Chris Mares wrote:
Hello everyone, hey I have a 1993 OMC Sunbird that I have a question
regarding the fuel tank fitting.
Before I prepped the unit for storage last fall i noticed i wan't
getting any fuel to the pump. I found out the aluminum one way valve
in
the fuel line connected to the fuel tank was corroded and defective.
When I tried to remove it it broke off in the 90 degree fitting that
screws into the plastic fuel tank. The 90 degree fitting seems to be
threaded into a large nut that's not very thick and bonded or molded
into the fuel tank. I tried to unscrew the 90 degree fitting from the

nut but it seems pretty tight and I couldn't get it to budge. My
question is...I should be able to remove this 90 degree fitting
correct?
So I can get it out and replace it along with the valve.
I don't have much room through my access hole and would hate to
damage
the tank and have to remove the floor to repair it.
Thought I would ask those who know.

P.S. there was a bunch of white corrosion on the aluminum valve and
it
seemed to etch it really bad. What causes that?

Hi Chris, that white stuff is probably aluminum oxide, with some salt
thrown in for effect. If I were you, I would do the bare minimum amount
of work you can to get your self back to working order. On older stuff
like yours it's a ripple effect, touch one thing, break two, and on and
on until you end up replacing the tank, not much fun. By the way, that
valve's not defective, it hasn't been maintained. You have to open and
close them from time to time, keep water away from them, and a little
WD-40 sprayed on them now and then goes a long way. I have a bad
feeling you've worked yourself into a corner, and may have to replace
that fuel tank, which, like everything else, doesn't last forever.

Capt John wrote:



Hi Chris, that white stuff is probably aluminum oxide, with some salt
thrown in for effect. If I were you, I would do the bare minimum amount
of work you can to get your self back to working order. On older stuff
like yours it's a ripple effect, touch one thing, break two, and on and
on until you end up replacing the tank, not much fun. By the way, that
valve's not defective, it hasn't been maintained. You have to open and
close them from time to time, keep water away from them, and a little
WD-40 sprayed on them now and then goes a long way. I have a bad
feeling you've worked yourself into a corner, and may have to replace
that fuel tank, which, like everything else, doesn't last forever.


Capt John;
I basically agree with you, but I'd like to add that what we probably
have is a dissimilar metals problem (reducer/valve) that had no anti
seize on the threads. An aluminum valve probably should have been
replaced the minute you realized it was aluminum.

WD40 is one of the most misused products around. WD40 is mostly a
solvent that would wash away most of any grease or oil and speed up
corrosion in the long run, it is very poor for preventing corrosion.

My WD gets used as starting fluid, metal polish, and is used as a
cleaner. I use spray oil for the other stuff.

"A little oil on them goes a long way."

Jim