DIESEL FUEL FITTINGS

Rob,
I would not recommend the use of teflon tape. Teflon paste would be OK. If you can find it there is a product called Grip. This is a black goo and very tenacious. Grip - Lite is not quite as good, but easier to use. I have used it, Grip, with great success where other sealants failed. I could be wrong but, I think the Racor threads are slightly different and this could be a problem. Is it possible that a fitting on the tank or the shut off valve is your problem? At this point I would be very tempted to replace all the fittings and hose between the tank and lift pump. Sometimes biting the bullet is the most cost effective way to go. If an oil burner is giving me a big problem and the fuel lines are above ground, I will replace everything including the copper. This way there are all new flares, nuts, etc. My customers may spend and extra $50, but they stay warm.
Tom Duane

Hi Rob,
I'm a sales engineer for NORTON Performance Plastics, a large producer of Teflon products. I can attest to the fact that TEFLON (the DuPont trade name for PTFE) does NOT react with diesel fuel. It very inert to nearly all chemicals except for a few aggressive ones. The Teflon tape you are considering using acts as both a lubricant and thread sealer. Suggestions:
1.) Don't try to re-use the tape after it's been connected.
2.) Is there any chance you can use brass fittings? ..........these, usually don't require the Teflon tape.
3.) I'm not a proponent of Teflon tape in "sensitive applications" where tape fragments could travel downstream and clog critical components.
4.) A friend of mine installed an outboard motor priming bulb in his J35 fuel line to help re-fill the fuel system once it is run dry.