Thread sealant for heat sensor.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,687
Likes: 200
From: Loveland, CO
Thread sealant for heat sensor.
I just put Brodix alum heads on my '69 L-71. Everything seems to have sealed up nicely except the heat sensor and the pipe thread plug on the opposite head. I didn't use any sealer on the temp sensor because I remember reading someplace that it messes up the ground and gives a erroneous temp reading.
The plug and sensor are in about a tight as I want to put them, but they still weep antifreeze. The heat sensor is the bronze type and the plug is the one out of my stock heads. Don't know if there are any galvanic issues with these dis-similar metals.
What do you recommend: teflon tape, permatex no.2, right stuff, etc.
Thanks, Ralph
The plug and sensor are in about a tight as I want to put them, but they still weep antifreeze. The heat sensor is the bronze type and the plug is the one out of my stock heads. Don't know if there are any galvanic issues with these dis-similar metals.
What do you recommend: teflon tape, permatex no.2, right stuff, etc.
Thanks, Ralph
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,088
Likes: 181
From: NC
2022 C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified
BILL
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
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From: Crossville TN
There must be at least some of the sensor threads making contact with mating threads in the heads....as that is the electrical path for grounding of the temp sensor/gauge system. Teflon tape has the highest risk of negating this electrical path, as teflon is a very good insulator and can be squeezed very thin and still have some integrity.
Most [fluid] sealants will do a good job of sealing AND allow some metal-to-metal contact of the mating thread surfaces to satisfy the electrical grounding needs.
Most [fluid] sealants will do a good job of sealing AND allow some metal-to-metal contact of the mating thread surfaces to satisfy the electrical grounding needs.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 456
Likes: 0
From: Forty Fort PA
It should be easy to test for a good ground between the sensor case and the head or manifold that it is installed in with a multi meter. Just incase you have the sensor already installed and are wondering, like me.
Langg
Langg
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,687
Likes: 200
From: Loveland, CO
Update to my post. I took out my temp. sensor and head plug today and noted I had used the white paste ARP thread sealer. This stuff may be a great torque product or anti seize, but as a sealer, it is not. I can't remember, but I hope I didn't use it on my ARP head bolts. I don't want to have to do them over to prevent antifreeze leaks into my oil.
As a sealer, this stuff is crap and should be taken off the market. Just my humble opinion.
Ralph
As a sealer, this stuff is crap and should be taken off the market. Just my humble opinion.
Ralph
