An interesting discovery while I was checking out all the systems after my upper engine work.

After priming the fuel system with the key on and checking for leaks, I found none but today I unscrewed the fuel rail cap for the schraeder connection and fuel leaked out.
The needle valve was not holding pressure.
I tried screwing it in a little tighter but it didn't matter.

So I removed it and replaced it with a new one.

The seal on the old one had deteriorated and upon inspection crumbled in my hands.

It'* tight now.

Hmm, Bizzare, but I guess, it warrants a quick check when my car is back up in running status.
Probably not a bad idea for others to quickly take a peak at! Could save you a nasty fire!
And to think, your car has..48000 kms on it?

Just to make it clear. Since all the years have this valve, should owners of all years 87-03 be checking and if necessisary, changing the valve core? Or is the valve slightly different for the SII engines?

Must be all the sitting in the garage that does it.

But seriously, I wonder if there is anything in the race fuel or Toluene that could have broken down the seal. :?

In that case, I think O'Niel should inspect his...
The sitting probably does it...you normally start it though in the winter just to warm it up..or is it normally all taken apart like mine lol

Well, only the last three years have I not started it at least once a month.

I have not started it now since early November and it probably won't start for another week.

It is a standard needle insert common to all including air valves for your tires. Same insert.

The seat is a hard plastic material but it is very tiny and my eyes have a hard time picking up the details but using a magifying glass it looks like a cast in place seal. There are two of them. One that seals the check valve and one that seals against the threads.

Yeah I'll have to add that to the todo list for this spring....about 4 months away

I've probably run more toluene than both you guys. I've never had a leak, but I'll check.

Any word on whether the tire valves are rated for fuel contact?

I don't know about the tire valves but this was a factory OEM valve.

You would think that anything automotive related should be oil and gas resistant.