sealing the sender......

[chin up]

Dear all, the temporary repair on my petrol tank sender has reminded me that it is time to fix it properly by leaking everywhere. The car is up on axle stands and the tank is drained while I clean all the components.

My question is this. Is there a petrol resistant sealant available for use as a sort of assembly paste to ensure no leaks when the tank is full?

If not, I was going to put a smear of vaseline on the sealing rubber washer, and pray! I have to say that I am not too confident of a petrol tight seal.
I say that as the flange and three-tabbed sliding ring that exert the pressure on the sender unit to seal it to the tank look a bit.... well, mangled.

It may be time in that case for a new tank - watch out wallet!! (Unless anyone has any good tips/ideas??)

OK, thanks for looking, if you know anything at all about this job, and how to make it a success, I would love to hear from you.

Cheers, chin up.

[Dave_H]

quote:Dear all, the temporary repair on my petrol tank sender has reminded me that it is time to fix it properly by leaking everywhere. The car is up on axle stands and the tank is drained while I clean all the components.

My question is this. Is there a petrol resistant sealant available for use as a sort of assembly paste to ensure no leaks when the tank is full?

If not, I was going to put a smear of vaseline on the sealing rubber washer, and pray! I have to say that I am not too confident of a petrol tight seal.
I say that as the flange and three-tabbed sliding ring that exert the pressure on the sender unit to seal it to the tank look a bit.... well, mangled.

It may be time in that case for a new tank - watch out wallet!! (Unless anyone has any good tips/ideas??)

OK, thanks for looking, if you know anything at all about this job, and how to make it a success, I would love to hear from you.

Cheers, chin up.

Try using JBWeld - £4.99 at Halfords, if you clean all surfaces up and leave it overnight to set it lasts for years.

Don't buy the JB "Kwick" Weld though, I've found it dosnt last as long plus it only stands 150 degrees temp rather than the normal JBWeld that stands 300 degrees, s it's great for exhaust repairs as well.

Cheers,

Dave.

[chin up]

Thanks for the reply, Dave. I do have the j&b stuff, but shyed away from using it to meld everything together as it will make disassembly in the future nigh on impossible.

Of course, if there's no other solution I will use your method before getting a new/recon tank!!

Cheers, chin up.

[PeterC]

Have had same problems myself when attempting repair of sender. I would comment back as follws:

1. You can buy from TVR (got mine through TMS) a new locking ring and gasket. Only costs a couple of pounds.

2. Have tried vaseline smeared on new components which seemed to work OK. However, I am now using the red gasket sealing compound - something I had in the garage anyway and suggests to be resistant to petrol.

[daved407]

In the past i have used welseal between metal fuel tank and the rubber gasket, it comes in a tube and is a brown coloured liquid/paste. Its never let me down.

[tav]

I dont know if the sealing gasket is real rubber or some sort of compound, but I'm fairly sure vaseline causes real rubber to deteriorate fairly quickly. Might be tricky explaining why you have to take a pot of KY jelly into the garage to 'sort the car out' though.

[mhibbins]

Trouble with your big-end sir?

[chin up]

No it's my leaking ring that's the trouble!!
Well, in the end time pressure took over, and I called the makers of 'blue hylomar', who said that their product is petrol resistant (like the red stuff as well....)

So, I wanged it all back together and we shall see.

Thanks very much everyone for your replies..

chin up