Arborigine
Full Access Member
I had a guy tell me he had a leaky diesel fuel switchover valve and just coated it with expanding polyurethane foam. I can see the material being diesel-proof, but if it didn't work, what a mess to fix!
Spray foam fuel sealant?
- Thread starter Arborigine
- Start date
flareside_thun
Reviving The General Tao
That's a jerryrig I have never seen before.....did you give his face a high-five?
Thank you sir, you just made my day
And, having seen what diesel fuel can eat through, I don't see that working long-term...and, yeah, I wouldn't want to be the one cleaning up that mess
Arborigine
Full Access Member
No, but he almost got a face full of chewed hamburger. I love it when amateurs tell me their "mechanic's tips".
I did bust off a piece from the wall at work and dropped it in a small can of diesel, it will be interesting to look at it in a few weeks. Sometimes even idiots drop pearls of wisdom.
Fordsandguns
Fords Rule
Even if the diesel doesn't eat through it, I bet the surface has to be diesel free for the stuff to stick. Might be a chore to do while laying under the truck.
But if it sticks and seals easily and holds up it might be a trick to get you home from bfe.
But if it sticks and seals easily and holds up it might be a trick to get you home from bfe.
did he tell you to change your blinker fluid while you are at it? bad idea that stuff is very poarus, its possible he got lucky but that is a last ditch effort to get home with your family stuck in the truck type fix. i would be puling it out the first chance i had to fix it right.
if my FSV goes out i am replacing it with two manual valves where i can reach down beside the seat to switch. midnightrider has talked about it here numerous times if you want to look it up.
if my FSV goes out i am replacing it with two manual valves where i can reach down beside the seat to switch. midnightrider has talked about it here numerous times if you want to look it up.
do tell us what happens...interesting.........
freebird01
Post Turtle!
when my FSV went south i bought a new one from the dealer...and even with my moms fiance getting it at cost for me it was still $125-$140...been awhile i cant remember the exact number...im debating putting it back on my truck or going to manual valves
international
Drownin' in diesel
Was it Open Cell foam or Closed Cell foam? Agnem should put this in a sticky as a fix for Diesel leaks.
Arborigine
Full Access Member
Update, after 16 days the closed cell foam is floating, none absorbed and not softened. I'll check in againg in a few more weeks. Weird.
Well, if it makes you feel any better, the foam is resistant to diesel fuel.... and gasoline, but not acetone.
We use foam to secure fuel tanks in the marine industry.... well, I should say "they" do. I've taken out lotsa tanks that are holed, with nothing but fuel saturated foam.
Like Fordsandguns said, for it to work, the surface must be fuel free and lightly roughed up to make it stick. Once it's dried on, it will provide a quasi-fix. Even closed cell foam will pass fluid through it, not all the cells are as closed as we'd like.
Temporary fix? Maybe, permanent, I'd never do it.
When we replace fuel tanks, we never foam them back in. The reason is, water still ends up between the foam and the tank, which creates a battery, and another un-holy experience... even when epoxy coated. Movement will wear thru the epoxy and re-expose the metals.
We shim the tanks and strap them in. Limits permanent water contact and allows for drying when they get wet....easier to trace leaks in tanks too.
We use foam to secure fuel tanks in the marine industry.... well, I should say "they" do. I've taken out lotsa tanks that are holed, with nothing but fuel saturated foam.
Like Fordsandguns said, for it to work, the surface must be fuel free and lightly roughed up to make it stick. Once it's dried on, it will provide a quasi-fix. Even closed cell foam will pass fluid through it, not all the cells are as closed as we'd like.
Temporary fix? Maybe, permanent, I'd never do it.
When we replace fuel tanks, we never foam them back in. The reason is, water still ends up between the foam and the tank, which creates a battery, and another un-holy experience... even when epoxy coated. Movement will wear thru the epoxy and re-expose the metals.
We shim the tanks and strap them in. Limits permanent water contact and allows for drying when they get wet....easier to trace leaks in tanks too.
