Pipe compound on quick drains

[DannyDot]

I have the 1/8 inch pipe thread quick drains. Do I need pipe compound when I put them on?

Danny

[flyguy]

Re: Pipe compound on quick drains

I have found all kinds of crap on fittings on the three 12D's I've owned. I would imagine there is some special stuff that is actually legal to use-don't know what it is.
DC

[Pearson]

Re: Pipe compound on quick drains

The special stuff is called fuel lube. It looks almost like Vasoline and you need to take great care to not get any inside the fuel line. It will NOT disolve in gas and if it gets into a filter it will clog it up.

[VictorBravo]

Re: Pipe compound on quick drains

I have the 1/8 inch pipe thread quick drains. Do I need pipe compound when I put them on?

I use a dark red sealant made by Permatex that is just for this type of pipe joint. Get it in any auto parts place. I think it's called gasket and joint sealant compound or something... it's dark ruby red and there is a small brush built into the metal jar cap. It never hardens fully so it will not crack, and you can take it apart later. It does not dissolve in fuel and oil.

For whatever it is worth, I recommend against the Teflon Tape. Not only would you have to leave some bare metal uncovered on the FITTING, but you would ALSO have to know the depth of threads on the fuel TANK, which is probably a lot less thick than the fitting. So you could possibly put the Teflon on correctly on the quick drain, and still unknowingly have some teflon exposed inside the tank. It's not a huge risk, but it is still more risk than one large drop of the Permatex stuff on the largest few threads on the quick drain IMHO. The FAA definitely does not like the teflon, and neither will most IA's.

Bill

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Pipe compound on quick drains

Teflon tape , NO! Fuel lube or seal lube , YES.
Permatex okay too. red or black, black is #2 and same as Continential Tite-Seal ( or so I have been told)! FAA publications address Teflon, Bill hit it right on the head. bye

[hangarb7]

Re: Pipe compound on quick drains

Forrest,

Installing a new fuel tank valve in my Model A Ford this weekend, I noticed that the Black (called High Temp) Permatex clearly says not to use where contacting gasoline continuously. Didn't have the Red with me at the hangar so I used Teflon tape. Of course, if my motor stops, I don't fall from the sky!

By the way, Teflon tape is not technically a thread sealant according to my long gone Father. He said it was "Teflon" to allow the fitting to be tightened to a higher degree, which is why it works perfectly on NPT or "pipe" threads. Not designed for straight threaded fittings. Any actual thread sealant qualities were a bonus.

My two cents, your mileage may vary...

Jack D
N44057
'46 BC12D

[Larry Lyons]

Re: Pipe compound on quick drains

Back in the early 70's we mostly used Teflon for packing as it will flow under pressure, similar to Nylon but unaffected by most liquids.
Larry Lyons

[flyguy]

Re: Pipe compound on quick drains

Reference to bad ole' teflon tape deleted from previous reply. Guess I should check my system for bits and pieces pretty soon.
May be a certain prejudice towards liquid sealers in general, on my part, as that is what put me down in a pickle-weed field with an engine that would only idle due to sealant in the carb midrange vertical feed pipe. The carb was really well sealed though. Records indicated that it was done by a A & P, probably to FAA specifications.
Darryl

[DannyDot]

Re: Pipe compound on quick drains

My mechanic found the old quick drain was installed using teflon tape and some of the tape was causing the o-ring to not seal properly. Good thing the piece of teflon had not found its way to a carb jet!! Need to be really careful when working on the fuel system and doing anything that might add contamination.

Danny

[Len Petterson]

Re: Pipe compound on quick drains

Teflon tape Is for House hold plumbing ONLY !
It the most missused invantion ever to get into the plumbing trade.
If it can come loose it will come loose EYSIER WITH TEFLON TAPE!
Permatex and Locktite are now the same company and are producing many good products for tread sealing.'What are easly removed!
Liquid Telon is not recomeded as it will take hold to much and parts becomes dificult to remove. In the case a tank drain it could end with a broken tank!
This materials are not meant for aircraft use either but work well in Hydrualics and industrial settings where I used it for many years.
What ever you put on a pipetread( yes the tank drains are pipetread, NPT) it SHALL NEVER BE APPLIED TO INTERNAL TREADS OR EXTEND PAST THE 1ST TREAD!
Black Permatex for example is tar based and will not desolve in the any petroleum based fluid, but will glog up any hole a gob of it can get stuck in.
If it is your gas line----------------?

Len

[flyguy]

Re: Pipe compound on quick drains

How fortunate for us that there is at least 2 strainers and one gravity separator (gascolator) between the fuel tanks and the carb.
DC

[astjp2]

Re: Pipe compound on quick drains

Fuel lube is no longer sold under that name, its now called EZ-turn and you can get it a tube or can for under 40.00, Tite Seal comes in a can for around 36.00 per can. I would use the EZ turn on any vave internal components like the imperial fuel valves and the Tite Seal on any of the fittings. There is a third compound that is out there but I cannot remember what it is called for the life of me....TIm

[VictorBravo]

Re: Pipe compound on quick drains

Fuel lube is no longer sold under that name, its now called EZ-turn and you can get it a tube or can for under 40.00, Tite Seal comes in a can for around 36.00 per can. I would use the EZ turn on any vave internal components like the imperial fuel valves and the Tite Seal on any of the fittings. There is a third compound that is out there but I cannot remember what it is called for the life of me....TIm

WOW !!! Thanks ! I had heard that the peanut butter "fuel lube" stuff was simply extinct and never to be seen again... but if the same stuff is now being sold under a different name that's great news! Are you sure it's the same stuff?

Bill

[NY86]

Re: Pipe compound on quick drains

It's similar. It's a reasonable substitute. It's not the same stuff, though. It'll never be the same....

[astjp2]

Re: Pipe compound on quick drains

I called them directly and they bought the brand and changed the name. They have a bunch of different products they sell for aviaton use. Tim