| Author |
Message |
harrymarlin
Samba Member
Joined: June 07, 2018
Posts: 720
Location: Washington, DC
|
 Posted: Mon May 22, 2023 2:25 pm Post subject: Cork gas cap gasket |
 |
|
I just went to order a new gasket for my gas cap (for my 67 - so, 70mm) and found no one in the US sells one made of cork. I know I can make one myself, but I'm just trying to understand why they aren't available commercially, anymore. Was there a recall? 
_________________
-Harry
--------------------------
1967 Ruby Red Convertible Beetle ("Becky")
ISO Albuquerque "Imported Motors" dealership paraphernalia |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
glutamodo 
The Android
Joined: July 13, 2004
Posts: 26310
Location: Douglas, WY
|
| Posted: Mon May 22, 2023 3:50 pm Post subject: Re: Cork gas cap gasket |
|
|
One reason I can think of... Cork is not a very good gasket for petrochemicals. I'd much rather have a treated thick cardstock gasket... which by the mid 60s was actually what VW was using. Like these.
This is an aftermarket gasket that worked just fine for me:
_________________
Andy T.
IMAGE NOTE: It has been noted that Chrome based browsers may have issues in displaying my vast image library, which use non-secure links and are on an FTP server. Images should still be viewable if the link is clicked though.
I do not know how to fix this. All I can say is it all works fine for me with what I use, Firefox. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
iowegian
Samba Curmudgeon
Joined: February 16, 2005
Posts: 9829
Location: Somewhere between Dubuque and Keokuk
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
harrymarlin
Samba Member
Joined: June 07, 2018
Posts: 720
Location: Washington, DC
|
| Posted: Mon May 22, 2023 5:36 pm Post subject: Re: Cork gas cap gasket |
|
|
| glutamodo wrote: |
One reason I can think of... Cork is not a very good gasket for petrochemicals. I'd much rather have a treated thick cardstock gasket... which by the mid 60s was actually what VW was using. Like these.
|
Cork is an *excellent* gasket for oils and gas - which is why it is used in many labs. It's really the binder that you need to be careful with. That residue may be from a cork gasket, and that my original gasket was cork as well. I can't find any documentation that VW stopped using cork in the Beetles.
_________________
-Harry
--------------------------
1967 Ruby Red Convertible Beetle ("Becky")
ISO Albuquerque "Imported Motors" dealership paraphernalia |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
harrymarlin
Samba Member
Joined: June 07, 2018
Posts: 720
Location: Washington, DC
|
| Posted: Mon May 22, 2023 5:37 pm Post subject: Re: Cork gas cap gasket |
|
|
Awesome! Thanks!
_________________
-Harry
--------------------------
1967 Ruby Red Convertible Beetle ("Becky")
ISO Albuquerque "Imported Motors" dealership paraphernalia |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
harrymarlin
Samba Member
Joined: June 07, 2018
Posts: 720
Location: Washington, DC
|
| Posted: Tue May 23, 2023 6:33 am Post subject: Re: Cork gas cap gasket |
|
|
| harrymarlin wrote: |
| Cork is an *excellent* gasket for oils and gas - which is why it is used in many labs. It's really the binder that you need to be careful with. That residue may be from a cork gasket, and that my original gasket was cork as well. I can't find any documentation that VW stopped using cork in the Beetles. |
It strikes me that this response may have seemed a bit rude and presumptuous. I wasn't able to find when the gas cap gasket was switched over to the blue rubber or cardstock, but I assumed it was in 68, as my 67 seemed to have a very old cork gasket, when I removed it years ago.
Where do you get the cardstock gaskets from, Andy?
_________________
-Harry
--------------------------
1967 Ruby Red Convertible Beetle ("Becky")
ISO Albuquerque "Imported Motors" dealership paraphernalia |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
kreemoweet
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2008
Posts: 3898
Location: Seattle, WA
|
| Posted: Tue May 23, 2023 8:43 am Post subject: Re: Cork gas cap gasket |
|
|
Aren't stock valve cover gaskets made of cork?
"Bituminized cork" I think they call it.
They are the best.
_________________
'67 bug: seized by the authorities
'68 bug: seized by the authorities
'71 kombi: not yet seized by the authorities
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
KTPhil
Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2006
Posts: 34003
Location: Conejo Valley, CA
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
glutamodo
The Android
Joined: July 13, 2004
Posts: 26310
Location: Douglas, WY
|
| Posted: Tue May 23, 2023 11:38 pm Post subject: Re: Cork gas cap gasket |
|
|
The aftermarket cardstock gasket, I'm pretty sure I got from WW 30+ years ago. The others shown were originals.
Replacement vented safety caps did NOT use cork.
I'm a bit critical of cork gaskets because a couple of things. Like how the oil pan gaskets on Brazil made late 80s VW Foxes always leaked compared to USA/German made ones with cardstock gaskets at that time. And I have mucked about with cork gaskets for the mechanical tank sending unit... give me a fuel resistant rubber gasket there. Rubber gaskets on the gas cap, I've tried and while they work they tend to not want to let the cap turn very well so I don't care for them there.
Valve cover gaskets, I've seen shit and I've seen good. I just pissed on the Brazil Fox oil pan gaskets, but SABO brand aftermarket aircooled valve cover gaskets used to be pretty damn good. Thick enough to seal. They outperformed German gaskets you could get at that time (talking a few decades ago) but they stopped selling them long ago. In intervening years others have learned to make treated cork valve cover gaskets that actually are the right thickness.
Remember, I worked at a VW parts/service shop from late 1994 to early 2001.
If I had a variety pack of various sheets of gasket material (I actually do have some such in my closet) which one would I choose to cut out for a Gas Cap? Cardstock - provided it was thick enough.
_________________
Andy T.
IMAGE NOTE: It has been noted that Chrome based browsers may have issues in displaying my vast image library, which use non-secure links and are on an FTP server. Images should still be viewable if the link is clicked though.
I do not know how to fix this. All I can say is it all works fine for me with what I use, Firefox. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
harrymarlin
Samba Member
Joined: June 07, 2018
Posts: 720
Location: Washington, DC
|
| Posted: Sat May 27, 2023 2:44 pm Post subject: Re: Cork gas cap gasket |
|
|
| harrymarlin wrote: |
Awesome! Thanks! |
Unfortunately, the picture and the description in Bughaus are incorrect - what I received was *not* cork. 
_________________
-Harry
--------------------------
1967 Ruby Red Convertible Beetle ("Becky")
ISO Albuquerque "Imported Motors" dealership paraphernalia |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
iowegian
Samba Curmudgeon
Joined: February 16, 2005
Posts: 9829
Location: Somewhere between Dubuque and Keokuk
|
| Posted: Sat May 27, 2023 3:37 pm Post subject: Re: Cork gas cap gasket |
|
|
| harrymarlin wrote: |
| harrymarlin wrote: |
Awesome! Thanks! |
Unfortunately, the picture and the description in Bughaus are incorrect - what I received was *not* cork. |
Is it the correct size? ( 2 11/16 inch O.D. x 1 11/16 inch I.D. and about 1/8 inch thick). If it is I'll trade you your cardboard gasket for a spare cork one that I probably will never use.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
OldSchoolVW's
Samba Member
Joined: July 03, 2020
Posts: 690
Location: San Diego
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
harrymarlin
Samba Member
Joined: June 07, 2018
Posts: 720
Location: Washington, DC
|
| Posted: Sun May 28, 2023 6:02 am Post subject: Re: Cork gas cap gasket |
|
|
Definitely not cork. Very good quality, I'm sure, though.
_________________
-Harry
--------------------------
1967 Ruby Red Convertible Beetle ("Becky")
ISO Albuquerque "Imported Motors" dealership paraphernalia |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
harrymarlin
Samba Member
Joined: June 07, 2018
Posts: 720
Location: Washington, DC
|
| Posted: Sun May 28, 2023 6:34 am Post subject: Re: Cork gas cap gasket |
|
|
| iowegian wrote: |
Is it the correct size? ( 2 11/16 inch O.D. x 1 11/16 inch I.D. and about 1/8 inch thick). If it is I'll trade you your cardboard gasket for a spare cork one that I probably will never use. |
OD: 2 11/16"
ID: 1 13/16"
Thickness: 1/8"
I'll PM you.
_________________
-Harry
--------------------------
1967 Ruby Red Convertible Beetle ("Becky")
ISO Albuquerque "Imported Motors" dealership paraphernalia |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
iowegian
Samba Curmudgeon
Joined: February 16, 2005
Posts: 9829
Location: Somewhere between Dubuque and Keokuk
|
| Posted: Sun May 28, 2023 9:34 am Post subject: Re: Cork gas cap gasket |
|
|
| harrymarlin wrote: |
| iowegian wrote: |
Is it the correct size? ( 2 11/16 inch O.D. x 1 11/16 inch I.D. and about 1/8 inch thick). If it is I'll trade you your cardboard gasket for a spare cork one that I probably will never use. |
OD: 2 11/16"
ID: 1 13/16"
Thickness: 1/8"
I'll PM you. |
We have a deal. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
harrymarlin
Samba Member
Joined: June 07, 2018
Posts: 720
Location: Washington, DC
|
| Posted: Sun May 28, 2023 10:48 am Post subject: Re: Cork gas cap gasket |
|
|
| iowegian wrote: |
| We have a deal. |
Chuck and I are going to Washington next, to work on the debt ceiling.
_________________
-Harry
--------------------------
1967 Ruby Red Convertible Beetle ("Becky")
ISO Albuquerque "Imported Motors" dealership paraphernalia |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
DesertSasquatchXploration
Samba Member
Joined: April 16, 2021
Posts: 541
|
| Posted: Tue May 30, 2023 9:37 am Post subject: Re: Cork gas cap gasket |
|
|
I can run off 50 or so real quick out of 1/16 Fel-pro material it rated for gas oil and coolant. I have rolls of Fel-Pro Karropak its treated paper I've run it thru some torture tests its great stuff my baja has all my own gaskets made with Karropak except the exhaust gaskets no issues.
My gas cap is being a pain lately should make some and add it to my gasket offerings
Last edited by DesertSasquatchXploration on Tue May 30, 2023 10:02 am; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
harrymarlin
Samba Member
Joined: June 07, 2018
Posts: 720
Location: Washington, DC
|
| Posted: Tue May 30, 2023 9:43 am Post subject: Re: Cork gas cap gasket |
|
|
| DesertSasquatchXploration wrote: |
I can run off 50 or so real quick out of 1/16 felpro material it rated for gas oil and coolant.
My gas cap is being a pain lately should make some and add it to my gasket offerings |
That would be great! I don't know if this was original, but the three different gas cap gaskets I have seen have all been 1/8" thick, so it may fit best to be that thick (or thicker?)
_________________
-Harry
--------------------------
1967 Ruby Red Convertible Beetle ("Becky")
ISO Albuquerque "Imported Motors" dealership paraphernalia |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
DesertSasquatchXploration
Samba Member
Joined: April 16, 2021
Posts: 541
|
| Posted: Tue May 30, 2023 10:13 am Post subject: Re: Cork gas cap gasket |
|
|
I have 1/16th 1/32nd and 1/64th
The 1/8 material is stupid expensive.
Anything over 1/16th I have to laser it makes a black burnt edge people don't like.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
