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How do you get the oil petcocks to face out?

Posted: Sat Apr 13, 2019 12:42 pm
by Dan B
The oil pan petcocks on my car do not get tight until they are turned so that the handle is facing inward towards the pan. This makes it very difficult to open the petcocks to check the oil level. If I stop turning them so that they’re facing out, they are only snug, and I worry that they’ll come out while I’m driving or leak.

Is this normal or am I overlooking something obvious?

Re: How do you get the oil petcocks to face out?

Posted: Sat Apr 13, 2019 12:44 pm
by Dan B
Picture right side up.

Re: How do you get the oil petcocks to face out?

Posted: Sat Apr 13, 2019 12:49 pm
by HalSched
Try wrapping the threads with several layers yellow teflon tape.

Re: How do you get the oil petcocks to face out?

Posted: Sat Apr 13, 2019 6:02 pm
by Jerry VanOoteghem
You could buy a pipe die, (1/8-27 I believe), and run it up on the petcock to cut the threads a tad further back. That would allow them to screw in further. I would resist the urge to put a tap in the hogshead threads for fear of getting them oversize.

Re: How do you get the oil petcocks to face out?

Posted: Sat Apr 13, 2019 7:48 pm
by Scott_Conger
I am a fan of teflon tape for this situation (here and on the radiator petcock, but no other places on a "T"). Three wraps of the stuff and screw it in until it is where you want if...just use your hands and don't overtighten. It will line up where you want and will not leak.

Re: How do you get the oil petcocks to face out?

Posted: Sun Apr 14, 2019 12:56 am
by Allan
Dan. if you have any spares, you may get the desired result just by swapping them out. Even switching them in the holes may be of benefit. All the petcocks are a little bit different.

Allan from down under.

Re: How do you get the oil petcocks to face out?

Posted: Sun Apr 14, 2019 8:45 am
by John kuehn
I never thought about it till now but I used some Teflon tape on the ones I couldn’t get a tight fit facing outwards. I have found a twisted off peacock in an oil pan or two in the past.
The Teflon tape worked for me to allow the petcock to get tight.

Re: How do you get the oil petcocks to face out?

Posted: Sun Apr 14, 2019 9:10 pm
by Dan B
Thanks all for the suggestions. I’ll try the Teflon tape trick and if I’m not satisfied with that, will root around the spare parts bins for a couple other ones to try.

Re: How do you get the oil petcocks to face out?

Posted: Mon Apr 15, 2019 7:14 am
by Loftfield
Be sure to use YELLOW teflon tape. It is sold for use on natural and lp gas lines. It is thicker than the white plumbing tape and doesn't degrade in petroleum products.

Tom Loftfield
Brevard, N.C.

Re: How do you get the oil petcocks to face out?

Posted: Mon Apr 15, 2019 12:33 pm
by Original Smith
Since the threads are tapered, there shouldn't be a problem, unless someone forced them in too tight.

Re: How do you get the oil petcocks to face out?

Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2019 6:12 am
by D Stroud
Larry, just because the threads are tapered doesn't make any difference. There are many different tapered thread depths, both male and female, there is always a plus or minus in the specs., just ask any pipe fitter. Just a little bit of difference one way or another can make a lot of difference where the fittings end up. Using Teflon tape is a very good solution. JMHO Dave

Re: How do you get the oil petcocks to face out?

Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2019 6:18 pm
by Altair
If you are handy with solder, you could run a dot of solder on the threads, have the threads super clean with a drop of flux and it will run around the threads. This works to hold a nut tight or for stripped threads.