MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGA - Leaking fuel sender

I've been noticing a slight smell of petrol coming from my MGA and have finally tracked it down to a weeping fuel sender unit. I think it's coming from the small cover to the variable resistance that has a the rectangular gasket or out of the hole for the electrical connection, the circular gasket looks OK. What's the current thinking on the gasket material cork or neoprene and should any gasket goo be used? -Barney seems to be in favour of cork.
J H Cole

I had my tank out and cleaned after I purchased the car as it had been in long storage and had sludge in the tank. The gasket I purchased from the usual supplier seeped and I made a gasket from leather and it has worked fine for almost 20 years. If I recall right the screws project into the tank and gas can seep out along the thread, so the screw holes should be undersize. Good luck.
Bill Haglan

On a new sender unit I found it was supplied with sheet rubber gaskets. These very quickly expanded once in contact with the fuel and leaked. I'm sure these would have been fine if the correct elastomer had been used.
I replaced these with home made cork gaskets using gasket goo on both the gaskets and the screws and with fibre washers under the screw heads to make sure. Do not use single coil lock washers!!!
This arrangement has been no problem for years now.
Should it need to be removed, methylated spirits cleans everything up just fine.
Pete
PeteT

Peter Edney sells an improved gasket for the tank

http://mg-parts.co.uk/index.php?route=product/product&path=462_472_1452_2131&product_id=2482

But I agree its more likely to be the smaller gasket or stud for the electrical connection.

I made a new gasket out or rubber but still have a weep which I suspect is the electrical stud.
John Bray

Thanks for responses - I think I'll have a go at making my own gasket.
J H Cole

John I used Welseal to seal up a cork gasket. Its compatible with the fuel and never sets.
John Francis

This thread was discussed between 08/07/2014 and 11/07/2014

MG MGA index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG MGA BBS now