Leaking Oil Level Sensor

Chopper Man · Post by **Chopper Man** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 9:18 am

My 1997 Elite started leaking clean oil. I opened things up and found that the problem was the oil level sensor (picture on page 2-5 of Service Manual).

The cylindrical sensor fits into a cylindrical tube on the oil tank. There are 3 plastic ridges running around the sensor that are supposed to seal against the plastic cylindrical tube on the oil tank. Oil is slipping though. Any thoughts on best way to get this to seal? When new, was there some type of sealant that was applied to the sensor or are the ridges on the sensor supposed to simply seal against the tube on the tank?

Thanks!

keithw · Post by **keithw** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 9:32 am

I have the same problem. When I put oil in the tank I keep the level below the sensor mounting level. The problem with sealing it is that the area is soaked with oil and nothing will stick.

keithw

ALOW1 · Post by **ALOW1** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 2:36 pm

keithw wrote:I have the same problem. When I put oil in the tank I keep the level below the sensor mounting level. The problem with sealing it is that the area is soaked with oil and nothing will stick.

keithw

Can the fitting be wrapped with some teflon tape?

Chopper Man · Post by **Chopper Man** » Fri Feb 06, 2009 8:51 am

ALOW1: Regarding wrapping the sensor with some teflon tape, the answer is YES - very doable. If the tank held water rather than oil that's what I would have done. But I haven't tried teflon tape because I don't know how teflon tape will hold up in oil.

In the end that's what I may try. But for starters I was trying to figure out how Mr. Honda intended this to seal.

Thanks for your reply!

keithw · Post by **keithw** » Fri Feb 06, 2009 10:01 am

It was intended to seal by the rubber holding the sensor being soft. Since the rubber is now decades old and hard it doesn't seal so well. New rubber bits might be available.

keithw

ALOW1 · Post by **ALOW1** » Fri Feb 06, 2009 1:47 pm

Chopper Man wrote:ALOW1: Regarding wrapping the sensor with some teflon tape, the answer is YES - very doable. If the tank held water rather than oil that's what I would have done. But I haven't tried teflon tape because I don't know how teflon tape will hold up in oil.

In the end that's what I may try. But for starters I was trying to figure out how Mr. Honda intended this to seal.

Thanks for your reply!

I have used teflon tape on hydraulic fittings building lowriders for several years.

In the lowrider car world most people run straight ND30 weight oil in their systems.

It should hold up to the oil just fine.

Chopper Man · Post by **Chopper Man** » Fri Feb 06, 2009 4:11 pm

OK, telfon tape it is.

I'll post back here after I'm done to let others know how it worked.

Thanks ALOW1 and keithw!

ALOW1 · Post by **ALOW1** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 12:05 am

Chopper Man wrote:OK, telfon tape it is.

I'll post back here after I'm done to let others know how it worked.

Thanks ALOW1 and keithw!

No problem, let us know

Chopper Man · Post by **Chopper Man** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 2:31 pm

I wrapped the upper 2 (of 3) rubber ridges on the oil sensor with 4-5 turns of teflon tape. Problem solved - no more leak.

If had to do it again I would use 10-12 layers of tape. With 4-5 layers it slipped in plenty easy. I'm sure that it would have slipped in fine with 10 layers.

Larry

maddog · Post by **maddog** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 9:34 pm

you may want to check if the oil tank tube has a strainer which plugs up, again most people don't know about this= old school

Chopper Man · Post by **Chopper Man** » Sat Mar 14, 2009 8:18 am

Good point maddog. Mine does have a stainer (it was clean). The stainer is a good thing to check when you've got access.