marki Posted October 20, 2014 Report Share Posted October 20, 2014 Just a quick question. Does anyone use PTFE or similar for oil drain plugs/oil pressure switch etc or not ? TA Mark Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RobinTR6 Posted October 20, 2014 Report Share Posted October 20, 2014 None on mine and had quite a number of different 5s and 6s and no probs. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Don H. Posted October 20, 2014 Report Share Posted October 20, 2014 I always put some PTFE joint compound on my NPT drain plugs. Seems to work fine to control any small dripping and no downside I can find. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lebro Posted October 20, 2014 Report Share Posted October 20, 2014 PTFE tape is good for any tapered pipe thread. Yes, I would use it for oil drain plugs etc Not sure how it would react to petrol though. Bob. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AlanT Posted October 20, 2014 Report Share Posted October 20, 2014 Good on drain plugs. PTFE is almost totally inert and I would expect it to tolerate petrol well. The drain plugs use a square head drive which is hard to grip well. So they often don't get tightened enough. I have a feeling that the gbox casing is a parallel thread and the plug is tapered. This means that only a few threads are "tight". Another benefit of PTFE tape is that you can always UNDO easily. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
marki Posted October 20, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2014 Right PTFE it is then. Cheers for that Mark Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stillp Posted October 20, 2014 Report Share Posted October 20, 2014 Be warned! I tried PTFE tape on the gearbox filler plug, but the reduced friction meant that when I tightened the plug, the casing cracked! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Don H. Posted October 20, 2014 Report Share Posted October 20, 2014 One will find a number of online discussions about differences and relative benefits of PTFE tape or joint compounds. I have and use both. After reading a number of comments about NPT threads and sealing. I chose to use compound and relatively little tightening. Seems to work just fine. I could easily imagine enough tightening of a tapered pipe plug could crack the alloy case. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BlueTR3A-5EKT Posted October 20, 2014 Report Share Posted October 20, 2014 Boss White and Hemp? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AlanT Posted October 20, 2014 Report Share Posted October 20, 2014 I found it difficult to get the gbox free from leak without some tape. Probably I was scared to over-tighten. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted October 21, 2014 Report Share Posted October 21, 2014 Boss White and Hemp? Luddite! Liquid PTFE is a good compromise and works well with all liquids. Stuart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
paul7 Posted October 21, 2014 Report Share Posted October 21, 2014 Remembering it needs to be put on in the same direction as the thread ie clockwise. Otherwise it will just unscrew. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
peejay4A Posted October 21, 2014 Report Share Posted October 21, 2014 Which is why liquid ptfe is easier to use. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rodbr Posted October 21, 2014 Report Share Posted October 21, 2014 FWIW Ptfe tape makes a first class joint medium for exhaust joints, easy the break them years later. It makes a total barrier between steel to steel prevent corrosion stick.Couple it with cold galvanizing and you have a system that will last a very long time. Sides screen cars seem to sound better and crisper with a steel system over a stainless one. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
marki Posted October 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2014 Hi Stuart I have a PTFE paste used for pipe jointing, would that do ? Mark Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Don H. Posted October 21, 2014 Report Share Posted October 21, 2014 ...I have a PTFE paste used for pipe jointing, would that do ? That's exactly what I use -- works perfectly, IMO. PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) is insoluble in just about anything. Fuel will do nuthin' at all to it. One of the arguments against PTFE tape is that there remains a small chance of loose bits getting into the engine internals, possibly blocking oilways or whatever. Paste would be unlikely to do this -- any dollop making it into the internals would be sheared to a dispersion. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Clarkey Posted October 21, 2014 Report Share Posted October 21, 2014 (edited) PTFE, Belt and braces for me with regard to drain plugs But Now i know this might sound strange but make sure you go the way of the thread, you would be amazed at the amount of people that wrap it the wrong way i.e. against the thread . Edited October 21, 2014 by Clarkey Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted October 22, 2014 Report Share Posted October 22, 2014 Hi Stuart I have a PTFE paste used for pipe jointing, would that do ? Mark Yep that will do just dont overdo it so it goes into what your trying to stop coming out. Stuart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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