Re: Fuel safe sealant

The old brown permatex #1 and #2 are good for gas. I've never seen one that wouldn't align, recheck that it's in the right position. As for danger, the bilge pump is probably more dangerous than someone on deck with a cigarette. Now that the pump has had gas through it I'd replace it. In my experiences, it WILL take a dump due to the gas eating the seal and letting water into the motor.

 

[glengold]

Re: Fuel safe sealant

so the bilge pump could have ignited the gas?? scary. Maybe I'll try rinsing the bilge and bilge pump out with some water. Other than that I could pick up another and have on board as a spare.