Thermostat Housing Gasket

[yellow68pony]

Stupid question time -- Are you supposed to use gasket sealer on the thermostat housing gasket? Seams like you should to prevent leaks. Thanks.

 

[ForceFed70]

Stupid question time -- Are you supposed to use gasket sealer on the thermostat housing gasket? Seams like you should to prevent leaks. Thanks.

There's no problem with using some. Personally I'd try to avoid it becasue it's alot hearder to clean off if you ever end up taking that housing off.

 

[Great68]

Stupid question time -- Are you supposed to use gasket sealer on the thermostat housing gasket? Seams like you should to prevent leaks. Thanks.

When I was putting my motor back together, I used gasket sealer on the thermostat gasket.

It leaked like there wasn't even a gasket there when I started pouring the coolant back in.

So I promptly said screw it, and bought a new O-Ring t-stat housing from the parts store.

 

[my66coupe]

I usually hold the thermostat in place with some silicon and coat both sides of the gasket. Spread it around, not thick globs. After having mine leak from the last intake job, I went alittle crazy on silicon and did anything coolant related with it plus the gaskets....

Mike

 

[D.Hearne]

I always use sealer with the gasket. It's a must with older pitted aluminum T-stat housings. I use black RTV or the newer Permatex ultra blue.

 

[yellow68pony]

Thanks for the advise. Sealer it is then.

 

[Ronstang]

You only need a thin coat of RTV on both sides of the gasket. I usually use a piece of sandpaper on a flat surface to make sure the T-Stat housing is perfectly flat first. Then with the little RTV around the edge of the T-Stat istself I "glue" it into the housing smearing the RTV on the housing surface, adding some if necessary. Then stick the gasket on and smear a light coat on the gasket. You don't really need too much sealant because the excess is simply going to oozeout an look bad while providing no extra sealing.