Teflon tape?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 358
Likes: 0
From: The Ozarks, USA
Teflon tape?
I did a fuel pump install a few days ago and I now find I want to make a change to the fuel line routing. When I picked up the 90 degree fitting, I needed I asked the guy at the parts counter if there was anything I should coat the threads with. ( I have never used anything, but times change so I always ask) He said it woudn't hurt to use some tape on it. I asked if he meant teflon tape and he said yes. Well I use lots of this mainly for keeping the sprinkler system going, but it seems like this stuff would not mix with gas. What do you guys think?
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 38,897
Likes: 1,926
From: Washington Michigan
Re: Teflon tape? (JPatrick)
I don't like Teflon tape, as it can shred and let little particles into the fuel filters, etc. I prefer the TFE (Teflon) pipe joint paste, applied sparingly, to keep the pipe threads from galling and so you can disassemble it later if you have to. Works for me.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 3,025
Likes: 12
From: Pleasant Grove AL
Re: Teflon tape? (JohnZ)
I agree with John. Don't use the teflon tape. Any sort of "pipe dope", be ti teflon or otherwise, serves to lubricate the threads so that the fitting can be properly tightened. The fittings are tapered and seal by thread interference. The "pipe dope" is NOT a sealing agent. It does help in tightening and eventually loosening.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 358
Likes: 0
From: The Ozarks, USA
Re: Teflon tape? (62fuelie)
Speaking of proper tightening, when I install that 90 degree fitting it can point in only one direction to work. If this thing happens to get tight when it is 3/4 of a turn away from where I need it am I safe in really turning on the power in order to get it swung around where it should be?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 3,025
Likes: 12
From: Pleasant Grove AL
Re: Teflon tape? (JPatrick)
If your fuel pump is the type with the steel fittings sticking out the bottom, you can probably crank it with the steel fitting properly supported in a vise. If it is the type with the fittings in a cast housing, be careful. Depending on how tight it is 3/4 of a turn away, I might back it up a quarter turn.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 358
Likes: 0
From: The Ozarks, USA
Re: Teflon tape? (62fuelie)
The fitting is actually in the housing so I'll have to be careful how much I give it. I would hope that the add on fitting would be designed to strip before it could do damage to the pump, but it probably isn't. With a little luck it may line up perfectly (sure).
Thanks for your help
Thanks for your help
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,077
Likes: 2
From: The Garden Spot of the Garden State
Re: Teflon tape? (JPatrick)
...on fuel lines, i've also used a teflon-containing white sealant that's in the same aisle as loc-tite (it may actually be mfg'd by loc-tite)...works well and said to be used by the factory on c5's - wouldn't know.............
Instructor
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 191
Likes: 0
From: Upland CA
Re: Teflon tape? (Kid_Again)
Here is the stuff you want, Thread Sealant with Teflon by Permatex. It comes in a 1 oz. tube and is about 5 inches long. It can be found at any auto supply house, Pep Boys, AutoZone, etc.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 630
Likes: 0
From: New York, NY 10154
Re: Teflon tape? (JPatrick)
I was told that teflon tape was for Shxxhouses and do not use for fuel lines.
The fuel lines are compression fittings and do not need teflon tape. I was a big teflon tape junkie until I was converted from a well know Carb builder in Missouri. :smash:
The fuel lines are compression fittings and do not need teflon tape. I was a big teflon tape junkie until I was converted from a well know Carb builder in Missouri. :smash:
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 38,897
Likes: 1,926
From: Washington Michigan
Re: Teflon tape? (Daren Schneider)
The TFE pipe dope is also useful for the usual SAE flare fuel line fittings; not for the flare, which is where the seal is, but to lubricate the straight steel-on-steel fitting threads so they don't gall. Takes less torque to get a good mechanical seal at the flare due to reduced thread friction, and they can be disassembled later without damage. A little anti-seize would probably work just as well.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,077
Likes: 2
From: The Garden Spot of the Garden State
Re: Teflon tape? (JohnZ)
...i even put a bit of antisieze on retaining nuts for the brake hardlines...you have to be REAL careful on that but i've had no problems at all - now, if i'd just figure out how to STOP removing the brake lines, i'd be in great shape :rolleyes:
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
From: Oklahoma City OK
Re: Teflon tape? (anselboyce)
Anselboyce:
The pictures of your car are awsome. I was noticing that the frame
seemed to be very good condition or have you restored it also. I could
not tell if you had a body off or just conditioned the frame with the body on.
Looks very nice. Any help you could give would be appreciated. I have a 64
coupe and the front end and rear have been completely gone through before
I purchesed the car, however, I would like to detail the frame without removing the body.
thanks,
Mike
The pictures of your car are awsome. I was noticing that the frame
seemed to be very good condition or have you restored it also. I could
not tell if you had a body off or just conditioned the frame with the body on.
Looks very nice. Any help you could give would be appreciated. I have a 64
coupe and the front end and rear have been completely gone through before
I purchesed the car, however, I would like to detail the frame without removing the body.
thanks,
Mike
Instructor
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 191
Likes: 0
From: Upland CA
Re: Teflon tape? (mikes64)
Mike - thanks for the nice comments. No, I did not remove the body from the frame. Before I got the car it had sat untouched in a garage for 22 years. The frame was in good shape and all I had to do was clean it. The original owner striped off the paint in '79 and also striped the car down to body and frame. The engine was not original so I decieded to do it my way. As soon as my new hood arrives it is off to the body shop for paint.