Do I need to use any type of thread sealer when installing?

 

cheap insurance. thread tape works..

 

Thanks, well I've been out there almost an hour trying to get the old sending unit off and it won't budge. Had an 18" long breaker bar on there and still no luck. Also used PB blaster. It's an 88 4 runner and I'm sure that's the original sending unit. What the heck is that thing torqued down to from the factoty? I'm pretty bummed out cause I wanted to install my new (used) sr 5 gauge cluster. Anybody got any ideas how to get that dam thing off?

 

Don't thread seal it unless it has a ground wire or least don't use tape. The tape can interfere with the electrical contact the sender needs to make with the block.

 

the threads are somewhat tapered so they will cut the tape enough to ground the sending unit out

 

I had to use Vice Grips and go through the wheel well to access it better to get mine off.

 

Yeah I used teflon tape on mine and it works fine, so it must have cut though enough to ground.

The factory torque spec isn't very much, I'm sure the years of corrosion have frozen it up. Be carefull, you don't want to snap it off. IIRC they are brass threads.