Rubber seal in petrol tank

pgsagar · 11th October 2009, 12:35

While refilling my Honda CBX, the fuel tank cap rubber seal fell in tank accidentally. How does rubber react with petrol? will it be dissolved in petrol or will it block passage of petrol? Since CBX is a four carb bike, I am worried it may foul up with carbs. Any suggestions please? Should I flush the tank and carbs?

khoj · 11th October 2009, 13:07

Since the seal was for the fuel tank cap, the material of construction would be compatible for petrol and vapours etc, so it should not dissolve readily. However since it was not designed to be always immersed in petrol over a period of time it might start breaking up.

Suggest you fish out the seal if possible but the baffles may not allow that. So flush out the tank first and look at the condition of the seal. If you find any portions of the rubber missing well then you may want to clean out the fuel pipe and carb etc.

AbhiJ · 11th October 2009, 13:51

The seal will not dissolve but will certainly absorb petrol and swell up. It also might release some oils in the petrol tank, although that is in minisicule amounts.

Get the seal out asap.

pgsagar · 12th October 2009, 22:56

thanks guys! drained the tank and took that seal out. also got all four carbs opened and cleaned. there was a tonne of dirt and wonder how the bike was still running. but now with the carbs cleaned, the bike has become even more formidable than before. the link mechanism of all four carbs is ingenious. a single cable operates all four carbs. i was apprehensive of the job but my mech who worked on twin carb RDs, did the job with ease.

11th October 2009, 12:35	#1
pgsagar BANNED Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Vizag Posts: 2,638 Thanked: 3,634 Times View My Garage	Rubber seal in petrol tank While refilling my Honda CBX, the fuel tank cap rubber seal fell in tank accidentally. How does rubber react with petrol? will it be dissolved in petrol or will it block passage of petrol? Since CBX is a four carb bike, I am worried it may foul up with carbs. Any suggestions please? Should I flush the tank and carbs?
	() Thanks

11th October 2009, 13:07	#2
khoj Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Dilli Posts: 2,718 Thanked: 1,287 Times View My Garage	Since the seal was for the fuel tank cap, the material of construction would be compatible for petrol and vapours etc, so it should not dissolve readily. However since it was not designed to be always immersed in petrol over a period of time it might start breaking up. Suggest you fish out the seal if possible but the baffles may not allow that. So flush out the tank first and look at the condition of the seal. If you find any portions of the rubber missing well then you may want to clean out the fuel pipe and carb etc.
	() Thanks

11th October 2009, 13:51	#3
AbhiJ Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Kolkata Posts: 1,482 Thanked: 1,221 Times	The seal will not dissolve but will certainly absorb petrol and swell up. It also might release some oils in the petrol tank, although that is in minisicule amounts. Get the seal out asap.
	() Thanks

12th October 2009, 22:56	#4
pgsagar BANNED Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Vizag Posts: 2,638 Thanked: 3,634 Times View My Garage	thanks guys! drained the tank and took that seal out. also got all four carbs opened and cleaned. there was a tonne of dirt and wonder how the bike was still running. but now with the carbs cleaned, the bike has become even more formidable than before. the link mechanism of all four carbs is ingenious. a single cable operates all four carbs. i was apprehensive of the job but my mech who worked on twin carb RDs, did the job with ease. Last edited by pgsagar : 12th October 2009 at 22:58.
	() Thanks