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MG TD TF 1500 - Gas Tank connections sealer to use

I'm about to install the gas tank on my '53 TD and am wondering about using any sealer at the connections or on the gaskets. What is recommended for the Sending Unit assembly to the tank? I plan to use the rubber seal/gasket that Peter Edney sells. Should this be used with any sealer, or should it be assembled dry? Should there be any sealer on the threads of the 6 screws that hold the Sending Unit to the tank? And what about the installation of the Fuel Line Adaptor connecting the fuel line to the tank at the bottom of the tank? Should the washer and/or threads be installed using any sealer? What is the recommendation/experience of others?

Thank you. Mike
M Marini

I just completed this work a few weeks ago. All connections are leak free. I used a thin smear of Permatex Ultra Black Gasket Maker (source: Napa) on both sides of the sender unit cork gasket. (Cork previously soaked in motor oil for days.)

I put a small amount of Ultra Black on each screw starting about 1/4" back and continuing to the screw head. This was to make sure there were no leaks around the screw heads, as the screws penetrate into the tank.

I used Gasoila non-hardening thread sealer (obtained from a full service plumbing supply store) on the threads of the fittings at the bottom of the tank. For more details about Gasoila, consult the archives.

Larry
Larry Shoer

On the sending unit I used a hand cut gasket from an oil/gas resistant gasket material from a local parts place. I used Permatiex on each side. When I tightened the 6 screws, i literally did about a 1/4 turn a screw and just kept going around. (I had been told many times it is easy to warp the unit).
Don't remember using anything on the drain and fuel line connection.
gblawson(gordon)

Put a little of whatever type sealer you chose on the threads and under the heads of the sending unit mounting screws. They go through the flanges and tend to leak also.

FWIW

Dallas
D C Congleton

Mike, the couple rubber sender seals I have seen turned into jello after a few months. The only thing I would use are the beautiful aviation-material gaskets from Abingdon Spares. They are some type of hard, green stuff that won't compress. The cork will compress, the metal bends under the screw heads and it starts to leak in my experience. George
George Butz

Goerge,

In theory the cork should work, since that was the original material used to make the seal. When I reassembled my sender unit the cork gasket had actually been soaking in 20 wt motor oil for a couple of weeks (waiting for everything else in the project to come together). I used a thin smear of Permatex on both sides of the cork and on the screws as noted above. I alternately snugged the screws on opposite sides around the sender unit flange. I did not overly torque down the screws. All this sounds more complicated than it really was. All is leak-tight at the present time and I'm optimistic it will hold.

Larry
Larry Shoer

Hi Larry, Yes, I think the cork will be OK. Not the rubber however! George
George Butz

This thread was discussed between 13/06/2008 and 15/06/2008

MG TD TF 1500 index

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