tank sender sealing

[alexblack13]

Hi guys,

Anybody got any surefire methods of sealing the sender unit on a st'd Lotus tank. I am about to start this winter's project which is a boot refurb and re-seal of the sender unit.. Again!! What's the best gasket to use etc?

Alex B ....

[GrUmPyBoDgEr]

I used the regular cork gasket absolutely smothered on every surface with 3-Bond 1209
The liquid sealant would have done the job on its own.

Still no problems 15 years later! (Oh dear, now why did I bloomin' well say that?)

Cheers
John

[alexblack13]

Thanks J ...



Al ' ...

[AHM]

Hi Alex,

Anything I put in the boot used to stink of petrol. So I got a new sender seal put some sealant on it - still smelt of petrol. So I got a new tank and a new seal and put some sealant on it, and it still smelt of petrol. so I got a new seal and didn't put any sealant on it, and it was much better.

When I got the S3 I put the old tank in that - thought you don't catch me out a 5th time - cork seal no sealant - almost no smell.

I don't think it is the cleverest design to have the sender in the middle on the side, so any sealant has to be ok to be submerged in petrol.

Tank in and out is a 5 minute job once you have the filler neck in/out.

[elanner]

Alex,

As per usual for me, I spent waaaay too looong trying to figure out what was the best way to ensure a good seal when I changed my broken sender last year. I got a new sender from Andy Wiltshire and it came with a cork gasket.

I figured that cork is flexible so the goo should have some give. And, of course, it needed to be impervious to petrol/gas. There were lots of conflicting opinions on the web, so in the end I wrote to Permatex. The reply was as follows:

>From: [email protected]
>
> Many Thanks for your interest in Permatex products . . . .
>
> Permatex makes a product called
> ..."MotoSeal #1 " Item # (P/N 29132 )
> . it is Impervious...To fuel ( Diesel or gasoline )
> ..it is a Polyethylene Rubber ... cures to a rubbery texture. And resist temperatures to 400 F

Googling Rene showed that he knows what he's talking about. It's available from Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Permatex-29132-Mo ... B000HBGHKE

I painted a thin layer on both sides and it worked just fine. No smell or anything.

Actually, it leaked like a sieve to start with, because the petrol came up the screw threads and out under the heads of the screws. So use some new fibre washers for the screws and some of the Permatex to make them leakproof too! The cork gasket + Permatex was perfect from the start.

Needless to say, we all like what works for us. I subsequently used it for a cam cover gasket. I think it might be good in a sandwich too.

Nick

[69S4]

I replaced the std cork gasket (couldn't get it at the time) with a diy one made from gasket paper ( 0.5mm so closer to gasket card) and used wellseal both sides - particularly around the screw holes. No leaks or smell and it's been years now.

[robertverhey]

I bought one of these, but haven't fitted it yet, so can't vouch for its sealing abilities

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/MINI-MG-TR-L ... d33&_uhb=1

[GrUmPyBoDgEr]

Going back to my solution & that of so many others here; the liquid sealant is the way to you.

Just remember the words of our Henry Cooper;
"Slap it all over"

Ooops! An "absent friend" has pointed out my miss quote so a quick rewind here.
Read that as:-

"Splash it all over"

[billwill]

I made my current tank sealing washer from a cork tile.

But I really wish Lotus had put that hole on the top not the side.
The metal ring added on the side is thin and the threads strip easily and it is not easy to find a satisfactory repair.

[alexblack13]

Hi Guys,

Thank you all for your very kind and knowlegeable replies. All very valid as usual.

I sold the almost new ally tank that was in the car to buy an original Old stock item from one of our Forum. Great! But that sender ring holder attachment thingie is a real pain and is a contender fot lotus piss em off sense of humor. Gold award.... Sealing of those little screw threads is a nightmare! It's a new cork gasket, with loads of sealant on the threads etc and it had been fairly ok until last night when I noticed a tarry substance on the roof of Mrs B's new car.. WTF.... !! Looked up and checked all over the ramp and saw the drip drip from the tank drain plug on the Sprint.. Could have been worse! No damage to the new car's paintwork an If it had happened a couple of weeks ago it would have damaged the soft top of her Porsche.. (now sold) . TFFT....

So. This morning I had to tackle it and thought I'd check them little fasteners for tightness (what fun!) and managed to get a flat or two on all of them and I have almost if not completly stopped the leak. Smell of fuel in the boot had been ok. I tended to get a little exhaust smell, but not a lot of petrol smell. Even with my new pump setup.. The new setup was my 1st suspect but it's all tight as a drum.

I noticed that Axminster have a new tank now with top fixing sender with blind holes into a machine finished boss.
Anyone fitted one? Does the sender (DVO?) work ok with the st'd intrument or is a new P G required too?

Thanks again guys..

Al' ....

[alexblack13]

Hi Again Guys..

I think I have in stock every variation of gasket 'goo' . The tank sender was fitted with new cork gasket and I applied Wellseal both sides and on the screw threads. I did not add any fibre washers though. Might do so this time when I take the tank out to fix / check.. again.

Hey ho. I do like the look of the Permatex product that Nick has recommended. Or the sealant that John suggested.. Where can one buy the Permatex product in the UK?. The link from Nick (amazon) won't let me order. Looks like States side link.. I have googled etc but drawn a blank so far. is it called something else over here?

Ta..

Al '....

PS .. Just checked again and no leak so far... Still going to whiz the tank out though as I have a small mod in mind and a boot floor clean up is required. The petrol soaked all my soundproofing etc...

[GrUmPyBoDgEr]

Well the bits seem to be OK.
The sealant seems to be OK.

The common denominator seems to be the man with the spanner.
Chuck him out & get a new one

[alexblack13]

Well the bits seem to be OK.
The sealant seems to be OK.

The common denominator seems to be the man with the spanner.
Chuck him out & get a new one

.... I'll get my coat!!

Thanks again for the info John... Do you have a link for your product?

Al' ....

[elanner]

Alex,

Let me know if you'd like me to send some of the Permatex stuff over to you. I owe you one for the window clamps anyway!

Nick

[GrUmPyBoDgEr]

Well the bits seem to be OK.
The sealant seems to be OK.

The common denominator seems to be the man with the spanner.
Chuck him out & get a new one

.... I'll get my coat!!

Thanks again for the info John... Do you have a link for your product?

Al' ....

No, sorry just give it a quick Google, should be on there as it's used quite widely in industry.
Try either 3 Bond 1209 or Dri Bond 1209 you should come up with the goods..

Back to the job in hand; I'm wondering why it all went so wrong for you.
Perhaps the product you used became contaminated with paint, grease or you name it.
3 Bond likes completely oil free surfaces.
Oil etc. acts like barrier cream & therefore a leak path is subsequently established.