Leaking connection to oil pressure gage

DanEC · #1 (**permalink**) 10-18-2016, 04:21 PM

I have been fighting a leaking connection at my Smith's oil pressure gage for awhile now. I hoped I had it taken care of a few months ago but I stuck my hand up there again this evening and came back with some oil on it. I've never had a stubborn compression fitting problem on an oil gage before. Must be another Smith's thing.

Apparently compression fittings don't respond as well as flared fittings to my old standby seating process of several cycles of tightening and loosening to conform the flare and seat and then a final tightening.

Has anyone had this problem and if so, what did you do to fix it - new compression fitting, whole new oil line, replace gage, ??

I seem to have a decent amount of Joe Gibbs finest (oil) collecting in the tray of the dash frame so that has to be cleaned up now too.

Grubby · #2 (**permalink**) 10-18-2016, 04:24 PM

Same problem on 755.

I cut the compression fitting off and put a new one on. Fixed.

John

DanEC · #3 (**permalink**) 10-18-2016, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grubby

Same problem on 755.

I cut the compression fitting off and put a new one on. Fixed.

John

John - where did you find a new compression sleeve to fit? Just a standard line product such as this Dormans?

Dorman 070780BP - Brass Compression Sleeve | O'Reilly Auto Parts

Thanks

Dan

DanEC · #4 (**permalink**) 10-19-2016, 02:51 PM

Nothing is apparently easy with Smith gages. Instead of a standard compression sleeve tapered on both ends, the line fitting used a sleeve with a tapered shoulder on the gage end but had a flat shoulder towards the engine - fat chance of finding anything like that down at the local FLAPS (or Graingers for that matter). I bought a new coupling nut to fit the new compression sleeve and I'll see how that works. It may not be completely compatible with the fitting on the back of the gage, in which case I will have to look at changing it out also.

Just in case anyone else runs into a leaking Smiths oil pressure gage.

spdbrake · #5 (**permalink**) 10-19-2016, 03:26 PM

These folks may have what you need. In the UK but will ship Stateside.

Oil pipe lines

Grubby · #6 (**permalink**) 10-19-2016, 04:50 PM

Sorry, I can't remember where I got the replacement compression piece.

It has been several years since the repair.

John

DanEC · #7 (**permalink**) 10-19-2016, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spdbrake

These folks may have what you need. In the UK but will ship Stateside.

Oil pipe lines

It looks a little like the Type B compression sleeve on the site, but maybe not exactly. Mine is no doubt distorted a little from use.

Edit: Initial test of 75 psi on cold start seems to be good - no sign of a oil seep.

wolf k · #8 (**permalink**) 10-21-2016, 05:53 AM

Dan, if what you have does not work, a small dab of Permatex Right Stuff on the sealing areas should do the the trick. Whatever formula Permatex has come up with for Right Stuff is much improved over RTV sealants of the past.
The ships I sail on do not leave port unless we have a case of this sealant onboard.

DanEC · #9 (**permalink**) 10-21-2016, 06:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolf k

Dan, if what you have does not work, a small dab of Permatex Right Stuff on the sealing areas should do the the trick. Whatever formula Permatex has come up with for Right Stuff is much improved over RTV sealants of the past.
The ships I sail on do not leave port unless we have a case of this sealant onboard.

Thanks, I put a small dab of high pressure pipe thread sealant on the threads and sleeve. So far so good, but I left the gage loose in the dash so I can pull it out and check it for a few weeks before feeling comfortable with it.

Good info to know about the Right Stuff.