Fuel tank drain plug leak?

tfrooney · Post by **tfrooney** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 12:32 pm

After letting my 710k sit for a couple years I'm getting it moving again. In the process I thought I'd drain the old gas from the tank by removing the drain plug. It was hard to free up and came loose with a loud bang. Once free it unscrewed smoothly. So smoothly that it dropped into the funnel I was using to catch the old gas. Boy does that gas flow fast! The plug hole is large. Too large to block with a finger. Good thing my son was able to go get a second gas can to catch the remainder of the gas. It was a tense few moments as I was drenched in gas and plenty was spilled on the ground.
Anyway, my question is now that I have fresh gas in the tank why isn't the plug sealing well. I have a slow drip even though I've tightened it pretty good. Do I need to replace a washer? Should I use teflon tape?

Thanks in advance, Tom

Jim LaGuardia · Post by **Jim LaGuardia** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 12:59 pm

Replace the washer, you can use liquid teflon pipe sealant, but not teflon tape.

ka · Post by ka » Mon Oct 20, 2008 1:22 pm

those washers are designed to squash into shape on 1st install. after that they're pow. they also get hardened by that 1st squashing.

tfrooney · Post by **tfrooney** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 5:31 pm

So, now where can I get these washers? What size are they?

ka · Post by ka » Tue Oct 21, 2008 1:05 pm

they dont have them at swissarmyvehicles?

norcal pinz · Post by **norcal pinz** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 1:33 pm

i need one too.

Jim LaGuardia · Post by **Jim LaGuardia** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 2:57 pm

Napa # 704-1364

M Wehrman · Post by **M Wehrman** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 9:04 pm

Coupla years...

I bet that smelled just peachy!

pinzinator · Post by **pinzinator** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 9:25 pm

Every year or so I'll run the Pinz down to where there's almost no gas in the tank. Then I'll pull the plug and drain the gas out and use it in the lawnmower or dump it if there's any crud or water. Never had a fuel system problem yet.

undysworld · Post by **undysworld** » Sun Oct 26, 2008 6:15 am

Ditto the every-other-year draining. But I toss the old stuff into my deuce & 1/2, good or bad. That thing eats anything: old gas, fuel oil, deep-fry grease, old cats, anything! OK, it doesn't really run on old cats.

Still rather drive my Pinz, though. It smells better.

Paul

Sorry, I'm up too early.