Losing coolant.....somewhere.....

[1987cp]

Ooooh. Never mind my curiosity, then.

NPT just stands for National Pipe Taper, or in other words, standard pipe threads like you'd use in your home water lines or gas supply lines. Not to be confuzzled with National Fine (NF) and National Coarse (NC) bolt threads - I've gotten into some annoying arguments with parts types about what type of thread I need (like to plug standard Thermactor passages, which use a 5/8-11 NC bolt thread)!

One occasionally hears about a regular NP non-tapered pipe thread, but I don't think I've ever encountered it, possibly because the tapered thread has the advantage of sealing tighter as you screw it in more.

And yeah, pipe threads are generally much happier when they have some sort of sealant applied, so of course your wrapping Teflon tape on there makes excellent sense.

[gadget73]

Sealant is good, but too much isn't good, and too tight isn't good either. Its just a brass or aluminum thread you're working into, so its possible to rip the metal off if you really crank down on it. I make them tight enough to not leak and call it good. You really don't want the He-Man arms out for installing those.

[andymac0035]

Thank you both (a lot).

The tape is only about 2 layers thick, I didn't want to go overboard with it.

I have been really cautious (probably over-cautious)(make that paranoid) about overtightening lately (I've had some bad luck). The metal looked like brass......so I guess I was right to be carefull.

Checked it again after my 22 mile drive to work tonight, fittings were still dry.

[1987cp]

Excellent, sounds like that's fixed, then.

[andymac0035]

Excellent, sounds like that's fixed, then.

I hope so..........now for the pics

here's the new radiator installed


pics of the fittings, you can see the white of the tape



old radiator out of the car...you can see where the seems were leaking

[gadget73]

hm looks like you don't have the bullshit quick connect fittings that always leak. Mine have these plastic rings sticking out the back, and you're supposed to jam an EFI disconnect tool in there to get the line out. They're really a piece of crap tho, and I think they abandoned them at some point. I've noticed the later cars don't have them. My 91 Mark VII doesn't have them at least.

[87gtVIC]

yeah check that out! I got the shitty ones on mine. the top line always seems to be moist. Oh well

[Lincolnmania]

replace those 18 yr old hoses!

[andymac0035]

Got any pics of these crappy bullshit fittings?
(that I'm really glad I don't have)

[andymac0035]

replace those 18 yr old hoses!

Eagle-eye strikes again! I wondered if anyone would notice the motorcraft hoses.

Would you believe they are not bad? Not all hard and dried up, or spongy feeling at all.

But.......yeah it bugs me knowing they are probably 18 year old originals.
I just do not get it, unless they were replaced at some point at a ford garage.

You are probably right though, cheap insurance.

[1987cp]

Got any pics of these crappy bullshit fittings?
(that I'm really glad I don't have)

If your car has SEFI, it probably looks exactly like the lines going to and from your fuel rails.

[gadget73]

not quite,



Top fitting is a quick connect. It looks like a regular double flare nut, but there is plastic sticking out of the back.

Pic is old, the nasty lines are now gone, and so is a lot of the other stuff in that picture. I really need to get new pics, lots of updates since whenever that was taken, 2005 or so? Must be really early, looks like I have a stock alternator on there yet and I see a stock airbox.

[Lincolnmania]

i have no doubts that the upper hose is ok......it is the lower that looks slightly scary to me......the scariest is the heater hose that comes out of the lower intake......i've seen them look good and fail.......if you dont notice the car is running funky, the replace engine light comes on just as it's too late

[andymac0035]

i have no doubts that the upper hose is ok......it is the lower that looks slightly scary to me......the scariest is the heater hose that comes out of the lower intake......i've seen them look good and fail.......if you dont notice the car is running funky, the replace engine light comes on just as it's too late

Hmmmm.....
Well I thought the lower hose looked pretty good when I took it off to change the radiator.....but I guess I will be checking it again.

I was just reading another thread that mentioned the heater hose on the lower intake....saying it was a royal pain to get at. (and best changed while the upper is off).
But.....remembering how hardened the PCV grommet I changed was.....I'm definitly going to be taking a closer look.

Definitly don't want my "replace engine light" coming on.