Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Model A (1928-31)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 08-10-2022, 03:44 PM   #1
1930artdeco
Senior Member
 
1930artdeco's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Lynden, Wa
Posts: 3,548
Default Gas gauge gaskets

Hi I can’t remember but do I use sealant on the gaskets for the gas gauge?

Mike
__________________
1930 TownSedan (Briggs)
1957 Country Sedan
1930artdeco is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-10-2022, 03:47 PM   #2
alexiskai
Senior Member
 
alexiskai's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Mebane NC
Posts: 2,329
Default Re: Gas gauge gaskets

Red book sez, "Do not use sealant on either of the sight glass gaskets."
alexiskai is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 08-10-2022, 04:26 PM   #3
fundytides
Senior Member
 
fundytides's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: New Brunswick, Canada
Posts: 476
Default Re: Gas gauge gaskets

After reading lots of older posts and getting current advise, I used a little bit of Maple Syrup on mine and it worked fine. The consensus seems to be that the maple syrup reacts with gasoline to form a leak-proof seal. Your experience may vary!
fundytides is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-10-2022, 05:04 PM   #4
Big hammer
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Land of Lincoln
Posts: 3,114
Default Re: Gas gauge gaskets

A little grease!
__________________
Don't force it with a little hammer tap, tap, tap
get a bigger hammer tap done
Big hammer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-10-2022, 05:22 PM   #5
psimet
Senior Member
 
psimet's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2021
Location: Elgin, IL
Posts: 159
Default Re: Gas gauge gaskets

Interesting. I put mine together a year ago and it leaked IIRC. I vaguely remember talking to Ken Ehrenhofer who said to put some of the black sealant on. I could be mistaken but pretty sure it was him. I did and it worked great.
psimet is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-10-2022, 06:17 PM   #6
ursus
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Oregon
Posts: 1,369
Default Re: Gas gauge gaskets

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
I prefer to use a fuel resistant non-hardening sealant such as Permatex High Temp Thread Sealant.
ursus is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-10-2022, 06:18 PM   #7
JoeCB
Senior Member
 
JoeCB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Farmington MI
Posts: 281
Default Re: Gas gauge gaskets

Quote:
Originally Posted by fundytides View Post
After reading lots of older posts and getting current advise, I used a little bit of Maple Syrup on mine and it worked fine. The consensus seems to be that the maple syrup reacts with gasoline to form a leak-proof seal. Your experience may vary!
I have heard to use molasses; I did and no leaks. I guess the same idea as with maple syrup, the sugar is not soluble in gasoline. may be why the nasty trick of "sugar in the fuel tank" disabled a car.
Also , thinking ... Maple syrup if you live up north and molasses for the folks down south.
A suspect that any sealant that is hydrocarbon based will eventually fail after long time emersion in gasoline.

Joe B
JoeCB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-10-2022, 06:54 PM   #8
Ivan in southeast va.
Senior Member
 
Ivan in southeast va.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Portsmouth, Virginia
Posts: 303
Default Re: Gas gauge gaskets

Quote:
Originally Posted by big hammer View Post
a little grease!
x 2
Ivan in southeast va. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-10-2022, 07:02 PM   #9
Synchro909
Senior Member
 
Synchro909's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 7,471
Default Re: Gas gauge gaskets

Quote:
Originally Posted by JoeCB View Post
A suspect that any sealant that is hydrocarbon based will eventually fail after long time emersion in gasoline.

Joe B
For years, Car makers used plastic fuel tanks. Neoprene is hydrocarbon based, yet it is fuel safe and yes, cork is hydrogen and carbon based - it is organic. These are just a few that popped into my head and there will be other examples of gasoline proof hydrocarbons.
I think your suspicions are unfounded, fortunately.
__________________
I'm part of the only ever generation with an analogue childhood and a digital adulthood.
Synchro909 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-10-2022, 07:10 PM   #10
1930artdeco
Senior Member
 
1930artdeco's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Lynden, Wa
Posts: 3,548
Default Re: Gas gauge gaskets

Thanks, it has been so long since I had to change out the float I could not remember.

Mike
__________________
1930 TownSedan (Briggs)
1957 Country Sedan
1930artdeco is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-11-2022, 08:50 AM   #11
bearbait
Junior Member
 
bearbait's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2021
Location: Kalamazoo, MI
Posts: 9
Default Re: Gas gauge gaskets

I put in a new float last season only with the supplied gaskets in the kit...no leaks yet!
bearbait is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-11-2022, 09:32 AM   #12
goodcar
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 292
Default Re: Gas gauge gaskets

Quote:
Originally Posted by 1930artdeco View Post
Hi I can’t remember but do I use sealant on the gaskets for the gas gauge?

Mike
In addition to all the sealant advice, use cork gaskets. Neoprene guaranteed to leak.
goodcar is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-11-2022, 10:17 AM   #13
1930artdeco
Senior Member
 
1930artdeco's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Lynden, Wa
Posts: 3,548
Default Re: Gas gauge gaskets

I changed it out and will fill it up tonight to check for leaks. And yes I don't trust neoprene gaskets to save my life.

Mike
__________________
1930 TownSedan (Briggs)
1957 Country Sedan
1930artdeco is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-11-2022, 10:23 AM   #14
Tom Endy
Senior Member
 
Tom Endy's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Southern California
Posts: 3,122
Default Re: Gas gauge gaskets

The secret to prevent a leak is to use additional brass rings.

Tom Endy


https://www.santaanitaas.org/wp-cont...uge-Repair.pdf
Tom Endy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-11-2022, 10:24 AM   #15
rotorwrench
Senior Member
 
rotorwrench's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 16,367
Default Re: Gas gauge gaskets

Nitrile rubber also know as Buna-N or Butadiene was developed before WWII for use in seals and o-rings for petroleum products and aeromatic hydrocarbons or fuels. It is still used for some applications in aviation but has been slowly replaced by fluorocarbon and fluorosilicone elastomers with the latter being most common for fuels. These types have over 20-year shelf life capability so the change over in aviation was for that reason. Fluorocarbon elastomer is also known as Viton as a trade name but patents expired years ago.

Cork gaskets are generally granulated pieces of cork bonded together by some form of elastomer so not all cork gaskets are good fuel gaskets. Neoprene or polychloroprene is an elastomer that is very hard and durable after it has been vulcanized. It's good for oils, alcohols, and a few other mild solvents but not so good with modern gasolene. If the cork is bonded with neoprene then it may not last long. If it's bonded with nitrile rubber then it should be OK. The problem is that it is difficult to tell what the bond material is since they both look alike.
rotorwrench is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-11-2022, 11:36 AM   #16
goodcar
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 292
Default Re: Gas gauge gaskets

Quote:
Originally Posted by rotorwrench View Post
Nitrile rubber also know as Buna-N or Butadiene was developed before WWII for use in seals and o-rings for petroleum products and aeromatic hydrocarbons or fuels. It is still used for some applications in aviation but has been slowly replaced by fluorocarbon and fluorosilicone elastomers with the latter being most common for fuels. These types have over 20-year shelf life capability so the change over in aviation was for that reason. Fluorocarbon elastomer is also known as Viton as a trade name but patents expired years ago.

Cork gaskets are generally granulated pieces of cork bonded together by some form of elastomer so not all cork gaskets are good fuel gaskets. Neoprene or polychloroprene is an elastomer that is very hard and durable after it has been vulcanized. It's good for oils, alcohols, and a few other mild solvents but not so good with modern gasolene. If the cork is bonded with neoprene then it may not last long. If it's bonded with nitrile rubber then it should be OK. The problem is that it is difficult to tell what the bond material is since they both look alike.
I'm not a scientist, all I know is that I tried the neoprene gaskets sold by Snyders and others. A year later they started leaking. I replaced them with cork, don't know what the composition was. Probably lucked out and got good ones. That was several years ago. They haven't leaked. Just my experience.
goodcar is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-11-2022, 12:09 PM   #17
The Master Cylinder
Senior Member
 
The Master Cylinder's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 875
Default Re: Gas gauge gaskets

Quote:
Originally Posted by Big hammer View Post
A little grease!
I use a little grease also. I don't like using any sealant if I don't have to. It just makes it hard on the next guy (probably me!) to get it apart and cleaned up next time That is what the gasket is for.

I use Buta-N/cork gaskets.
__________________
The Master Cylinder

Enjoying life at the beach in SoCal...
The Master Cylinder is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-11-2022, 12:43 PM   #18
JayJay
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 1,043
Default Re: Gas gauge gaskets

I use cork gaskets with a thin coating of Hylomar Universal Blue on each side. I also use (as Tom E suggests) two brass rings to allow slippage between them as the ring is tightened. 100% success.

It's also important to get the back (sealing) side of the glass thoroughly clean and smooth. Putting it in with even the slightest amount of residue (like from the last guy that put it together with Permatex ;-) ) is tempting fate.

JayJay
__________________
JayJay
San Francisco Bay Area

------------------------
1930 Murray Town Sedan
1931 Briggs S/W Town Sedan
JayJay is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-11-2022, 08:05 PM   #19
CarlG
Senior Member
 
CarlG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Posts: 9,109
Default Re: Gas gauge gaskets

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom Endy View Post
The secret to prevent a leak is to use additional brass rings.

Tom Endy


https://www.santaanitaas.org/wp-cont...uge-Repair.pdf
Those little brass rings work quite well on leaky radiator caps as well.
__________________
Alaskan A's
Antique Auto Mushers of Alaska
Model A Ford Club of America
Model A Restorers Club
Antique Automobile Club of America
Mullins Owner's Club
CarlG is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-12-2022, 07:08 AM   #20
old31
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,088
Default Re: Gas gauge gaskets

Quote:
Originally Posted by ursus View Post
I prefer to use a fuel resistant non-hardening sealant such as Permatex High Temp Thread Sealant.
x2. I agree 100%.
old31 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:26 AM.