reason for the fuel rail leaking

[Brian]

I found corrosion at all O-rings. Could this be from my choice of O-ring lube 7 years ago or water? Notice there is more corrosion on the gas side of the O-ring.

[Thunderbolt]

I'm thinking it's that doggone ethanol gasoline or as you said water in the gasoline.  I just cleaned up the carbs on the Interstate and put new o-rings on the bowls, they looked similar.  Probably will be doing the o-rings on the fuel rails next, I still smell a little gasoline.

[salty1]

Great pic Brian! A good example why fuel would leak by th O-rings. 

[Farther]

I found corrosion at all O-rings.

What material is corroding?

[98valk]

o-ring lube 7 yrs ago? what type did u use? only silicone grease aka dielectric should be used.

that's what it looks like, not corrosion

[Thrud]

Why are you putting lube on an o-ring that is exposed to fuel?  Does the shop manual call for lubrication?

[AZdougness]

My understanding is it extends the life of the o-rings considerably. Between heat, pressure, corroding substances, and dryness there are a lot of possible damaging conditions that can occur. Lubing with the proper substance per material type or area of application is important. It's like when installing a new oil filter you smear a coat of oil on the big o-ring around the base seal, though the manual does call for it in this case.

[whitestroke]

Humm, kinda looks like the stuff I found in my slow jets.

[YoungPUP]

Looks like the material I found in the bottom of my float bowls during last seasons carb rebuild do to plugged slows.

[Brian]

I found corrosion at all O-rings.

What material is corroding?

The ring of white stuff in the carb body port did leave behind a slight marking or stain in the zinc after cleaning. The sidewalls of the port were not pitted. I may have used plumbers grease that is waterproof. I feel this may be the result of it reacting with the gas. This time I used the dielectric silicone. The term "corrosion" may have been a poor choice of words. It was easily removed with a round wood toothpick. I found the toothpicks worked better than the plastic pick that redeye sent in their kit.