I'm about to re-assemble my turbos and exhaust system (997.1) and am wondering how to handle a couple of things regarding my EGT probes:

1) Should I clean the grayish-white precipitate off the probe? I'm assuming yes. If so, is there any particular cleaner/chemical I need to stay away from? It looks like it will chip off, and I would try water before anything else.

2) Porsche's instructions recommend using Castrol Optimol Paste MF for the probe's threads--and the surface of the probe itself. This Castrol product is not available in the U.S. (talked to Castrol myself, and they don't even have a good alternative). Optimol MF is a high-temp (up to 1,100 C*), moly-based, assembly/anti-sieze paste. Does anyone know a suitable alternative?

3) Are our (997.1 TT) EGT probes thermocouples or thermistors? Mainly just curious here.

Thanks,
Louis

 

2) An alternative is the anti-seize paste for the Lambda sensors.

That's N°34 in the picture: