King Seeley fuel gauge (I have successfully fixed the fuel gauge, and filled it last night. question is: will the smell fade?)

[Tom Devoe]

I am on the last bit of the fuel system repair on a 31 Studebaker. I have successfully fixed the fuel gauge, and filled it last night. I bought the fluid from a Packard vendor on line. It seems to work well with light pressure from a syringe. I've read that the liquid is caustic to zinc and steel, which is what the gauge is made of. The faceplate was rusty at the top, but fixable. I'm now concerned with the gauge rusting again, and also the smell. I haven't returned the gauge to the dash yet, it's hanging in the basement workshop. The smell has permeated the shop. It's all I smell when I'm in there. My wife is even complaining about the chemical smell in the kitchen. I'll move the gauge to the garage today, but my question is: will the smell fade? I'm doubting that it will. How do you live with the smell in the car? If your car is in a sealed, heated garage, does the smell take over? I'm now reconsidering using this gauge, and trying to find an electric alternative.

 

 

[Dave39MD]

I went to the shop and smelled my bottle of fluid and it has no distinct odor. A gentlemen on the Buick forum gave me the liquid, it is very old Sun Electric manometer fluid.

It may be your liquid? You might try calling another source like Bob's Buick parts and ask?

 

Dave

 

Here is another source I just thought of http://www.classicandexotic.com/store/c-85-king-seeley-hobson-fuel-gauge.aspx

Edited February 3, 2018 by Dave39MD (see edit history)

[Tom Devoe]

Thanks Dave! I'll try calling Bob's. The link you provided is where I got the liquid. Hopefully others will weigh in here.

[Guest]

The original King Seeley fluid that I have has no smell.

[DavidMc]

I bought the fluid from an A Ford parts supplier years ago, it has no smell however the red color faded to clear which is apparently a common problem.  

[viv w]

I got from Stan Gilliland at ACD parts for an Auburn years ago, no funny smell.

Mac's Ford parts sell it, as well as a lot of other Ford parts suppliers. some places you can get it either in red or green.

[Friartuck]

I have repaired several of these over the years. My fluid has no significant odor. You might consider adding a small piece of gauze or lightly packed cotton at the top of the glass tube. Not enough to interfere with the movement of the fluid (up or down), but could reduce the odor emanating from the gauge. Another benefit would to capture any fluid that might spurt out the top. I have noticed that some fluids reduce their redish color over time. Some even have a warning on the vial about exposure to light. Its possible you have a better quality fluid, one that won't lose its red color, the consequence is the odor. I painted the base of the housing white to better reflect the color and when the instrument panel bulb illuminate the gauge. For what its worth, this fluid has a density that is four times greater than gasoline, hence its ability to register 1:4 ratio of the volume in the tank.

[Curti]

I have manometer fluid red or green. That doesn't smell or turn clear or evaporate.  Been supplying Auburn owners for years. $15 per vial. PM me if you are interested. 

[Tom Devoe]

Thanks All. Curti - I will take you up on that. PM-ing you.

[Tom Devoe]

Fluid arrived today, thanks Curti! No smell!

[edinmass]

King-Seeley is a Latin term that translated into English means, broken when new, useless, and only there for judging in order for you to lose points in competition. Over the last forty years, I have owned dozens of cars with them. Some work great, some with incredible effort work when they want to, and others just piss me off. Sorry about that, but I had to say it. Now I just rig the guage to read 2/3 full, and don’t even bother with them anymore. I just keep the tank topped off unless on tour, then I track my mileage. They are simple, and on paper should be reliable, but they are not.  I had a good  run repairing them for better than ten years, and the last five I worked on kicked my A**, and I’m not one to give up on fixing anything. Prepare for any eventuality and you won’t be disappointed. Also, to be fair, todays specific gravity of the fuel is so much different than it was eighty years ago, even if working, it will probably not be very accurate. 

 

PS-Curt is a great guy, I have been recently working with him, simply the best. Ed.

Edited February 10, 2018 by edinmass (see edit history)

[Reocoop]

On 2/4/2018 at 4:50 AM, Curti said:

I have manometer fluid red or green. That doesn't smell or turn clear or evaporate.  Been supplying Auburn owners for years. $15 per vial. PM me if you are interested. 

Can you email me the info to purchase the red fluid thanks 

[alsancle]

40 minutes ago, Reocoop said:

Can you email me the info to purchase the red fluid thanks 

https://straight-eight.com/product/king-seeley-hobson-fuel-gauge-red-fluid/

 

Buy a couple of bottles.

[Curti]

My email address is :  auburnsmidwest@gmail.com

[Buffalowed Bill]

On 2/10/2018 at 5:34 AM, edinmass said:

King-Seeley is a Latin term that translated into English means, broken when new, useless, and only there for judging in order for you to lose points in competition. Over the last forty years, I have owned dozens of cars with them. Some work great, some with incredible effort work when they want to, and others just piss me off. Sorry about that, but I had to say it. Now I just rig the guage to read 2/3 full, and don’t even bother with them anymore. I just keep the tank topped off unless on tour, then I track my mileage. They are simple, and on paper should be reliable, but they are not.  I had a good  run repairing them for better than ten years, and the last five I worked on kicked my A**, and I’m not one to give up on fixing anything. Prepare for any eventuality and you won’t be disappointed. Also, to be fair, todays specific gravity of the fuel is so much different than it was eighty years ago, even if working, it will probably not be very accurate. 

 

PS-Curt is a great guy, I have been recently working with him, simply the best. Ed.

Thanks Ed for being that authority figure that said what had to be said! It does mirror my own experience in three cars. There is no doubt the most frustrating episode was while I was doing a final detailing on my 1931 Studebaker Four Season Roadster for it's trip to PB (ironically 31 Studebaker like the poster). I wasn't satisfied with the level the K/S was reading the level in the tank, and thought it should be able to do better. Inside the garage in which it was parked the temperature was <65degrees. I added enough red fluid to bring the gauge reading up to the known amount of fuel in the tank. But when I moved it out in the sun the change in temp. began to bring the fluid level up really fast. When it got to a level very close to the top of the gauge it became obvious that I had a real problem! I quickly moved in back into the garage and removed about 1/2 of the fluid. The gauge seems to have a mind of it's own. The gauge and I now have an understanding-it can feature whatever it wants to on a given day. As for me as long as it reads something and doesn't go crazy, I'm just as happy as can be!