Thermostat

[comet_666]

Do you guys use gaskets or RTV or both? What is recommended?

Thanks!

[birdsandbees]

Gasket and aviation gasket sealer, I put that shit on everything! 

[c00nhunterjoe]

Very thin layer just enough to coat the gasket on both sides and around the bolt threads.

[comet_666]

You guys talking about this stuff?
What about gasket? there seems to be about 30 out there.

https://www.amazon.com/Permatex-80019-Aviation-Gasket-Sealant/dp/B000HBM3QQ

[Nacho-RT74]

damn!... any regular cheap gasket and a light coat of regular RTV sealer ( not even high temp ) will do the job for the T stat housing. Don't overthink this LOL.

Most of the times the gasket itself makes the job without even RTV! like the valve covers! The RTV is just about an extra protection and sure a light coat is enough

[John_Kunkel]

You guys talking about this stuff?


https://www.amazon.com/Permatex-80019-Aviation-Gasket-Sealant/dp/B000HBM3QQ

Ahhh, the "brown death". I prefer RTV.

[c00nhunterjoe]

Just regular rtv, nothing fancy

[Mopar Nut]

Fel-Pro no sealant.

[Canadian1968]

A lot of the time it comes down to what shape the thermostat housing is, or the water neck whatever you want to call it. IF it's an old one that has been tightened down to much in the past, it's probably warped, and you will fight getting it to seal ! Same with the mounting surface of the block, needs to be clean and smooth.

Throw a straight edge over the end of the housing just to see how true it is, and save yourself along of head ache . JUST tighten it more will NOT help, actually make things worse !

IF you use the rtv  sealant , make sure you wait a few hours before topping up the coolant or you completely wasting your time.

VERY simple procedure .........  yes , but that doesn't mean you can't have a problem!

[Paul G]

A lot of the time it comes down to what shape the thermostat housing is, or the water neck whatever you want to call it. IF it's an old one that has been tightened down to much in the past, it's probably warped, and you will fight getting it to seal ! Same with the mounting surface of the block, needs to be clean and smooth.

Throw a straight edge over the end of the housing just to see how true it is, and save yourself along of head ache . JUST tighten it more will NOT help, actually make things worse !

IF you use the rtv  sealant , make sure you wait a few hours before topping up the coolant or you completely wasting your time.

VERY simple procedure .........  yes , but that doesn't mean you can't have a problem!

Absolutely correct. If it is an old water neck,(Tstat housing) it is almost certain to be warped. You can lay a full sheet of sand paper on a perfectly flat surface and sand the the water neck mounting surface down a little to get it flat again. Use a little RTV on both sides of the new gasket as already stated, and dont over tighten.