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[terry paget]

2008 Vectra 1.8 petrol manual
I changed this radiator 3 months ago. I transferred the temperature sensor from old to new radiator. This is the sensor in the bottom tank on the right. I don't recall any washer or gasket, so presumed there was a tapered thread in the sensor. Does anyone know? I could tighten it, but do not want to split the bottom tank.

[dave the builder]

there is usually a fiber washer on rad stat switches on Vauxhalls ,not a taper thread
slack it off and put a few turns of PTFE tape between the mating faces Terry 
 

[terry paget]

Thanks for the advice, Dave. I tightened the sensor last Saturday, but am still losing coolant. Above pic I hope shows possible leak between sensor body and screw - is this possible?
I checked sensors on  spare Omega radiator, they have 300mm nuts (bigger than Vectra) and do indeed have fibre washers.

[terry paget]

I have removed the temperature sensor from my donor car (2004 Astra 1.6 petrol) with a view of replacing the Vectra sensor. It has a copper washer. Should I anneal it before using it?

[Andy B]

....
I checked sensors on  spare Omega radiator, they have 300mm nuts  ....

That's BIG!!!!! 

[Andy B]

....
 Should I anneal it before using it?

No harm in doing so .... probably get away without though. 

[YZ250]

....
I checked sensors on  spare Omega radiator, they have 300mm nuts  ....

That's BIG!!!!! 

It's got to be said, Terry does have some massive nuts.   

[YZ250]

Is it definitely leaking past the thread or through the sensor itself. I'm looking at the photo on my phone and it appears that the leak is between the sensor and the multi-plug. Obviously you have a better view than me though. 

[terry paget]

Is it definitely leaking past the thread or through the sensor itself. I'm looking at the photo on my phone and it appears that the leak is between the sensor and the multi-plug. Obviously you have a better view than me though. 

That was my suspicion, having tightened the nut a week ago and achieved nothing. I think I can see drops oozing betwen the metal nut and the plastic body. If my Astra sensor fits I shall fit it tomorrow and see if that cures the leak.

[Doctor Gollum]

Is it definitely leaking past the thread or through the sensor itself. I'm looking at the photo on my phone and it appears that the leak is between the sensor and the multi-plug. Obviously you have a better view than me though. 

That was my suspicion, having tightened the nut a week ago and achieved nothing. I think I can see drops oozing betwen the metal nut and the plastic body. If my Astra sensor fits I shall fit it tomorrow and see if that cures the leak.

Over tightening may well be the cause... Having cracked the housing...

[terry paget]

Above is a pic of the old sensor, cleaned up. Looks just like the Astra sensor I replaced it with, I see it has a captive copper washer, as had the Astra sensor; the copper washer looks a bit tatty. I shall report how things turn out.

[terry paget]

Looking at the washer more closely, I realise that it didn't go on as a captive washer, it became captive on its first compression. It looks exactly like a spark plug copper washer, in fact it may well be a spark plug washer. I did not anneal the replacement, I just installed it. I wonder it will seal?

[Doctor Gollum]

If that picture is a fair representation, it won't.

[terry paget]

If that picture is a fair representation, it won't.

The recent pic is of the the sensor I removed, that had been leaking. I replaced it with the sensor off my donor Astra. I agree that copper washer looks unlikely to seal well, but I wondered whether the original sensor leaked internally. I will give the Astra sensor a week and see if it leaks.

[Nick W]

Copper sealing washers are consumables. Annealing them is a waste of time and effort, unless you're doing the job to get you out of trouble at 03:00 in the middle of  a desert.


As this joint is already leaking, some liquid thread sealant might worthwhile with the new washer.