Solved - Leaking AN / Speedflow fittings for oil cooler

[trdee]

I would be more worried about the hose than the fittings, its not rocket science to machine a fitting.
If your still having problems, just replace everything with cheap steel JIC stuff unless the 50g of extra weight is too much to deal with.


Seriously, you can pay $50 a pop for earls or speedflow or $5 for the same fittings in steel from your local hydraulic fitter, rated to 300 odd bar so don't give me spiel about how speedflow are somehow stronger or more reliable.

Technically they are more reliable in terms of the standards they must meet to be a certified AN fitting, but that is not the point I was trying to make. The point I was trying to make is the cheapshit you get on those china-spec kits can have some pretty shit quality fittings.....

[wiso]

well, something that can be done but hasn't been mentioned, you can try putting a small aluminium washer against the conical mating faces. when you tighten them up it should squash into the shape. this would pack up the area and make a nice seal. or better yet a rubber washer would be awesome if you can get one, an o'ring will also work, but may tear before it seals as it will run out to the corners.

I know its a slightly differant pressure rating but I did this with a leaking air hose that had a cone sealing face. and it did the trick just fine.

Its an option anyway.

[Bananaman]

Very true cuzbro. and often have a smaller orifice than the speedflow/earls equivalents.

With limited budget always comes compromise

Large orifices are certainly required when purchasing speedflow fittings...

When i've bought stuff from enzed rather than MSCN the experience has been similar, good quality stuff costs money. I too tried chinese fittings once and won't again

[dnegative]

The point I was trying to make is the cheapshit you get on those china-spec kits can have some pretty shit quality fittings.....

Yeah, if you can get the fittings to seal then give them a go, they wont come loose.
I would be looking at the hose often, fuck knows what its made of.

Could be teflon lined, could be some sort of shitty recycled rubber. Would rather having a fitting leak than a hose fail.

[allencr]

Do not use tape on AN fittings! Its not needed and may make things worse.
The thread doesnt do the sealing, its the flare that does.

Where exactly are they leaking from?

X2
Gotta pic of the leak & closeups of the flare & taper for their witness marks?

[dnegative]

When i've bought stuff from enzed rather than MSCN the experience has been similar, good quality stuff costs money. I too tried chinese fittings once and won't again

Pirtek sell aeroflow and my fitter mate reckons its about half the price of speedflow/earls and its the same sort of quality.
Still expensive but there are some things you cant get commonly.

[lexsmaz]

As has been said i would be undoing the fittings & looking for contact marks on the tapers, i'm guessing being cheap Chinese stuff the tapers are probably not identical ..

You mentioned they were done finger tight then another 1/4 of a turn, its possibly to tight now ?? & i would have recommended oiling the threads & taper surfaces first too when you initially did it up saves scuffing any surfaces ..

[thechuckster]

you can also coat the visible taper with marker pen (aka sharpie), then tighten down the fitting once. Where the ink has rubbed off, you'll know where the mating surfaces are actually contacting.

[OnAll-FOUR]

Thank you for the advise guys, and thank you chuckster that sounds like a sensible tip to check the mating surfaces.

Unfortunately the wife wanted to do some Thursday night shopping so I didn't get get a chance to really investigate, but I had a bit of a look and it appears that the leak was from only 3 of the 6 fittings.

I don't think I got a good seal on the 2 on the oil cooler because I could still pivot the 90 Degree fitting. The internal mating must not be very tightly pressed together. I will investigate it further.

Cheers

[TERRA Operative]

The fittings shouldn't move at all once they are properly tightened. You set the direction it points in then tighten it up.

Also, putting some nickel based anti-seize on the threads (not the mating surfaces) is a good idea as it will aid in initial torquing and disassembly by preventing the threads from galling.

[blakeg]

i have never had any leaks from mine. and i put them together with NFI .. . cost as a fuckload though...

i would not be inclined to to trust anything that leaked oil in that region of the car... , fire anyone ?

[OnAll-FOUR]

Thanks for the help gents, It was all my error. Just a nubie error in not understanding how the faces mate together. All running fine now with no leaks. A little bit more testing and I will be happy.

The permanent maker tip was good to prove It all mated together properly. Also a tiny bit of oil on the threads just helps make sure that the aluminium threads slide properly and don't bind.

[allencr]

Lube on the flare to help it move together and especially on the back of the flare where the nut rotates & tightens against it. Good luck.