Teflon Plumbing Tape - fuelproof?

[randy]

Anyone know if it is? I've seen discussions about teflon tape and brake fluid, (NG) but none about teflon tape and fuel.

[Elevener]

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=teflon+tape+fuel

Ha, not trying to be a smarta$$, .....ok maybe I am

[CatatonicBug]

I seem to remember someone on here doing an actual experiment on this topic. I'm not sure what the results were though...

[Yard Dogg]

I wouldn't think so. I have saw a sealant you can use on intake manifolds that is impervious to gas. It comes in a little can with a brush built into the lid kind of like a pvc glue can. Check the bottom shelf at your local automotive store. It's usually one of those things that's out of view. It has copper in it. I've also used copper spray sealant meant for head gaskets and exhaust manifolds on intakes, it seemed to hold up pretty good. It doesn't say if it's meant for gas though.

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...1759&ppt=C0137
http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...1759&ppt=C0137

[fredintoon]

Anyone know if it is? I've seen discussions about teflon tape and brake fluid, (NG) but none about teflon tape and fuel.

Hi Randy,
teflon (PolyTetraFlouroEthylene)is just about inert so the nastiest of modern gas shouldn't bother it.
Radiation does it in though.

[Larrym]

The Teflon Tape Cycle?

Randy,

I'm the one doing the real-world testing on teflon tape and fuel:

http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread...ter#post229969

This month will be the 6 month benchmark and so far it's not dissolved into a pile of goo.


(Don't tell anybody but it's all smoke and mirrors. I know that I could keep it immersed for 5 years and it would still be unaffected by the fuel.)

Thing is that would make the average Joe say, "Yup. Gonna use it." Unfortunately being impervious to fuel isn't teflon tape's only feature: It's THIXOTROPIC.

Translation: when compressed it flows like peanut butter but very slowly like a glacier. So when it "Flows" out due to the pressure between the surfaces and no longer applies enough pressure between the sealing surfaces to keep the fuel contained............


"WTF?? Gotta take the fuel fitting apart and wrap it with teflon tape again."

It's a good thing if you own stock in the company that makes it:

Hangzhou Vantage Plastics Co Ltd

Gotta make them dividends and be prepared for retirement, eh??

[randy]

I'm looking for something to backup the seal for the float bowl drain screws, so there's no pressure there. I got new drain screws, but they didn't come with washers. The old washers are chewed up enough to be a concern.

[red bandit]

I used teflon tape on a carb drain bolt/plug on my tractor 15 years ago. Still no leak.

[79XS11F]

Try the yellow gas fitters type. You can get it at Home Depot.
Rob

[T99Ford]

Teflon tape works well against most chemicals, and will not dissolve in gasoline. The key is in application. The most common use of this tape is in plumbing. However, in plumbing, one is sealing NPT threads. The majority of the sealing on an NPT fitting is created by the taper, or wedge shape of the threads when they are cut, and not by the sealant applied. You will notice that pipe taps and dies are tapered to create this wedge. This is why tightening a loose pipe thread fitting is effective. It forces the wedge tighter together. The teflon only serves to fill the minor imperfections in the threads, and serves doubly to make sure that you can take it apart again.
You will frustrate yourself trying to seal a straight thread with teflon, as that is not its intended purpose (for instance the fuel bowl drain on the XS). Like most things, sealants are largely application specific, and must be used accordingly to achieve any level of success. You might be better served at the bowl drain sealing by finding someone with a copper washer assortment. The bowl drains actually seal against the bottom flange, not the threads themselves, so applying sealant at the threads will most likely not work. The copper washers will crush at the flange and mold over whatever imperfections exist in both mating surfaces. Most auto parts stores should have them; they are like the kind used commonly in brake system sealing.

Hope this helps.

[TomRodgers]

Ford is right.... NOT a good solution...but i had to use silicone on one when one of my children misplaced it after cleaning a set of carbs.....after it set up, it was easy to remove when i found it about a week later (actually SWMBO found it in the washing machine....and she was NOT happy about it!!!)

you could also make new washers out of gasket material... just use old shell casings as a cutting tool to make purty little circles!!!!

[DenyP]

I'm looking for something to backup the seal for the float bowl drain screws, so there's no pressure there. I got new drain screws, but they didn't come with washers. The old washers are chewed up enough to be a concern.

I took a bowl screw into the local hardware store and matched up replacement fiber washers. Works great!

Deny

[dbeardslee]

Randy - teflon is pretty tough stuff, and will hold up fine with gas. I've had it sealing my petcocks and their fuel taps for a couple years, and I also use it on my speed bleeders. Before I used it on the brakes I immersed some in brake fluid for a couple weeks - didn't touch it. I figured if it will hold up to brake fluid, it should handle about anything. I used the stuff right out of the plumbing isle at the local Ace Hardware/Motorcycle Parts.

[randy]

My cup runneth over...

Well, I was able to locate the correct sealing washer for the float bowl drains...now I have a boatload! I'll never use 'em all, so if someone needs a set, let me know.

[Yahman]

Hi Randy,

I could use 8 of them, let me know how much and how to pay?

Thanks,
Larry