Temp sensor sealant options
 

Hey folks, gotta question.

So I got that Nissan Temp sensor that kicks on at a lower temp with the two wires. Problem is now that when torqued down, the gasket squishes out and becomes ineffective once hot, seeping coolant:

Attachment 24763

As you can see, the gasket is all squashed out. The factory one seems to have a smaller diameter gasket recessed in a groove:

Attachment 24764

So my question is this: Whats the best sealant method for this application? Copper or bronze crush washer? Thread sealant tape? Liquid 'insta' gasket stuff? How about a combination of both or all?
Coolant is becoming expensive at this rate LOL, so this next time I'm hoping whatever we can decide on will be a permanent solution.
Thanks in advance for the input!!

I like the thread sealant in a tube. Or thred tape. Either should work. The stuff in a tube will be less likely to mess with the grounding of the sensor if it uses a ground through the threads but I don't think that's the case if it's a 2 wire sensor so it should be fine either way.

Yeah its a two wire...so your for the tape and some liquid gasket...cool.
Already got the gasket stuff (orange/red, high temp stuff) so I guess I gotta 'borrow' some sealant tape from work LOL. Thanks for the quick-ass reply!!

Green Locktite

What temp does it open at? Mine is now 87C which is like 189ish F. How much was it?

I gotta think a crush washer would be the permanent fix. Coating the threads may also work, not sure how hot teflon tape withstands.

Oh BTW... that is a fan switch. Temp sensor is for the guage.

Joe, Damn...Ok..I tried lol
An thanks for all the info guys! An green loctite? Gotta look that one up
Oh yeah an Joe, couldn't tell ya what temp, just that its def before the halfway point on the oil? Coolant? Temp gauge...i can photo it when I'm outta work...it does kick on earlier tho which was my goal..
More pics later

It should be stamped on one of the flats of the hex. Like 80-on

The gasket is squishing out because it does not have a proper set to fill. You could remove the o-ring try a copper washer like many vehicles are using on their oil pan drains or you could try the thread sealant. Keep in mind one thing if you use thread sealant, it's gonna be a sum bitch to remove.

Green Locktite...seals but is not "a sum bitch to remove". I've used it for 25 years in compressor work.

Thread sealants shouldn't make it hard to get loose. Just seal the threads. Thread lockers will make it hard to get loose.

From what I recall green Loctite is the super duper thead locker. Like it's supposed to lock smooth shafts together. So you might want to double check what you're getting. Maybe they make a thread sealer and a thread locker that are both green but both different substances and not so much interchangable.

Locktite 680 to be more specific.

Use 680 and it WILL be a sum bitch to get apart according to Loctite:


LOCTITE® 680™ provides the following product characteristics:

Acrylic Chemical Type Methacrylate ester

Appearance (uncured) Green liquid

Anaerobic Secondary Cure Activator

Retaining Strength High

LOCTITE

fitting parts, particularly where low viscosity is required. The

product cures when confined in the absence of air between
close fitting metal surfaces and prevents loosening and

leakage from shock and vibration.

What you should be using is Loctite 5770 which is a thread sealer with a high temperature rating.

RWhisen that sounds like the stuff I was thinking of.

Suppose since I asked for a PERMANENT solution lol...
much appreciated guys! Guess I'll go the crush washer/teflon tape route....unless somebody's had it melt on them?

How about these things?? EPDM backed 250+ rated aluminum non-corrosive crush washers!! Love it when you can go to work and 'barrow' things LOL

Attachment 24757