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Oil Leak

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mjl

Member
"Two years ago, I had an oil l

"Two years ago, I had an oil leak that basically pumped all the oil out of my port engine (94 Crusader 5.7HT). Luckily I was just coming off of plane and immediately shut the engine down. I seem to have saved the engine, but I am sure I took some life off of it. I found that the leak came from the 1/4" NPT nipple that extends out of the block for the oil sender and pressure switch.

I removed the nipple and it seemd to be OK. No cracks or anything, so I put teflon tape on it and re-installed it, but I still had a small persistant leak. I then replaced the entire "T" fitting with new parts from the hardware store and re-installed with some thread sealer my plumbing buddy recommended that is good for oil and gas. I still have a small leak. Being located on the outboard side of the port engine makes access a huge PITA. The block appears to be sound.

I installed it to a tightness that I was comfortable with but am thinking that it is just not tight enough. Being a brass fitting going into a cast block, I am leary of either snapping the threads off of the nipple or even owrst stripping the block threads.

Do any of the experts here have any advice on resolving this probelm?"
 
"The only thing related that I

"The only thing related that I've experienced is quite a few of the oil pressure switches eventually leak, but that's near the plastic/metal crimp. You might have a crack in the block, hope not...As far as tightness, I think the entire switch/sender/T/nipple assembly is essentially hand tite into the block on mine and there is no leaks.
You could try a pipe plug instead of the entire assembly to see if the leak stops."
 
I'm with diver dave: no wa

I'm with diver dave: no way that pipe connection is leaking. The leas is coming from somewhere else and tricking you.

Why not replace the oil sender unit and see if that fixes it? I've had several of them fail on me over the years.

Jeff
 
"Yup change the sender. Also t

"Yup change the sender. Also take a look at the fitting for the remote oil filter line if so equiped, its a common source for leaks."
 
"Thank for the feedback.

Th

"Thank for the feedback.

The sender is not leaking however, it is definitly stemming from the block/nipple junction.

The remote oil lines were the source of another leak, so those were replaced last year.

I am going to give the nipple another turn and see what happens.

Thanks"
 
"Try running a pipe tap in the

"Try running a pipe tap in the block hole to make sure there is nothing in the threads. Then use a plug, with the thread sealant (with teflon), to make sure that joint is fine. I've found that hand-tight+1/2 turn is adequate to establish a drip free joint with good fittings."
 
"Mark
If you do that,
GREASE

"Mark
If you do that,
GREASE the pipe tap to catch any metal cuttings from the tap.

I would also disable the ing. system & have someone crank over the engine till I felt satisfied that any shavings had been cleared from the hole.

Fred 156-M
...my 2¢"
 
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