Getting fuel tank/sender seal to stay tight

[Secret Chimp]

I pulled my fuel sender a couple of weeks ago to replace the float. Worked great, but the Dorman lock ring/gasket combination I bought leaked like a sieve when I filled up my tank.

I replace the Dorman lock ring with my original lock ring and it held on the next fill-up.

Now I've filled up again, and went down to the garage to some gas smell, a wet front of my tank and a couple drops on the floor. Not as bad as the first time, but evidently the Dorman gasket is crap too.

How can you get these things to seal? Is there somewhere I can buy repro gaskets alone to double-up on or do I have to waste money on another crap lock ring to get another gasket? The Dorman gasket has rumpled up and almost looks too big for the sender mating surface now.

 

[Kern Dog]

Its popular to dump on the aftermarket for the crappy parts that are out there. The DORMAN name is usually respected, so I cannot explain why you had bad luck. I always reuse the factory locker ring since the aftermarket ones seem to be about half the thickness. Keep in mind that the tank, the sender and the lock ring all need to be as flat as possible for everything to seal properly. I try to reuse the gasket if it is good shape.

 

[hunt2elk]

Also make sure the sender is exactly centered in the tank hole. There is a cheap lockring tool made that really makes it easier to get everything put together correct. I had the same problem as you when trying to use a screwdriver and hammer to tap the ring tight.

 

[Moparsmitty]

Also make sure the sender is exactly centered in the tank hole. There is a cheap lockring tool made that really makes it easier to get everything put together correct. I had the same problem as you when trying to use a screwdriver and hammer to tap the ring tight.

Agree, a lockring wrench is the way to go. When you get the sending unit installed back in the tank you might want to put a little gas in it and let it sit upside down for a little while to check for leaks before reinstalling the tank in the car. Might save you some time and labor. Plug the vent and be careful. No Smoking.

 

[Secret Chimp]

Heck, I thought those wrenches were just for convenience. I'm grabbing one and another gasket from Classic Industries. Hopefully I'll have better luck this time around. Is there any reason to double up the gaskets if I'm using the original lock ring?

 

[mrkinger]

Hey Secret,if you find a cure let us know i have the same problem.Have you tried an O ring,Just wondering if that would work better
Paul

 

[bigmanjbmopar]

Are you a 100% sure those little drops were from the sending unit seal? There are vent lines that run up into your trunk or up around the sending unit right? Reason I ask is after a real full tank the gas will expand a bit and go up and out the vent causing a smell and a couple of drops no big deal just doing it's job.

 

[Secret Chimp]

Are you a 100% sure those little drops were from the sending unit seal? There are vent lines that run up into your trunk or up around the sending unit right? Reason I ask is after a real full tank the gas will expand a bit and go up and out the vent causing a smell and a couple of drops no big deal just doing it's job.

100%. The sending unit on my car is more or less dead center. The front of the tank around the depression for the sender was wet just like the first time I had my massive leak and the drops are right under that area. My vents are off to the driver's side, nothing from there. And I didn't have this problem until I knocked my sender loose to replace the float, that's all I've disturbed on the tank.

 

[bigmanjbmopar]

I put mine on cocked eyed once and had a spill at the station oops...I would guess too thin of a seal may just twist with the lock ring and bind up a bit? Maybe causing a small spot were it can leak. Did you lube the seal up before putting on the lock ring? vaseline works believe it or not.

 

[Secret Chimp]

I put mine on cocked eyed once and had a spill at the station oops...I would guess too thin of a seal may just twist with the lock ring and bind up a bit? Maybe causing a small spot were it can leak. Did you lube the seal up before putting on the lock ring? vaseline works believe it or not.

I left it dry, though there is a chance I rotated the whole thing a little when I was banging around on the ring. Hopefully my junk will arrive here for the weekend. I'll grease it up a little... with luck that's the end of this business.

 

[Garys1969RR]

Changed mine on 69 Road Runner to larger pick up tube size, frum 69 GTX. The RR had sat for 12 tears, and orig. fuel line was clogged. Seems like I re used the orig gsk as the one from the new one didn't fit right. Too big? Doesn't leak now. But did notice a few drops on the floor after filling it up. Also heard a bubbling sound. Figured it was air going into the tank, as I had just ran it hard, and sucked alot gas out. Good luck!