Question on attaching sediment bowl to gas tank

[garnold]

Looks like mine is leaking some. Since this is gas I'm guessing the typical tread tape won't hold up. What do you folks do to keep from leaks?

[zippy1]

I use the thread tape, no problems

[garnold]

Really? Huh I would have thought the gas would break it down. Ok thanks .

[DoubleO7]

I use Teflon tape too.
Just do not wrap it on and have any of it hanging over the open end.
I always wrap it on clockwise when look at the open end.
Then your not peeling it off as you install the fitting.

[drglinski]

Originally Posted by DoubleO7

I use Teflon tape too.
Just do not wrap it on and have any of it hanging over the open end.
I always wrap it on clockwise when look at the open end.
Then your not peeling it off as you install the fitting.

X2. Plumbers teflon tape works for me too.

[RLause]

This is what I prefer.

Permatex® Form-A-Gasket® No. 1 Sealant

Richard

[Yosemite Sam]

I am a little surprised by the other responses so far.

Teflon tape works great for water pipe, but I never use it for gasoline applications.

Please understand that no one who's opinion I truly value has ever told me "definitely do not use Teflon tape on gas" however I just don't think it's a good thing.

I do know this about Teflon tape: Teflon tape DOES NOT have any sealing properties what-so-ever.

It is exactly what it sounds like, TEFLON... A non stick product.

It helps to eliminate friction between thread mating surfaces, it makes the threads slick on each other, so they slide easier when being screwed together, thus letting the pipe and fitting screw together farther.

Back to the problem, I would bet that there is a crack in the solder that holds the little square fitting into the bottom of the tank or the top of the bowl base is distorted or cracked.

[zippy1]

Originally Posted by Yosemite Sam

I am a little surprised by the other responses so far.

Teflon tape works great for water pipe, but I never use it for gasoline applications.

Please understand that no one who's opinion I truly value has ever told me "definitely do not use Teflon tape on gas" however I just don't think it's a good thing.

I do know this about Teflon tape: Teflon tape DOES NOT have any sealing properties what-so-ever.

It is exactly what it sounds like, TEFLON... A non stick product.

It helps to eliminate friction between thread mating surfaces, it makes the threads slick on each other, so they slide easier when being screwed together, thus letting the pipe and fitting screw together farther.

Back to the problem, I would bet that there is a crack in the solder that holds the little square fitting into the bottom of the tank or the top of the bowl base is distorted or cracked.

Sam, I do agree with your logic as far as the tape, but it was something I was shown years back,...and I guess I just do it because that was the way I was taught.
So I never tried it without, but NEVER had a leak at the threads with it either. Maybe it's just one of those mystical things with me that works if in it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[J-Mech]

Teflon DOES seal. It fills in the gap in the threads. I have and do use it on sediment bowls, but I usually use anerobic sealant, Permatex #51813. Or both.

While were on the subject of thread tape, I'll preach for a second. I really hate it when I disassemble a flare fitting (JIC), or a ferral style (compression) fitting, or a drain plug with a face seal, and it has thread tape on it. It does NOTHING for this type of fitting. The flare is the seal on a JIC. On a compression fitting the ferral does the sealing, and on a face seal the brass ring is the seal. Using thread tape on these fittings is a complete waste of time and money. It's as useless on these fittings as it would be to use it to tape wires together. Rant over.

[Maxwelhse]

PTFE (Teflon) is inert to fuel and just about anything else. It is not uncommon to see laboratory mixing equipment made from PTFE because it is so inert. Use it to your heart's content for fuels and oils (as long as you're using it on the correct fittings like J-Mech just said).