sealant for temp sending unit

[riverside red]

I remember reading not to use teflon tape, should I use silecone ? thanks

 

[jerrybramlett]

You'll probably get advice from some folks to use nothing or dire consequences will result. However, I've been using a white teflon paste pipe sealant made by Permatex/Loctite that has always worked well for me. It comes in a toothpaste sized tube for about $15.

If you use nothing, you will have leaks sometimes on sender installations in old manifolds or heads. I've installed more than a hundred senders with paste sealant and never had a one of them fail to ground electrically. Before I started using the paste in the eighties, I put the senders in bare. About 1 in 10 leaked.

 

[61 Silver]

Sealant

I would recommend no sealant. The sender thread contact completes an electrical circuit.



Ray

 

[IH2LOSE]

I always use a sealent.The stuff I use is called leak lock.Its used in the air condtioning feild.I only use less then a tear drop on the end of the threads.As you thread it in the part the drop is distriputed acoss the threads.It also acts as a lubricant to make it go in smoothly.When I am done with screwing the peice in I take a tooth brush and clean off what ever sealant made its was up to the surface of the threads.(the seal is not made at the surface that you see it is made inside of the threaded fitting)

I am sure the stuff jerry recomended will work the same.Just dont glop it on.

 

[Ken]

Teflon tape is fine for coating the threads of parts of the cooling system. What you probably read cautioning the use of Telfon tape was in regards a fuel line fitting; you should not use the tape in those circumstances due to the fact a stray piece of the tape may find its way into a carburetor jet or other small orifice in the system.

 

[JohnZ]

I've always used TFE paste as Jerry mentioned, never had a leaker or a problem, and the sender won't corrode in place over time. Tapered pipe threads are very sharp and designed as an interference fit as they tighten, and electrical conductivity isn't an issue in that type of joint. Just don't slather it on so it looks messy when you're done; judges will look for it, as the factory didn't use it originally (GM blueprints refer to those threads as "dryseal" threads).