MTFCA Forum

I have been fighting with the sediment bowl for a week now. Rebuilt and sandblasted the body, new pet cock, new gasket and filter mesh, reground smooth the on off valve and installed everything with fuel resistant ez turn lubricant and it still leaks. The wife is angry because of the gasoline smell and gives me grief. Are the new sediment bowls that the parts suppliers are selling any better? Frank

You mean she doesn’t mind the oil leaks?

Have you determined he source of the weep ? I give the bulb lever a slight "kiss" with a small tack hammer - usually remedies that area BUT the small drain petcock can also be a source of a drip - usually the same drill will remedy that also.

I've fought this battle too ! It took a while to find all of the pieces of the puzzle. I'm guessing my problem was same as yours, Steve: seepage kept the "spud" damp (and smelly) with gasoline, never quite leaking enough even to cause a drip.
I removed the "spud" and gave the valve a good working over with increasingly finer abrasives until it was at a high polish. Same for the little petcock, then I assembled the valve pieces with an application of fuel valve lubricant. I used fuel-resistant permatex on the drain cock threads and the the gas tank fitting. I still had seepage, the "spud" stayed damp. Very frustrating ! Finally I realized the flange of the female fitting soldered into the gas tank was also a source of seeping. I was loath to remove the tank to re-solder the connection. NAPA guy pointed me to a clear "fuel-safe" sealant that resembles old-time "DUCO" glue. Cleaning the flange and smearing the "DUCO" goop on it finally stopped the seeping and the odor. Not a "permanent" fix, but it's working. I understand the valves will need to be doped with the lubricant again in time. Don't overlook the pack-nut on the fuel line. It's amazing how capillary attraction can spread the tiniest amount of gasoline over a wide area, fooling you as to the source of a leak. Hope this helps.

Do you have seepage through the metal itself......or just at the gasketed areas?

If its the valve cone (main or petcock) EZTurn is recommended - sold by Lang's and others

I did as all of you suggested and even used EZ lube as I stated but no cigar. I finally broke down and ordered a brand new sediment bowl and petcock. Two days of crawling back and forth under the car, gas all over my arms, the wife angry all hell and still ended up spending a $100.00 to make the gas smell go away. Thank you everyone. Frank

Years ago, after lapping/polishing the sediment bulb valve, I used bar soap on the valve.

It seals and lubricates and is not affected by gasoline.

No problems so far.

My father has done the same thing in the past on his Model T.

Bar soap is an old trick and everybody has a least one bar of soap in the house.......