97 Suburban Fuel Pump Seal

[97burb]

New user here with a question about a fuel pump for a 97 Suburban with a 5.7. We replaced the fuel pump about 2 months ago. When we dropped the tank, the top of the sending unit and lock ring had a waxy, sticky putty all over it. It looked like it was put on at the factory, I am pretty sure it was the original pump. We scraped the putty off and put the new pump on reusing the original rubber seal because it still looked like new. We put the truck back together and I can smell gas fumes outside the vehicle coming from the tank ever since. I dropped the tank again and all the hoses look good, no cracks in the filler or vent hoses that I can see. I have purchased a new lock ring and new rubber seal to try again and see if we can get a better seal this time. My questions are: 1. Is anyone familiar with the putty that was on there originally? 2. Will this putty help to better seal the tank around the sending unit and prevent fumes from escaping? 3. Is this stuff available somewhere so I can apply some before I reinstall the tank on the truck again? Thanks in advance for any replies.

[Magnumb]

Did you check that the return and sending hoses were not pinched when you put the tank back up?

[97burb]

Did you check that the return and sending hoses were not pinched when you put the tank back up?

 

Thanks for the reply. We put the truck back together yesterday. Hoses weren't pinched. The new lock ring and seal seemed to hold a lot tighter. We put some wax from a toilet ring around the outside of the sending unit to replace the putty that was on there. I know it probably was completely unnecessary, but it gave me a little peace of mind. No fumes anymore.

[Zembonez]

Did you check that the return and sending hoses were not pinched when you put the tank back up?

 

Thanks for the reply. We put the truck back together yesterday. Hoses weren't pinched. The new lock ring and seal seemed to hold a lot tighter. We put some wax from a toilet ring around the outside of the sending unit to replace the putty that was on there. I know it probably was completely unnecessary, but it gave me a little peace of mind. No fumes anymore.

 

Welcome to GM-Trucks, Eric. Glad you got it solved.