fuel caps and escaping fuel

[M Towsley]

Re: fuel caps and escaping fuel

The part number I gave him for the 1110 gasket from Eaton/Caps & Necks is the correct number for the stock Taylorcraft gas cap. They are $3.00 if I remember correctly. Just cannot remember if they are compatible with all fuels.

And just for the fun of it here is a rather long thread on caps, etc., with pictures and drawings.

http://vb.taylorcraft.org/showthread.php?7341-FYI-Gas-Caps&highlight=eaton

[PA1195]

Re: fuel caps and escaping fuel

I never realized the potential significance of these caps and gaskets. In the past if they turned easily and appeared loose I simply adjusted the capture tangs or replaced the gaskets if worn. Sometimes I used the fuel lube compound sold for Piper fuel selector valves as a lubricant and sealer for the gaskets.

And when mogas or anti-ice isopropyl alcohol swelled the gasket I installed a spare and let the larger than life part dry and shrink. Now my caps and gaskets are from Atlee Dodge and are blue in color. No problems yet and not sure of their composition.

As Tim notes some Alaskan parts sellers (Stoddards/Reeve's in Anchorage) offer replacements. How or why they're better than Autozone or NAPA I don't know.

Gary

[astjp2]

Re: fuel caps and escaping fuel

The big thing is PAPERWORK! hahaha

[PA1195]

Re: fuel caps and escaping fuel

I'll be honest and say years ago I've placed potential replacement gaskets in both aircraft and auto fuels to check for swelling. If they passed the test then ... if not I tried another. Adding isopropyl alcohol to the fuel (per Cessna's recommended ratio) seemed to be the true test of the rubber compound. Real cold weather affects the sealing of some rubber compounds and can cause leaks in flight with a full wing tank.

Today with so many sources of approved and tested parts it's just simpler to get the right one to begin with.

Gary

[otrcman]

Re: fuel caps and escaping fuel

The Original Poster didn't say how much fuel he was losing or over how much of a time span. I can say that my L-2 fuel loss is negligible over as much as a month.

I do have the vented (pitot tube type) fuel caps and have had the same rubber type gaskets for years. If it were me, I'd look for some other source of fuel loss. Are you sure your drain valve isn't leaking ?

Dick

[otrcman]

Re: fuel caps and escaping fuel

???

[n6346m]

Re: fuel caps and escaping fuel

I had lost some fuel from my L2 after it sat in the hangar for some time. It turns out that I had forgotten to turn off the fuel valve and the fuel was leaking from that wonderful little Stromberg carburetor very slowly, not enough to cause excessive odor in the well ventilated hangar to arouse suspicion. Anyone who flies an L2 knows that there is no way of seeing how much fuel is in the tank when it is about half full. Fuel is not visible in the sight gauge because the gauge if in the forward part of the tank and you can't "stick" the tank because the fuel is behind filler neck. Mine is a little worse since I have larger than standard tires. Imagine my chagrin when I went flying and after leveling off I discovered I had a lot less fuel that what I had calculated. The only way you can tell how much fuel you have in an L2, is when you fill the tank or when you pick up the tail or are in level flight. After that episode I decided to always make sure that the fuel valve is shut off and to always have some fuel showing in the sight gauge before flight. Another episode happened after some inactivity and I discovered that not only was the carb seeping, but the fuel valve was seeping as well.
I recommend that the fuel valve is shut off after each flight and make sure that it is not seeping. Even a little seep can go through a lot of fuel.

[N63045]

Re: fuel caps and escaping fuel

I am always amazed at the great info available from the group here. I appreciate the leads as to where to find the fuel cap gaskets. I got new gaskets and put them on. I got stoppers for the vent tubes. Still lost fuel. An A&P friend looked at the airplane and noticed a stain on the bottom of the wing. Further inspection showed that a round patch about 18" across was there and painted over. So it looks like the fuel is leaking into the wing from the fuel tank and that the issue is not new.

Now that I have replaced the gasket and plugged the vent tubes, the fuel loss has slowed and seems to have stopped at about a 2 gal loss. I have probably had this problem for years without knowing it.

[M Towsley]

Re: fuel caps and escaping fuel

I admit, I have not re-read all of the posts again, but....what do you mean "plugged the vent tubes"?