Fuel tank strap insulation

[sadil340]

I was told by my body shop manager (knowledgeable Mopar guy) that there should be insulation between the tank straps and the tank. He says not only will it be noisy without the insulation but the gauge won't read accurately because of the grounding. He also said I could just go to Home Depot and buy some rubber sheeting and cut it.

Any opinions?

[daveh]

That's what I do.  Just add a strip of rubber.  I have also sprayed undercoating just on the inside of the strap where it contacts the tank.  That works just let it dry well. 

[burdar]

He says not only will it be noisy without the insulation but the gauge won't read accurately because of the grounding.

Neither are true.  The factory never used any insulation between the tank and the straps.  Also, the sending unit is grounded anyway.  There is a ground strap from the sending unit to the fuel line.  The fuel line is grounded to the body by the clips.  The sending unit is also grounded to the tank by the locking ring.

Yes, you can use some insulation if you want to.  It's not mandatory though.

[roadman5312]

Neither are true.  The factory never used any insulation between the tank and the straps.  Also, the sending unit is grounded anyway.  There is a ground strap from the sending unit to the fuel line.  The fuel line is grounded to the body by the clips.  The sending unit is also grounded to the tank by the locking ring.

Yes, you can use some insulation if you want to.  It's not mandatory though.

          For a minute there I thought I was going to have to go back to electrical 101 class     I never trusted that factory ground strap, always ran an additional wire to the sending unit.

[burdar]

I don't even have the strap hooked up yet and the gauge works.  I bought the short strap but needed the long one.  The sending unit is still grounded through the straps.

[anlauto]

I agree Your "knowledgeable Mopar guy" doesn't know a lot about Mopars Sounds like some sort of "fix" for a problem that doesn't exist

[sadil340]

I had that suspicion - I've known the car since new and was the first one to take it apart - there was no insulation on the straps then but I first faced it 20 years ago when I had the tank repaired. I figured I must have left it off. Anyway I think I will use the suggestion to spray the straps with undercoat - I do get a little buzzing from time to time and that will quiet it down.