Hey guys, it's been a long time since I've posted on Titan talk. My 04 Titan is still going strong but my plastic radiator inevitably cracked so I ordered a Stillen. Installing it was a little tricky but in hindsight not too bad.
I initially filled it with water to check for leaks, after two day I drained the water and added the proper mix of coolant. The drain plug came out nice and easy and went back in just as easily, I was able to thread it in 80% of the way by hand. I then used the little shorty screwdriver to tighten it (see picture).
Well somehow I pinched the little gasket and had a slight drip. So I loosen up the bolt a little to un-pinch the gasket. Well about 1/4 way out I'm feeling some resistance that shouldn't be there. It gets progressively worse to the point I can't take the bolt out or tighten it.
Basically it galled up and I realize i'm $%^&
. I've worked with stainless bolts in the past and am familiar with galling.
I know I got maybe one shot before it freezes completely up. I make the decision to just go for broke, tighten it up and hope it don't leak. I break out the 6 point socket and go for it. I almost got it, it was just about to make contact with the gasket when the bolt head snapped off :crying:.
I was about to drill it out and tap it a size larger but then I thought, let me check to see if it's still leaking. Amazingly it's not leaking! Apparently I mashed the threads so badly they fused together. I suspect it may start dripping in the future but for now I'll just an eye on it. If anything it buys me some time to get the right bolt and tap.
Anyway the point of my post is to warn you guys to use some anti seize compound if you ever remove the drain bolt. The bolt is made out of a very soft aluminum, I don't know what caused it to gaull up? but once it did the head snapped off with surprisingly little force. I'm not sure if tefon tape would of helped prevent the galling but it couldn't of hurt.
I initially filled it with water to check for leaks, after two day I drained the water and added the proper mix of coolant. The drain plug came out nice and easy and went back in just as easily, I was able to thread it in 80% of the way by hand. I then used the little shorty screwdriver to tighten it (see picture).
Well somehow I pinched the little gasket and had a slight drip. So I loosen up the bolt a little to un-pinch the gasket. Well about 1/4 way out I'm feeling some resistance that shouldn't be there. It gets progressively worse to the point I can't take the bolt out or tighten it.
Basically it galled up and I realize i'm $%^&
. I've worked with stainless bolts in the past and am familiar with galling.I know I got maybe one shot before it freezes completely up. I make the decision to just go for broke, tighten it up and hope it don't leak. I break out the 6 point socket and go for it. I almost got it, it was just about to make contact with the gasket when the bolt head snapped off :crying:.
I was about to drill it out and tap it a size larger but then I thought, let me check to see if it's still leaking. Amazingly it's not leaking! Apparently I mashed the threads so badly they fused together. I suspect it may start dripping in the future but for now I'll just an eye on it. If anything it buys me some time to get the right bolt and tap.
Anyway the point of my post is to warn you guys to use some anti seize compound if you ever remove the drain bolt. The bolt is made out of a very soft aluminum, I don't know what caused it to gaull up? but once it did the head snapped off with surprisingly little force. I'm not sure if tefon tape would of helped prevent the galling but it couldn't of hurt.
