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Installing a coolant sensor. Wanted to see where people have been putting them.
I was planning on drilling/tapping into the degas bottle. Just bought a brand new stock degas so I was experimenting on my old one first before making the plunge. Looks like I can get about 4-5 threads if I drill the sidewall just behind the cap. Still makes me nervous relying on plastic threads to hold coolant pressure but it is only 15psi max.
Other option I see would be cutting a tee into one of the small vent lines going to the degas. Thinking 1/8” threaded tee for the sensor with threaded by hose barb fittings to the hose.
pics of my initial attempts at drilling/tapping. Wasn’t paying attention at first and drilled one of them cockeyed. Still was able to carefully tap it. Threads are 1/8”npt which is the size the edge cts sensors use.
Definitely going to remove the degas for the drill/tap so I don’t get any plastic shavings into the cooling system. Not hard to drain some coolant out and remove it.
I put mine here for years. Mainly to keep it out of being submerged all the time. There is a thread on it somewhere in the forum. Maybe search coolant pressure gauge degas. I'll try to find it and post a link.
I just did mine yesterday, having stole a page from 87crewdually's book. I used a little bit of Ultra Black silicone sealer on the threads of the sending unit to help it seal. The factory thread sealant is meant more for metal to metal contact and I wanted to make sure I would not have a leak.
If you take a close look at the bottom portion of your bottle, you can see the reinforcements running vertically on the inside of the bottle. If you run your finger over those areas you can feel the plastic is slightly concave at each of those ribs. Since the top is black, you can't clearly see those ribs. BUT, you can still feel where the plastic concaves at each rib. You can also shine a bright light at an oblique angle to the plastic and see the same effect. I believe there are TWO of these ribs at this general area of the degas tank. Try and drill between those ribs. It will help reduce the chance of the bill angling off to one side of the rib and help with taping the hole as well. B.
I just did mine yesterday, having stole a page from 87crewdually's book. I used a little bit of Ultra Black silicone sealer on the threads of the sending unit to help it seal. The factory thread sealant is meant more for metal to metal contact and I wanted to make sure I would not have a leak.
If you take a close look at the bottom portion of your bottle, you can see the reinforcements running vertically on the inside of the bottle. If you run your finger over those areas you can feel the plastic is slightly concave at each of those ribs. Since the top is black, you can't clearly see those ribs. BUT, you can still feel where the plastic concaves at each rib. You can also shine a bright light at an oblique angle to the plastic and see the same effect. I believe there are TWO of these ribs at this general area of the degas tank. Try and drill between those ribs. It will help reduce the chance of the bill angling off to one side of the rib and help with taping the hole as well. B.
Nice observation! Now that I look I see those ribs and it probably explains why my drilled hole ended up being so out of square.
Yep, the rib on the inside would offer greater resistance and deflection pushing the drill bit away from it. You were very close to begin with. Another 1/16" to the left and you would have missed the rib on the back side. B.
That port marked with the arrow is for the hose that goes to the radiator. The only way to have one hose going to the degas bottle is by routing the coolant flow from the oil cooler directly into the heater hose (bypassing the intake) which eliminates the need for the vent hose that goes from the intake manifold to the degas.
I drilled the degas bottle just like Bruce and 87crewdually, Been trouble free for four years on my current truck, and three years on my previous truck. I used teflon tape on the threads.
Yes that is the pressure port with the arrow pointing at it.
The radiator nipple is about an inch or two above it too the right. You can see it better on the bottom picture right next to the cap hole. It blends in on the top picture. Hard to see it on a phone but its there you can see it better on a desktop. The green arrow is what's hard to see above.
I drilled the degas bottle just like Bruce and 87crewdually, Been trouble free for four years on my current truck, and three years on my previous truck. I used teflon tape on the threads.
I should really just drill/tap the degas. As this thread shows I've been putting it off for a while.
It's a new OEM bottle so should be fine for a long time. I just worry about plastic cracking, especially when the sensor cantilevered off the side. Would be better if you could mount the sensor vertically (threads facing down) but obviously no room.
What do you think about a little JB Weld on the threads? The plastic threads make me nervous to. I like the location of where you're putting it, seems to be a little higher than the Mishimoto.
I should really just drill/tap the degas. As this thread shows I've been putting it off for a while.
It's a new OEM bottle so should be fine for a long time. I just worry about plastic cracking, especially when the sensor cantilevered off the side. Would be better if you could mount the sensor vertically (threads facing down) but obviously no room.
My only concern about drilling the stock tank is being able to warranty it when (not if) it fails.
