leakygasgauge

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lakeside

Senior Member
I overfilled the gas tank resulting in gas leaking out the gauge. (Assuming it needs new gaskets). The old gauge worked fine.
Question is ,should I just disassemble the old one,clean it up and reinstall or go with a new unit(which I purchased)? I've read ,more than once, on the Forum that the new gauges are inferior . Also, is it necessary to drain the tank or is less than a 1/4 tank okay? Thanks.
 
I don't think you need to completely drain the gas tank nor replace the gas gauge if the old one works ok. My only recommendation is to use a new cork gasket, not the neoprene. I used the neoprene. It lasted about a year then started leaking, went back to cork.
 
You may have thread problems with the new one, depending on who made it. Always best to use original parts when you can.
 
You need to drain the tank to a point where the gas level is below the gauge opening. Dropping the level to 1/4 tank is more than is necessary. I agree with using cork gaskets. I had issues with the inner nut binding as I tightened it - the threads were damaged and/or dirty. I cleaned the threads and tightened the nut a couple of times to make sure that it was sealing tightly against the sight glass. Make sure that the surface that the outer nut seals against is clean - dirt or a rough spot there can cause a leak. Good luck!
 
I have not been happy with the new repops. The don't look as good, and they all seem to rattle. Clean up your original and use it. Also, I agree with cork gasket, and a a couple of extra brass gaskets.
 
Don't forget to put a drop or two of 3 in 1 oil on the brass washers. This will allow them to slip easily when you tighten the assembly. It is getting harder to find the cork gaskets, I believe Bratton's only offers the neoprene ones.
 
Ed Saniewski said:
Don't forget to put a drop or two of 3 in 1 oil on the brass washers. This will allow them to slip easily when you tighten the assembly. It is getting harder to find the cork gaskets, I believe Bratton's only offers the neoprene ones.
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Too bad, because that would be a step in the wrong direction. I would never use anything but the cork gaskets.
 
Same here cork only. neoprene does not work well. It will only last a short time. Like most things on the A stay original.
 
KBGnut#5...you indicated , a couple of brass gaskets.
L. Andrews says, place 2 brass washers for the outer ring nut, Brattons says one. Who's right? The cork gasket set I have included only one brass washer/gasket.Thanks.
 
Yep, only one brass gasket in the set, but I like to use two, as it makes it slip around easier.

New one plus the old one works fine.
 
Some old re-pros used a PLASTIC lens, which turned BROWN, distorted, & LEAKED!
Both my cars had them. Bought 2 quality, cheep, kits & fixed them.
Bill Trick
 
lakeside said:
KBGnut#5...you indicated , a couple of brass gaskets.
L. Andrews says, place 2 brass washers for the outer ring nut, Brattons says one. Who's right? The cork gasket set I have included only one brass washer/gasket.Thanks.
Click to expand...

It has been a while since I had mine apart, but I seem to remember that I had three brass gaskets in mine.

Also, I didn't know about the preference for cork gaskets at the time I had mine apart, so I put in the neoprene one. It has been four years and not a weep. Maybe I just got lucky. If I need to take it apart again I will put in a cork one.

Ken
 
The problem with the cork floats is that they typically are coated with shellac, which will dissolve in the ethanol gas. I have used the neoprene ones from Bratton's on both of my cars and have had no problems over the last couple of years. I would call Bratton's and ask about how the floats last in using ethanol gas. I don't think that ethanol gas degrades neoprene.
 
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