Teflon tape or?

Tried to install a cool Mooneyes temp gauge on my a head of my 40 flattie. It still weeps anti freeze and I've put a good three spins of teflon on the threads. Anything else i might try?

Thanks,
Guy

 

Try some tru blue, thats what we use in avation on some things... You will never get it off is the thing!

 

Old Teflon tape was much thicker.

The cheapie new stuff is paper thin.

 

Or figure out how the fitting is supposed to work. If it has a nut that holds in the bulb, then you should not bother trying to seal the threads, because they aren't supposed to be sealing the fitting.

 

If it's a NPT thread (pipe thread), pull the gauge and chase the threads with a pipe tap to the point you are JUST cutting clean metal. Personally I prefer liquid teflon sealant over tape, but if you have clean fresh threads you shouldn't need any at all.

 

if it's brass it gets no sealant

 

If its electric tape can mess with the reading. Silicone sealer works pretty well.

 

I use this stuff -



http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ARP-100-9904/?rtype=10

 

Classic Instruments recommends anti-seeze

 

Not necessarily true. The only pipe thread that's designed for use without any sort of dope is a dryseal thread. Most parts house brass fittings do have dryseal threads, but there are plenty of other brass fittings, both past and present, that do not have dryseal pattern threads.

 

I never use the tape in anything automotive.

If it's a pipe-thread then the Loctite teflon goop in a tube. If that doesn't work you've got problems with the threads or the apparatus itself is leaking somewhere.

 

Loctite 565.

 

Are you winding the tape onto the threads in the right direction?
With the bottom end of gauge threads facing you,the tape gets wound around them clockwise.
If wound the other way,you take the chance of the tape bunching up/catching on the female threads in the head,removing the tape

 

When the white teflon tape doesn't work I use gas line (natural gas) tape. It's yellow and thicker.

 

I like to use the liquid teflon, works well or the ARP thread sealer is good too.

 

Ya, my MOON mechanical gauge also weeps a drop or two of coolant. I HATE TEFLON TAPE WITH A PASSION, just won't use it. For years, PERMATEX#2 did the trick for me. I was given a tube of Teflon Pipe Sealer, works OK. Teflon tape shreds during assembly and ends up right where you don't need it - fuel systems, oiling systems, cooling systems. TRUST ME - the shit will create more problems than it will ever solve!!!

Let me know how you solved your weeping sender!

Good Luck, Tim

 

The arp sealer is nice, i used it on an airtank at 175psi and was 100% leakless.
Ive used the loctite too somewhere else, no leaks but its a bitch to unbolt.
Teflon should work. If it works on hydraulics a gauge on a flattie should be zero problems really.

 

If you put teflon tape on correctly it works great!( and yes there is a right & wrong way)Also a trick is to start it and leave the first thread bare.
Also the one rule of teflon tape is you "DON'T USE IT ON GAS LINES"!!( You must have missed the memo!lol). When used properly its great shit & it also allows you to unthread it easy when it has to come apart!
I use to work on boilers & never really found much that teflon tape couldn't seal.But like someone said it could insult electical gauges.

JimV

 

Come on now, its the tape. The 47 billion threaded joints in existence are all wrong too.

 

5 to 6 wraps of teflon tape.

 

I prefer, the ARP sealant. It sounds like something is wrong with the threads of either the gage or the head. Did it leak before the gage? Lots of gages have multi-purpose threads and are not American Standard Pipe Thread, there are 3 or 4 different pipe threads and some of the lesser quality (cheap junk) have a peculiar thread that falls right between all of these. If you have a look in mcmaster-carr brass pipe fitting section you'll see what i mean about the pipe threads.

 

So true sounds like something a pipe fitter told me years ago.

 

ok, I will have to concur.
I learned to assemble brass fittings dry from my chief engineer when I worked on boats in Alaska.
his reasoning was that brass is self lubricating, maleable and will eventualy reject any chemical compound applied to it.
I did not question it and have never had an issue, except maybe when threading brass into something softer, like aluminum.
but will have to agree, no two threads can be cut to match perfecty together, there will always be a minute gap that will have to be filled.
either by overtightening to the point of distortion or with some sort of compond.

 

242 (blue) Loctite is also a sealant.

 

ive used permatex pipe sealant. thick stuff! i keep little artist brushes in my box .just grab one and twirl on some sealant, paint the threads and no leaks. ever.

 

I use hondabond. The should sell it at the Honda auto dealer. This stuff is the best sealer I've ever used. Works lots better than anything described above. If you try it you'll live it too.

 

Loctite 567 is a teflon paste in a tube. This is the best stuff!

 

i've used non-hardening teflon paste before with success