Help... ! Coolant temperature sensor leaking..

[mechwanabe]

Hi: I was cleaning around the engine of my 66 AH and now the coolant sensor just below the thermostat is leaking. Was able to remove to inspect and looks OK! but, how is it supposed to seal?. There was no o-ring or gasket between the nut and the sensor tip. If you have seen one you will know what I am talking about (its a bit difficult to explain).
Thank you for any advise on this..

 

[elrey]

Clean it up WELL, including the seat in the head, and apply a non setting sealant [Curil, Hylomar, or such] to the tapered seat at the far end of the bulb, lube the threads w/teflon paste and put it back. In my recollection it seals upon the head, no o-ring or gasket required. The threaded nut presses against the sensor bulb flange pushing the tapered end of the bulb against the tapered seat in the head. The sealing takes place at the taper interface.

 

[TimK]

Elrey, did you mean Teflon TAPE?

 

[elrey]

No, P.T.F.E Teflon paste, a brushable white sealant used primarily on joints and threads, resists pressures up to 3ooo psi. It has no real adhesive quality. Great stuff, especially on gas fittings.

 

[TimK]

Thanks for the info. I had not heard of it.