Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Glenn Crawford]

My Riley has a slow weep from below the carb and I'm going to treat it to a seal kit, but I notice that Burlen now offer a rubber seal kit as an alternative to the traditional cork type (ref. https://sucarb.co.uk/carburettor-kits/jet-bearing-kits/h-type-carburettors.html). They explain that there is some evidence that ethanol in petrol may cause deterioration of the cork in the older type.
I am suspicious. First, my seals have done around 10 years' service which I think is a reasonable life for a car in everyday use; second, I don't trust a rubber compound to be immune in the long term from ethanol, any more than I would cork.
Does anyone have practical experience of using these new seals?

[ukdave2002]

I doubt the modern seals are made of rubber these days, more likely to be silicon or TPE?s that have better resistance to the alcohol in modern fuels.

[Crashbox]

I rebuilt the SU carburettor on my 1932 Morris Minor not long after I bought the car in late-2016. I've been using E10 pretty much exclusively since its introduction a couple of years ago, and I've done many thousands of miles since, without any sign of issues so far. I can't remember what type of replacement set I bought, but I think it was probably the non-cork version. I also don't subscribe to the 'snake oil' fuel additives that sell for silly money.
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1989 2CV

1932 Morris Minor S.V. Two-Seater

[Glenn Crawford]

Thanks... it's Burlen who describe their modern alternative to cork as "rubber", hence my hesitation.
They also need you to replace the original brass "jet bearings" - the machined upper and lower housings - with new ones to accept their new rubber seals, a further departure from original which means if you subsequently return to cork washers, you need to know you must replace those too.
Still unsure!