other Gas Cap Gasket

[adawil2002]

I have 3 gas caps that need new gaskets, the rubber is either cracked or has completely disintegrated. I've looked at the parts diagrams regarding gas caps, yet no replacement gasket is listed. Has anyone found a good replacement for the gasket?

[M3M3]

like you, i have a pile of gas caps with bad gaskets

 

only way i could find a replacement was to just buy a new cap as they come with them.  i tried making one but....

 

and after getting a new cap with gasket, it still leaks on hard left turns.

Edited October 24, 2013 by mlytle

[Mike Self]

Early cars came with cork gas tank gaskets--much easier to make.  Then to preserve the cork, take a polyethelene lid from a deli or butter container and cut out a second gasket.  put this on top of the cork gasket (or a rubber one if yours is still in decent shape).  It'll help seal the tank and make the cap much easier to remove...

 

cheers

mike

[adawil2002]

like you, i have a pile of gas caps with bad gaskets

 

only way i could find a replacement was to just buy a new cap as they come with them.  i tried making one but....

 

and after getting a new cap with gasket, it still leaks on hard left turns.

 

Don't want to buy a new cap. I'd rather fix an old something than buy a new something. Maybe a sink gasket or some thing from a plumbing supply store for the kluge. May try making a cork gasket, that would be interesting.

[austinmf]

Good call. What about plain old gasket material. How you glueing it down?

[adawil2002]

Haven't had chance to work on this yet, I have some Wurth glue that's like contact cement.

[LB72]

I made one out of a plastic coffee can lid, using the old gasket as a template. I then placed it behind the old gasket and used as a shim. It creates a very tight fit and no more leaks. I read that tip on here somewhere.

[adawil2002]

Great idea, thanks.

['76mintgrün'02]

I read that tip on here somewhere

 

Perhaps you read it in post #3 of this thread?

Great tip!  The ID is 2 3/8" and OD is 3 1/8" (not metric, but accurate for my cap)

I have this tool that cuts both circles at once.  Rarely do I have a reason to show it off.

 

I bought a brand new BMW cap recently and was disappointed in the quality.  Yes it was shiny stainless steel, but they stamped the cap and then the roundel which deformed the overall shape.  Looks cheap and tinny, so I bought an old one off a fellow FAQer and moved the new gasket onto that one.  Not as shiny, but a much nicer part.  

I kept the shiny one as a spare in case I leave the old one on the trunk after filling the tank... again.

 

Tom

[austinmf]

Cool tool. Mine is going to be handcut unless you start selling them

['76mintgrün'02]

I'll mail you that one if you'd like... just made it for show and tell.  Send my your address if you want it.  Tom

[Tommy]

"Looks cheap and tinny, so I bought an old one off a fellow FAQer and moved the new gasket onto that one."

 

Hah, that is how we comfort each other when looking at work results: "Hmm...At least it looks cheap (though it became much more expensive than targeted)." I work as an R&D engineer.

 

Can't be happy about quality of many BMW Classic parts nowdays.

 

  Tommy

[adawil2002]

I think I have that same cutting tool!...just have to find it.

[jgerock]

Good recycling practice for those plastic lids (LDPE = low density polyethylene).  Note the # 4 inside the recycling I.D. triangle.  The lower the number, the more common (easier) the material is for recycling.  

['76mintgrün'02]

I really preferred the look and feel of the locking cap that came with my car.  The profile was flatter and matched the curve of the body.  Also about a tenth of an inch larger diameter which filled the indentation in the body better.  The stainless was actually polished and thicker material.  It had a nice heft to it.  (The lock worked smoothly but I never needed to use it):-) 

 

I walked the ditch for half an hour trying to find the missing pieces.  I found the cover and the gasket and am now tempted to build a Frankin-cap using the cover of the locking and the innards of the tinny one... and a shim from a yogurt lid. 

 

Meanwhile: my rockers are rusting, A-arm is bent, heater's not working, steering box leaks... She's coming right along though!

 

I do think the parts we physically handle give the highest return-for-improvement.  Putting fuel in is an unpleasant experience.  A nice gas cap takes a little of the $ting out. 

 

Let me know if you want a shim. 

I have three to choose from:

 

White $.02 (cleaner emissions)

Gold $ .02 (improved mileage)

Red $.02 (increased horsepower)

 

... and they're RECYCLABLE  ; )

 

EDIT: the White one has been sold

          the Gold one has been sold

Edited July 13, 2015 by '76Mintgrun'02