self forming stem packing

[mhorowit]

In the plumbing section of Home Depot Aerospace they advertise "self forming stem packing", which looks like a teflon coated thick piece of string. Anyone know if this stuff will stand up to gasoline?
Do you think soaking it in gasoline for several days and seeing if it deteriorates is a reasonable test? - Mike

[Robert Lees]

Yes...but a few weeks (months) would be better. Let us know how you get on.

Rob

[ROllerton]

I have had it in my Model A for several years, with auto gas.
No problems. Of course I am no expert.

(Ford)

[Len Petterson]

Teflon packing is safe for Gasoline and Oils But !
Solid Teflon tape is Slipery and will make joints come loose from vibrations!
There is Liquid Teflon in a can (in the plumbing section as well)
what has a locking effect (Several produsers, Loctite is one)
I my previuse life I was a industrial pipefitter and used it a lot and things stayed togther with it, and they did not leak!
Part assambled whit this sealer can/will be dificult to take apart.
Always use 2 wrenshes then assable and removing!
Another good product is Permatex.
APPLY IT TO THE EXTERNAL TREADS ONLY AND IN MINMAL QUNTETIES! I have used in in my aircraft.
It works well on gasoline and kerosen type fluids but does NOT DISOLVE in these type of fluids and resiudual LUMPS can glog small holes in Nozzeles ( Carburaturs have several of them).
Alcohol will disolve Permatex.
All tread sealers SHALL be applyed to external treads ONLY!
Leaks have many reasons, scoremarks on fittings and tubing ends, Crosstreading, Cracked fitting, Deformed fittings, then useing external treaded tubfittings use tubing wrenches!
A open end wrench has a tendecy to make the nut oval/deforming it!
Does the fitting nut go on by hand? If not check allingment of the tubing and fitting, they will start and go most of the way buy hand if allinged propperly.
This is just a few hints on how to fix leaks, gasoline and alcohol are the 2 worst fluids there is to seal for, as the molecules are very small.
Len Petterson