I couldn't find a place to post this, so I put it here - well, it's connected to electrical thingies!

I've got a CA/Smiths fuel tank sender. This has a nice thick rubber washer to go between it and the tank.

Do I need to use any sealant, and if so, what?

Originally I used silicone, but this turned to squishy jelly, so I'm not using that again!

David

Hi David

I had to use a selant to stop the sender leaking with a full tank, i use red instant gasket from halford

Adrian

Does red Instant gasket resist petrol?

I alwas thought instant gasket said something like "not for use with petrol .......... or cylinder heads" on the packet.


Am I wrong?

Hi

It says petrol resistant on the tube

Adrian

Hi David,

I would use a rubber gasket dry.

If a sealant is used it acts as a lubricant when you do up the bolts, alowing the rubber to squish out sideways.
You find when you dismantle an old rubber joint it has stuck to the metal anyway.
If you do use a sealer, lightly tighten, then fully tighten when set.


Paul G

I tried the rubber gasket dry, but when you tighten the screws it distorted the sender and tank slightly and only squashed the gasket under the screws. Petrol pissed out

Adrian

Hi Adrian,

What is the thickness of your tank flange?
I find it strange that the tank distorted.
Did you tap the flange or use self tappers?

Paul G

In my case, I just have a hole in the (very hard) aluminium sheet - no flange. I'm using self-tappers, which seem to have worked OK. In the instructions it actually says to do the screws up firmly, but not too tight.

Paul, I tried using a gasket sealant last night and got precisely the effect you describe! Stripped it all down, cleaned it off and started again, but dry. Mind you, after cleaning the rubber still had a slightly sticky feel.

We'll have to see what happens when I fill it up...

David