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Auto fuel safe drain valve
I was preflighting my 601 this evening and when I took a fuel sample, the valve started leaking badly. I snapped the valve which reduced the leak to just dripping. Turns out that the o-ring is not auto fuel safe. Anybody know of a replacement o-ring that can withstand mogas?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Bob Simmons on
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Permalink Reply by Douglas Binder on
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I went with McMaster but it looks like Grainger is cheaper. It is a -006 and I used Viton. The o-ring first saw mogas last August so failed in less than a year. I don't know what the 7 series models, or, for that matter, what the 650s use but the CAV-110 valves from Aircraft Spruce use an o-ring that is not automotive fuel safe.
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You should note that in a review on Aircraft Spruce, so others don't fall into the same trap.
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Permalink Reply by Jim and Amelia Isaacs on
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Doug that is odd, I’ve been using three of those Saf-Air CAV-110 valves for four years now with no problems and all I use is regular grade ethanol-free car pump gas. Did Saf-Air change O-ring suppliers?
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Update: I drained the tank last night and removed the valve. The o-ring looks fine but there was a bit of debris on the sealing surface so I believe that was the issue, not the o-ring. I am getting the Viton rings in today so I will swap out the rings anyway. One more thing - I use 93 octane mogas with ethanol. I can't get 93 ethanol free gas around here and the Jabiru 3300 calls for 93 minimum.
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