C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

what sealant on coolant temp sensor?

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Old Apr 4, 2010 | 04:48 PM
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Default what sealant on coolant temp sensor?

Planning on replacing the Coolant temp sensor on dads 93 tomorrow, and just wanted to know if I should use sealant on the threads and if so should I use teflon tape or permatex high temp red sealant?

When the car reaches operating temp it idles bad, appears to have a miss, and stumbles and backfires when any amount of throttle is applied so Im assuming coolant temp sensor or ecm, as o2 and knock sensors have been replaced.
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Old Apr 4, 2010 | 05:02 PM
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thread sealant
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Old Apr 4, 2010 | 08:46 PM
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Didn't I hear/read that a temp sensor comes with sealant on the threads -- and that it should not be augmented (at the risk of losing ground)?
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Old Apr 5, 2010 | 12:28 AM
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I thought it should come with thread sealant too but it did not
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Old Apr 5, 2010 | 12:31 AM
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I would use RTV
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Old Apr 5, 2010 | 12:52 AM
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Originally Posted by GREGGPENN
Didn't I hear/read that a temp sensor comes with sealant on the threads -- and that it should not be augmented (at the risk of losing ground)?


This happened to me with a Knock sensor.I put that tape on it,because I was worried about a coolant leak and it prevented it from grounding.

I took it off and put the sensor back in by itself and it worked,did not leak either.I also replaced the fan switch and others with no tape or rtv and they never leaked.

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Old Apr 5, 2010 | 08:37 AM
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If it does not come with sealant already applied then use the Permatex sealer.

I think if you use RTV it will disrupt the ground for the sensor.
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Old Apr 5, 2010 | 08:47 AM
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If you use RTV you could do only the last couple threads that way the first ones are grounding.
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Old Apr 5, 2010 | 11:11 AM
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Originally Posted by Kubs
If you use RTV you could do only the last couple threads that way the first ones are grounding.
RTV isn't designed to seal threads though.
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Old Apr 5, 2010 | 11:23 AM
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Originally Posted by joshwilson3
RTV isn't designed to seal threads though.
RTV or sealant I guess I should have said.
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Old Apr 5, 2010 | 12:07 PM
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Originally Posted by Kubs
RTV or sealant I guess I should have said.
Yeah, but RTV shouldn't even be used at all to seal threads.
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Old Apr 5, 2010 | 12:11 PM
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sounds good thanks for the help
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Old Apr 5, 2010 | 06:14 PM
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I use teflon tape on all of them (my previous 86, my current 96 and even my son's 96) leaving the fore-most three threads uncovered.

The 86 FSM specifically calls for Teflon tape on the knock sensor.

Jake
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Old Apr 5, 2010 | 07:03 PM
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I've done the job three times (head and pump) with thread sealant and it works fine. A new sensor comes with it.
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Old Apr 5, 2010 | 07:11 PM
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If I do use teflon tape, I only use it on half the threads.
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Old Apr 5, 2010 | 07:16 PM
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none
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Old Apr 5, 2010 | 08:23 PM
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Installed new one today didnt have any sealant on it so used teflon tape. no apparent problems
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Old Apr 5, 2010 | 08:33 PM
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Originally Posted by JAKE
I use teflon tape on all of them (my previous 86, my current 96 and even my son's 96) leaving the fore-most three threads uncovered.

The 86 FSM specifically calls for Teflon tape on the knock sensor.

Jake
Huh, I've read that you shouldn't put anything on the knock sensor as it can interfere with it detecting knocks. The AC Delco knock sensor I put on mine had some red sealant stuff already on the threads. So I didn't add anything, and I get no leaks. I also torqued it to spec, as I've read that is also a good idea with regards to the knock sensor.
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Old Apr 5, 2010 | 09:02 PM
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Originally Posted by JAKE
I use teflon tape on all of them

Even fully wrapped , when you remove the sensor you can see the thread has cut the tape and sensor has had a solid connection along it's full length
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