Gauge fitting questions TD42i

[Cuppa]

Thanks Matt, looks like access is far easier there than in around the oil filter area. Should I expect much oil to come out when I remove the bolt?

[nissannewby]

Thanks Matt, looks like access is far easier there than in around the oil filter area. Should I expect much oil to come out when I remove the bolt?

No maybe a small dribble. You will need to use the smaller of the 2 ports as the larger port is a return port.

[Cuppa]

No maybe a small dribble. You will need to use the smaller of the 2 ports as the larger port is a return port.

Glad you told me that, I can only see one port in your pic - arrowed in the pic below. I just went out to my car to see if I could locate the second. Hard to see because there are a few hoses in the way but I think there is a second one where I’ve put the circle. It has a banjo union on it with a metal pipe heading toward the rear of the motor. Does that sound right?
Looks as though the one to use is the arrowed one? yes?

[nissannewby]

About an inch or so directly behind the one you have put an arrow on is a small 1/8 pressure port. I can grab a better pic after work if you like.

[Cuppa]

I took a pic myself this morning Matt. Either I’m not recognising what I’m looking at, or it’s a case of the distance being that awkward position just out of range of my reading glasses & but still a little too close for me to get a sharp focus on.

1” behind must mean what I’ve arrowed on this pic I suppose? It’s tiny, much smaller that the ⅛ NPT sender unit I have. Still not sure that this is what you mean as there are more of what look the the same further rearward on the motor (at the same level). If it is the port I suppose it must need an allen key to extract it. I can’t see it clearly enough to be sure.

[nissannewby]

Yes that's the one cuppa and yes there are a couple more along that side but that is the easiest to access. Yes it is an Allen key and it's a 1/8 port so your fitting should be fine. It is a little deceiving. They can be stubborn sometimes so be sure the Allen key is inserted all the way and possibly use a touch of penetrant.

[Cuppa]

Further to my previous post I just found this pic of a TD42 with vacuum pump on the alternator online (sharing the pump’s oil return with turbo oil return). It certainly does seem to suggest that where I arrowed in my post above is the feed port you mean. If so I think I’ll use the drivers side for my feed - (near to oil filters or a ‘sandwich plate’) because it looks like the pump feed blanking plug looks like it could be a real pr*ck to get out & would then need an adaptor plus sender unit - a fair bit of weight on a narrow support base.
A shame because it’s harder to get at the drivers side feed. Really not sure about the sandwich plate idea, lots of online reports of them leaking & also would make access for oil filter replacement in an already tight area even tighter.

EDIT: Thanks for the confirmation Matt. You posted as I was typing.
SECOND EDIT: My reading suggests the oil ports (either side of the motor) are ⅛”BSPT & that it would be unwise to try to screw a ⅛” NPT fitting into it.

[Cuppa]

Having cleaned around that passenger side oil feed it does appear bigger than at first look, (it is correct that it is a little deceiving) & potentially useful after all. If only I could get the little bugger to move! I’ve sprayed heaps of CRC & RP7 on it, cleaned out it’s middle so I can get an allen key fully in, & with as much pressure as I dare & I can’t get it to shift. Using a ¼” socket drive handle with an allen key bit. No clearance to get in with an impact driver, am thinking I may need to try some heat. Perhaps a rag dunked in boiling water & then held over the plug in the hope that the casing will expand more than the plug?

Any other ideas?

[nissannewby]

As hot as it might be take it for a drive.

[Cuppa]

Seems like a lost cause. Been for a 20km drive, returned, gloved up & tried again. No joy. Looks like it has some sort of sealant on it’s thread. Feels like the allen key is starting to be a less tight fit. Drivers side increasingly looking like it’ll have to do. Will try again as things cool down though.