ronbarn Posted May 6, 2004 Share Posted May 6, 2004 Does gasoline or gasoline with alcohol eat styrofoam? I need to replace the float on one of my cars and have a styrofoam fishing float that would work if it can be used in a gas tank. Yes, I know I could set up a test by placing the float in a container of gas - just thought I would check with you guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John N. Packard Posted May 6, 2004 Share Posted May 6, 2004 Ron, On the Sentimental Tour two years ago I needed to prime my carburetor; so without thinking I grabbed a styrofoam cup and pumped some gas into it. The styrofoam disintegrated before you could say 'jack robinson'. Personally, I don't think the styrofoam float will work.jnp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter J.Heizmann Posted May 7, 2004 Share Posted May 7, 2004 Hi, Ron and John...John is correct. I experienced it, unfortunately, in my second hobby, hand lettering/pinstriping some years ago. Used a coffee cup. While working away, I did not notice that the cup literally melted and had gas all over my workbench.Same applies to paint thinner...being German, I guess I needed 2 lessons before getting the message.Regards, Peter J. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ex98thdrill Posted May 7, 2004 Share Posted May 7, 2004 Like the way they did the gas gauge on our '29 Whippet, try a piece of cork. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Hal Davis (MODEL A HAL) Posted May 7, 2004 Share Posted May 7, 2004 Even cork should be coated with shellac. Gas won't eat it up like it will styrofoam, but it will eventually soak into it and make it heavier and cause it to float lower and maybe even sink with enough time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aanderson44 Posted May 7, 2004 Share Posted May 7, 2004 <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Does gasoline or gasoline with alcohol eat styrofoam? I need to replace the float on one of my cars and have a styrofoam fishing float that would work if it can be used in a gas tank. Yes, I know I could set up a test by placing the float in a container of gas - just thought I would check with you guys. </div></div>Styrene plastic most certainly will be dissolved very quickly by gasoline, as will urethane foams.Art Anderson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronbarn Posted May 7, 2004 Author Share Posted May 7, 2004 Thanks all - I thought this was the case. I want to replace the coated cork float with something more durable. Obviously, the styrofoam idea is totally bogus. Am now thinking along the lines of making a brass or aluminum float of some sort. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Moskowitz Posted May 7, 2004 Share Posted May 7, 2004 Ron, you will have to excuse the following very technical answer. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> If you need a float for an early car you might want to check with a motorcycle shop like Harley. I believe they have a float made of compostion material that you can modify...used the material for my 1908. You know, that dark "stuff". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aanderson44 Posted May 7, 2004 Share Posted May 7, 2004 <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Thanks all - I thought this was the case. I want to replace the coated cork float with something more durable. Obviously, the styrofoam idea is totally bogus. Am now thinking along the lines of making a brass or aluminum float of some sort. </div></div>A thought on that! There are model airplane fuel tanks which are quite small, Sullivan makes them as small as 2 fl. oz! These are polypropylene plastic, with a cap that can be screwed on quite tightly. These also use neoprene "plugs" secured by the cap. The plug will have two holes in it, sized for a tight fit around a 3/32" brass tube (or for that matter, solid rod). Hobby shops (in their model airplane section) also will carry brass tubing and rod stock in telescoping sizes, in 1/32" increments, so even if the rod for your sensor/gas gauge is smaller, you should be able to sleeve it to fit, as well as pick up a short length of brass rud sufficient to seal off the extra hole in the neoprene plug.I'd not worry much about gasoline affecting a polypropylene plastic bottle being used as a float in the gas tank, as these are made for use with Methanol/nitromethane model airplane fuel, and that stuff is harsher than gasoline.You might give this idea a look! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 7, 2004 Share Posted May 7, 2004 Alcohol cuts shellac. Much gasolene today has some alcohol content and you never know when you will get it. The alcohol WILL dissolve the shellac on the float and then the cork absorbs the gasolene and becomes worthless. I have experienced this condition first hand. Metal floats are always good. I got a later model Chryslar brass tubular float and attached it to the rod in the gas tank of my '24 Buick. Has worked fine for years. The real problem comes when you gave a cork float in the carb in the shape of a doughnut, as in the '24 Buick.Peter H --- Some paints will do the same thing to styrofoam as gas and thinners. Again personal experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Niezabitowski Posted May 7, 2004 Share Posted May 7, 2004 If you decide to use a model airplane tank as a float, you should be aware that they are normally supplied with a rubber stopper that is suitable for glow fuel. Glow fuel is a mixture of alcohol, nitromethane and oil. Gasoline is not compatable with the rubber stopper. You will need to purchase a neoprene stopper as a separate item. They are available. I have set up a number of model aircraft with gas engines and the neoprene works fine. The post above does state this, but I thought it would be helpful to clarify this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest imported_Joe Kieliszek Posted May 7, 2004 Share Posted May 7, 2004 Hello,I dipped a couple of cork floats that I had made into some Eastwood gas tank sealer (after a couple of coats of shellac).Seems to hold up pretty well...Joe Kieliszek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
critterpainter Posted May 7, 2004 Share Posted May 7, 2004 Back in the 70's the mixture of gasoline and styrafoam was known as "bathtub napalm" by some of the more radical groups, stuck to things pretty well while burning.Billl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 8, 2004 Share Posted May 8, 2004 The cork float in my Pontiac is the original, has never been recoated or anything and is still working well after almost 74 years including the last 45 as my daily driver averaging nearly a thousand miles a month. It works so well that it has worn out three needles and seats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
48LCCOUPE Posted May 8, 2004 Share Posted May 8, 2004 tractor store or somewhere offering a "universal" Stewart Warner fuel sender @ 6.95, has nice float that would seem to be appropriate. Or try a Truck franchise - - Freightliner, Peterbilt .......for same thing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R W Burgess Posted May 9, 2004 Share Posted May 9, 2004 Would have to be an early Pete. All the new ones have a tube enclosed fuel sender, not real accurate either, in my opinion(the sender that is)! Wayne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
48LCCOUPE Posted May 9, 2004 Share Posted May 9, 2004 Most OE's gave up on that tube enclosure after just a couple of years. For one thing, depending on how the tank and unit are situated, the whole fuel tank has to be lossened, probably drained and tank turned to allow room to R&R the long tube. This just to replace a sender that you can see the top of standing beside the vehicle. I agree with you too, I don't think they are all that accurate either. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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