Thermastat gasket?

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Oct 15, 2002 | 09:05 PM

Schmucker

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Melting Slicks

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From: Wisconsin

Thermostat gasket?

I was replacing the thermostat (old one had failed and was stuck open) and I thought all was going well (don't we always?). Come time when I get everything put back together and I start it, I get that wonderful white smoke. So I shut it off and check it, the gasket didn't seal. I have never changed a thermostat before, so I figured I could just wing it, seemed simple enough, right? Well I don't know exactly what I did wrong. I scraped the mating surfaces as best I could with my lack of tools (1 inch putty knife with a firm blade) until I got off what I thought was gasket and left what I thought was metal. I placed the thermostat in the intake housing, the gasket on top of that, then the outer housing and tightened it as tight as I thought it should be (tight enough to seal, loose enough to not strip). Well, the back half of the gasket went somewhere (haven't found it yet...) and the other side stayed put. But it leaks coolant out the back because there is no gasket. So what did I do wrong? Did I put the gasket on the wrong side? Should it have gone under the thermostat? I hope that is all. Good experiences for me... can't learn anything if someone else does the work for me, so I might as well screw up while I'm at it :D

[Modified by Schmucker, 7:05 PM 10/15/2002]

Oct 15, 2002 | 09:21 PM

Paul L

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Joined: Aug 1999

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From: Ontario

Re: Thermostat gasket? (Schmucker)

The thermostat gasket is normally peel and stick on one side. I do not trust that. I use a gasket sealer such as Permatex 2 thinly on both sides. With no problems.

[Modified by paul79, 8:22 PM 10/15/2002]

[Modified by paul79, 8:29 PM 10/15/2002]

Oct 15, 2002 | 09:40 PM

Schmucker

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Melting Slicks

Joined: May 2002

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From: Wisconsin

Re: Thermostat gasket? (paul79)

Hmm, maybe I'll try that. The gasket was peel and stick, but it had no stick to it! I'll talk to my dad also.

Oct 15, 2002 | 09:48 PM

wcsinx

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Re: Thermostat gasket? (Schmucker)

I don't trust those sticker gaskets either. Not to knock Permatex products, but for any water seal/gasket I used Indian Head sealant. It comes in a little brown bottle with a brush attached to the inside of the cap. I've yet to have a water leak after using that stuff.

edited to add:

Oh duh, I just had a look at my bottle of Indian Head, and it's made by none other than Permatex. :lol: It's called Gasket Shellac Compound.

[Modified by wcsinx, 1:50 AM 10/16/2002]

Oct 15, 2002 | 09:57 PM

Paul L

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Joined: Aug 1999

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From: Ontario

Re: Thermostat gasket? (Schmucker)

I changed out that t-stat in a 180 vrs. 195 experiment three times last July with no leaks. Just cleaned with varsol to get the surface clean and reapplied the paper gasket with Permatex. Of course, there are other high-quality sealing products on the market. Just use one. That is on the intake first, put the gasket on, put sealant on the housing surface, and snug down at 30 ft-lbs.

Oct 15, 2002 | 10:06 PM

scottw

Burning Brakes

Joined: Oct 2001

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From: Okinawa Okinawa

Re: Thermostat gasket? (paul79)

I have put many t-stat's on and never used any sealer until the last time I did it. I had a small leak so I put a little sealant on it. Just enough to stick. Put it at 30 ft-lbs and no problem.

Oct 15, 2002 | 10:09 PM

stingray_76

Racer

Joined: Oct 2002

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From: Muskoka ontario

Re: Thermostat gasket? (paul79)

i've always used paper gaskets whenever i've changed thermostats and never had a problem. :yesnod:
did you make sure the gasket was placed properly before thightening down the bolts and when thightening did you switch back and forth from one bolt to the other to ensure that you distributed the presure uniformly on the thermostat housing??? :)

Oct 15, 2002 | 10:19 PM

Schmucker

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Melting Slicks

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From: Wisconsin

Re: Thermostat gasket? (stingray_76)

Quote:

did you make sure the gasket was placed properly before thightening down the bolts and when thightening did you switch back and forth from one bolt to the other to ensure that you distributed the presure uniformly on the thermostat housing??? :)

I alternated yes, I thought I had the gasket on correct, but I probably didn't. I'll get some of the Permatex stuff and a new gasket and go to town tomorrow, should take about 10 minutes and I'll be on the road again, only to have to store it in a week anyway!