rubber as a gasket

[jvandyke]

In the ongoing battle to reduce oil drippings, I have been suspecting my mech fuel pump blanking plate (now with breather hose fitted through it). It was made by PO, a bit oversized so hard to determine just how flat it sits there, but after three attempts with gasket and RTV, last night I grabbed a hunk of rubber gasket material, made a gasket out of it and bolted it up. Now I worry that rubber can't take the heat. I guess I'll find out.
I should bite the bullet and get this dude.
fuel blanking breather fitting

 

[tony barnhill]

The oil pan gasket on my Corvette engine is rubber....& when I removed it last night the rubber was still soft...could probably reuse it but I won't.

 

[jvandyke]

Might depend on what the "rubber" is made of. I made it from a "make your own gasket" set with fiber, cork and rubber so maybe it was designed to take some heat. I was thinking that it rubber might accommodate an ill fitting plate. How hot does a block get? 200? Could easily be barking up the wrong tree yet. Man I hate hunting oil leaks, every time I think I found it and solved it, I didn't. Did reveal some loose bolts though, wondered why the air cleaner wiggled, loose, nope, the whole carb was loose.....are there supposed to be lock nuts there?

 

[Sarastro]

Be sure to use Nitrile or Buna-N material (two names for the same thing). It should be good to 250F; see https://www.gasketing.net/nitrile.htm. Don't just use a piece of old inner tube; that is usually butyl rubber, which has poor petroleum resistance.

That fuel-pump blanking plate is pretty easy to seal--if you have leaks around it, probably the plate is not flat. I made mine out of 1/4" aluminum stock, and I use ordinary 0.010" paper gasket material, no sealer. It doesn't leak at all.

 

[jvandyke]

Well I drove it about 50 miles with the rubber and it made no difference at all. I still get three spots: under the bellhousing lip at the lowest point, the oil drain plug and somewhere else near there. (not coming from the gearbox I'm pretty sure). So, don't know the source yet, heck it could be the stupid dip stick for all I know. She runs nice though.

 

[jlaird]

Three drops, sigh.

 

[jvandyke]

Three drops, sigh.

Well, three spots, silver dollar sized, takes a good hour for them to show, so quick stops don't leave embarrassing spots but any longer stays do. Whatever.

 

[leecreek]

Tried tightening your front plate and timing cover?

 

[jvandyke]

No, I will snug 'em up today.