Old lead mechanic swore by using a pickled washer on every fuel line fitting

My first lead at a Kansas City GA shop told me to always soak copper washers in pickle juice before install, said it stops weeping. After a year of no leaks on Mooney and Cessna lines, I have to admit the guy was onto something. Anyone else run into weird tricks like this that actually work?

3 comments

3 Comments

ward.jamie16d ago

Huh, pickle juice on fuel fittings? I've never tried that specifically, but I've had good luck with a tiny dab of anti-seize on brass fittings. Makes them way easier to break loose later without chewing up the threads. Might be worth giving your washer trick a shot next time I'm fighting a stubborn leak.

price.ben16d ago

Feel ya on that one. There's nothin worse than goin to take off a fitting you put on a couple years ago and it feels like it's welded itself on there. I've snapped a few brass fittings clean in half before cause they were seized up so bad. Anti-seize is smart, I should start doin that myself instead of just hoping for the best. The pickle juice trick is hit or miss honestly, sometimes it works like a charm and other times it's like the threads are just too far gone. I think it's the acid in the vinegar that eats through the corrosion just enough to let it turn. Anyway, hope your next leak fight goes smoother than mine usually do.

logan65816d ago

Ward's dead on about anti-seize on brass fittings. That stuff is a lifesaver if you've ever had to fight a fuel line on a cold morning. The pickle juice trick works better than you'd think though, not just for the acid eating through crud but also because the salt in it changes how the copper behaves under torque. I've had fittings that felt tight but still seeped after a few heat cycles, and a washed washer that's been soaked for a while seems to conform to the sealing surface way better. Plus it's way cheaper than buying those fancy coated washers from the tool truck. Good call on the anti-seize though, I might start double dipping with both.