Troubleshooting AN fittings

[toddu]

While addressing a few items in my car before the warm weather gets here I decided to try to tackle a leaky AN fitting on a fender mounted cooler. I'm not having a lot of luck figuring out where it is leaking. I thought it was in the seat, so I've added a conical washer, no luck. Had a cheap Summit fitting on, was junk so put an Earls on, still leaking. I'm thinking it's not seating square and leaking at the top of the fitting where it swivels? I can see oil where the pin is for example. If it was below the threads, don't think it would travel up the fitting.

It's a very big fitting, an-16, seems harder to deal with than the smaller fittings. Getting VERY frustrating.

Todd

[stormcrow]

Mine is leaking at the temprature fitting. They make a colar that fits inside the male adapter that looks similar to a flare but it is shaped like a cupped washer. Maybe someone can chine in with the exact term. I know Summui Racing sells them.

[toddu]

That's the conical washer I was referring too. It's very (very) thin aluminum. Should mask any imperfections in mating surfaces. I thought mine was suspect from the Summit fitting but don't think that's my issue.

Todd

[stormcrow]

Well I think what happens is the conical top of the tube that fits into the female end eventually compress to the point where the nut bottoms out and can no longer be tightened.

If you look at the shoulder on the male end when in place note if there is a gap between that shoulder and the shoulder on the female threaded end.

If both are against each other then no tightening will stop the leak. I would try the conical washer - they aren't that expnsive and you will probably feel a difference when you tighten the nut. However should you do this I would only tighten enough to stop the leak not beyond because you could distort the conical shape on the tubing.

Mine started leaking after I took out the thermostat housing and once reinstalled could never get the leak to stop.

[slow&rusty]

I've made the switch from Earls to Goodrich fittings, as Goodrich have a longer embedment depth and less prone to leaking. Seems like with Earls I was at a 50% leak or weep rate.