Permatex High Temperature Thread Sealant (when changing differential fluid)

[Chocolate Thunder]

I have Jay Walked for well over 67 yrs. and I have not been run over yet.

I know that Jay walking isn’t right. I’ve even heard that there’s a law against it. Are the plugs meant to have sealant? I don’t recall any of them coming that way, but my memory isn’t what it used to be.

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[Industrialwrench]

Use a little tape or the sealant and call it a day. No you don’t need to wait 24hrs for the sealant to dry. They’re no pressure buildup, your diff is vented. The wait time is for it to cure and act as an actual sealant. In this case you’re protecting the threads on the tapered plug, not creating a seal against pressure.

 

[Rhinebeck01]

I know that Jay walking isn’t right. I’ve even heard that there’s a law against it. Are the plugs meant to have sealant? I don’t recall any of them coming that way, but my memory isn’t what it used to be.

Teflon tape to me is particularly useful/important, because of the lubricity it offers.

To prevent "Seeping" is not the only reason you use Teflon Tape. Also, think lubricity.

Regardless of whether a threaded plug on a vehicle left the manufacturer with sealant or not... to me, it is very beneficial to use Teflon Tape when putting a plug I removed back in.

Sure, undoubtedly you can skip use Teflon Tape... but again, I think lubricity more then anything and sealing is my secondary thought. The Lubricity contribution, may very well mean whether next time I can get that plug out.

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[Dyolfknip74]

Am I the only person who owns a Jeep that doesn’t use sealant nor Teflon tape on differential plugs and has never had a leak?

Nope. I've never used it and never had any seepage from fill or drain holes.

 

[Beachcomber72]

I’ve also amongst my last 5 Wranglers, have never used Teflon tape or any sealant of any kind.

 

[Heimkehr]

Am I the only person who owns a Jeep that doesn’t use sealant nor Teflon tape on differential plugs and has never had a leak?

Technically, every first owner of a Wrangler can make the same claim (up to at least the first service interval), if we agree that the drain and fill plugs weren't installed at the factory with Teflon tape or thread sealant.

I didn't observe any fluid leaks from the differentials. It was just personal preference that informed my decision to use a bit of tape on the plugs when draining and refilling the gear oils.

 

[garyji]

Yellow Tape for me.

G.

 

[CarbonSteel]

I know that Jay walking isn’t right. I’ve even heard that there’s a law against it. Are the plugs meant to have sealant? I don’t recall any of them coming that way, but my memory isn’t what it used to be.

Mine had some type of sealant on it from the factory that required wire brushing to remove.

It was replaced with Teflon tape (white--single density) until I ran out. Now it has blue which is double density and is really the only difference between the colors of white/yellow/pink/blue--well that and the size fitting on which it can be used.

 

[CarbonSteel]

Technically, every first owner of a Wrangler can make the same claim (up to at least the first service interval), if we agree that the drain and fill plugs weren't installed at the factory with Teflon tape or thread sealant.

I didn't observe any fluid leaks from the differentials. It was just personal preference that informed my decision to use a bit of tape on the plugs when draining and refilling the gear oils.

Mine had sealant on them from the factory. I remember having to wire brush them to get the gunk out of the threads

 

[Heimkehr]

Mine had sealant on them from the factory. I remember having to wire brush them to get the gunk out of the threads

I had thought about that before composing my post, since I had to clean a bit of detritus from the top-most threads on the plugs during the initial servicing. Since it looked like road grit, that's what I thought it was. Maybe it was in fact sealant, but if it was, it wasn't on most of the threads that actually engaged with the differential itself, or the cover.

I don't think thread sealant or Teflon tape is critical in this application. I just use a bit of the latter for peace of mind.

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