Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Leak at Oil Filter Housing

[MacGreenie]

I have a combination temp and pressure sensor in the formerly plugged hole atop the oil filter housing. It is a 1/8 NPT steel threaded little gizmo... right next to the turbo lube line outlet. It is made to mate with Westach gauges.



It is "weeping" at the threads a little bit and I wonder if, beyond tightening it a bit, if the issue is really aluminum not mating well with steel.



I hesitate to use teflon tape around the oil system.



I will try to tighten it up a turn or so.



Any similar experinces or fixes (retapping hole maybe?)?



It has not been cross-threaded and I have been very gentle in installing the thing.



TIA,



MacGreenie

 

[lschultz]

Put some telfon tape on the threads or some kind of gasket/thread sealer. Why do you hesitate on using telfon tape? Just don't get carried away with it and there want be any problems.

 

[MacGreenie]

Thread Sealer/Tape

I see your point about teflon. Or even thread sealer. I shall try the thread sealer stuff... any suggestions as to brand? Permatex I suppose is as good as any.



I am gunshy on this because of the incidents of foil tops from oil bottles getting in the engine and blocking oil galleys.



I know a foil bottle top fragment is a far cry from teflon thread but one must worry all the same!



In any case, the Westach gizmo allows me to monitor oil temp and press from the same spot so I am liking the fact I do not have to tap the stock block oil pressure sensor with a Tee fitting.



I have a Westach dual temp gauge (one of six) that has coolant and oil temp on it on the opposing needles. Nice to see the split on one gauge and have a back up to know if the engine is warmed up enough to run in cold weather. Next to this gauge I have the oil pressure and next to that I have the volts/amps. All this in a dash pod (the other goodies are on the triple pillar mount) so I can just glance over and monitor the health and integrity of the major lifeblood of the motor.



If I can ever get the pictures out of mycamera small enough, I will post my setup.



Yeah, it is overkill..... but, Geez, ya' gotta' have the gizmos and toys, right?



MacGreenie (Freezing in VA)

 

[willyslover]

just be careful as the housing is aluminum and you are using a taper pipe threaded fitting... overtightening will crack the housing and teflon will aid in the fitting going in easy, so you can overtighten quick