Installing an OEM Thermostat Housing.

Posted By: 62BT409

Installing an OEM Thermostat Housing. - 01/10/14 06:25 PM

Now this might sound a light on the lite side but I have had a few different answers over the years. And I am getting tires of always having to reinstall an OEM and an aftermarket thermostat housing that leaks quickly or over time (not a long time)I have been advised to just go metal to metal with silicone, OEM gasket with silicone, aftermarket runner gasket - metal to metal and I can go on. Probably should make this a "pool", but I won't. Any ideas and your thoughts.

Posted By: RapidRobert

Re: Installing an OEM Thermostat Housing. - 01/10/14 06:34 PM

(1) drawfile (A)the stat housing & (B) the intake or pump housing flat with a wide fine file & use a rag to keep filings out of (B). (2) gasket sprayed with Permatex 99MA "high tack" the red stuff in the spray can. Goes on light/even & is extremely tacky & seals very well. (3) see #1 & if it's a chrome housing get the chrome off of there & people have good luck with the NAPA iron stat housings

Posted By: 62BT409

Re: Installing an OEM Thermostat Housing. - 01/10/14 06:59 PM

That is coming up as an ALL-PURPOSE SPRAY.

"Product ID : 99MA - Category : Shop Supplies - Permatex

PERMATEX� Spray Adhesive�Dries clear with superior bonding strength.
�For permanent or repositionable applications.
�Unique formula resists water, humidity.
�Applications include porous and non-porous materials.
�Level 3

Suggested Applications:
�Excels at attaching upholstery cloth, carpeting, floor mats, insulation, kick and silencer pads to metal, wood or KB board"

After researching further, I believe you mean:

Permatex Copper Spray-A-Gasket Hi-Temp Adhesive Sealant (10 oz).....
Fast-drying, metallic copper sealant helps dissipate heat, prevents gasket burnout and improves heat transfer. The sealant also fills minor surface irregularities, hot spots and surface imperfections and seals instantly. The sealant can handle temperatures ranging from -50�F to 500�F and resists all types of automotive fluids, especially gasoline.

Posted By: a12rag

Re: Installing an OEM Thermostat Housing. - 01/10/14 07:10 PM

I have never had a thermostat housing that did not leak !! No matter what I tried ! Some would seap a tiny bit, but there was never a totaly dry unit. That is until I tried this unit from Terry's Auto Lab :

http://www.terrysautolab.com/

Sure it is not cheap, but I DO NOT have a single leak on the car it is installed in !!! I really feel it is worth the $$ . . .

Good luck with yours . . .

Cheers

Mark

Posted By: RapidRobert

Re: Installing an OEM Thermostat Housing. - 01/10/14 07:15 PM

Quote:

That is coming up as an ALL-PURPOSE SPRAY.
"Product ID : 99MA - Category : Shop Supplies - Permatex. Permatex Copper Spray-A-Gasket Hi-Temp Adhesive Sealant (10 oz).....

Yes the 99MA. definitely not the copper spray a gasket

Posted By: 62BT409

Re: Installing an OEM Thermostat Housing. - 01/10/14 07:18 PM

Quote:

I have never had a thermostat housing that did not leak !! No matter what I tried ! Some would seap a tiny bit, but there was never a totaly dry unit. That is until I tried this unit from Terry's Auto Lab :

http://www.terrysautolab.com/

Sure it is not cheap, but I DO NOT have a single leak on the car it is installed in !!! I really feel it is worth the $$ . . .

Good luck with yours . . .

Cheers

Mark

Mark

Thanks for the idea but that is what I am removing. Maybe not the "exact" part you mentioned. I want the OEM look for now.

Posted By: Supercuda

Re: Installing an OEM Thermostat Housing. - 01/10/14 07:30 PM

The factory put millions of thermostat housings on millions of water pumps/intake with nothing more than a paper gasket. Either your housing is junk or the mating surface on the water pump/intake is messed up.

If you NEED anything other than a paper gasket to seal then fix the problem. If you feel you need anything else for "peace of mind" then fine, but it's not the problem. It's like taking aspirin because you have a nail in your head.

Posted By: therocks

Re: Installing an OEM Thermostat Housing. - 01/10/14 07:40 PM

I used just paper for years.Then it seems the gaskets got cheaper.I installed thousands at work in 30 years.Water pumps also.I use the brown Permatex in the tube.Just a light coat.They seal.My 440 has the dreaded chrome housing.It never leaks and has been on for 12 years.Just use the non hardening stuff.When you do them for a living you dont want one coming back for a leak.Rocky

Posted By: GTX MATT

Re: Installing an OEM Thermostat Housing. - 01/10/14 08:28 PM

The housing probably isn't flat, either the thermostate housing or the water pump housing. Bring them to your machinist and ask them to correct it.

Posted By: Suregrip391

Re: Installing an OEM Thermostat Housing. - 01/10/14 08:38 PM

I've never had a leak using that stuff from Napa called "the right stuff", made by permatex. it comes in a cheese wizz can.....apply pressure to the nozzle and it flows out.....

Posted By: a12rag

Re: Installing an OEM Thermostat Housing. - 01/10/14 09:05 PM

It is not the same as the one listed from Terry's . . . Terry has double o-ring seal, and utilizes the 1980's up smaller thermostat.

That being said, funny how the 1980's up, used a metal housing that did not leak any where like the aluminum one. Over the years, I have just used sand paper to ensure the aluminum housing was flat, a paper gasket and silicone sealant. Would usually seal ok, but then have slight seapage over time . . . not enough to lose coolant, but enough to make things look yucky.

With unit from Terry's you have a lower housing with o-ring seal, and then upper (where smaller tstat fits) with o-ring seal.

Quote:

Quote:

I have never had a thermostat housing that did not leak !! No matter what I tried ! Some would seap a tiny bit, but there was never a totaly dry unit. That is until I tried this unit from Terry's Auto Lab :

http://www.terrysautolab.com/

Sure it is not cheap, but I DO NOT have a single leak on the car it is installed in !!! I really feel it is worth the $$ . . .

Good luck with yours . . .

Cheers

Mark

Mark

Thanks for the idea but that is what I am removing. Maybe not the "exact" part you mentioned. I want the OEM look for now.

Posted By: RSNOMO

Re: Installing an OEM Thermostat Housing. - 01/10/14 09:48 PM

Quote:

The factory put millions of thermostat housings on millions of water pumps/intake with nothing more than a paper gasket. Either your housing is junk or the mating surface on the water pump/intake is messed up.

Bullseye...

Got 20+ years on an OEM thermostat housing, over an OEM pump housing, with a paper gasket...

Dry as a bone...

Posted By: Paul_Fancsali

Re: Installing an OEM Thermostat Housing. - 01/10/14 11:01 PM

One reason I found that thermostat gaskets leak is either unstalled while too cold lower then 50 degree's or too damp Best bet is install as described flat housing and clean and make sure you let the silicone set up or use a heat gun/ hairdryer on it for minute or two. I do not have any trouble at all with them any more after learning the hard way how not to install.

Posted By: Cab_Burge

Re: Installing an OEM Thermostat Housing. - 01/11/14 09:42 AM

if your using a aluminum OEM thermostat housing the ends may be bent down not allowing the center to compress the gaskets like they should

I've had more than one that leaked before surfacing it on a big , 15 inch. wide, sanding wheel

Same thing on some of the early cast irons ones also

Posted By: Pyper70

Re: Installing an OEM Thermostat Housing. - 01/11/14 07:51 PM

Can we use the Permatex #2 on the Water Neck and gasket? I put on some Ultra Copper a week ago and it still hasn't dried...Must have been a bad tube...I need to take it off and clean it up...Wondering what i should put on this time around

Posted By: Cab_Burge

Re: Installing an OEM Thermostat Housing. - 01/11/14 08:08 PM

I have bought and used both "Water pump and Thermostat housing" sealer, silicone and "adhesive silicone" for that, if the tube doesn't say Adhesive" on it I don't buy or use it

Posted By: ahy

Re: Installing an OEM Thermostat Housing. - 01/12/14 12:19 AM

What has worked for me... 1) never use a chrome water neck. The iron repops from the parts store are fine 2) make sure the housing and water neck are flat. I usually wind up putting the water neck on the belt sander. 3) Wash everything with clear water. Clean thoroughly with Scotchbrite. Clean with solvent. 3) Dry well. An old hair dryer is handy. 4) Install with a light coat of Permatex #1 5) Torque gently. Too much warps the housing and causes leaks.

The above has always worked. I have not always had good luck with silicone on this joint.

Posted By: therocks

Re: Installing an OEM Thermostat Housing. - 01/12/14 02:30 PM

Pyper if the permatex is the non hardening type thats what I use.I never remember the number.I just walk in and get a tube thats white and says non hardening.Just a light cost on both sides of the gasket.Ive seen too many siliconed ones that leak.Most are because people think you need a 1/2 inch to seal.Rocky

Posted By: 62maxwgn

Re: Installing an OEM Thermostat Housing. - 01/12/14 03:59 PM

Quote:

Quote:

The factory put millions of thermostat housings on millions of water pumps/intake with nothing more than a paper gasket. Either your housing is junk or the mating surface on the water pump/intake is messed up.

Bullseye...

Got 20+ years on an OEM thermostat housing, over an OEM pump housing, with a paper gasket...

Dry as a bone...

And if you find one that does leak,clean the top of the water pump housing,run the thermostat housing on a belt sander,use a good paper gasket and don't over tighten and it won't leak.I've been doing it that way since I've owned my first car and never used a drop of sealer of any kind.

Posted By: RapidRobert

Re: Installing an OEM Thermostat Housing. - 01/12/14 04:00 PM

#2 is non hardening

Posted By: roadhazard

Re: Installing an OEM Thermostat Housing. - 01/12/14 04:29 PM

Interesting to see how long a thread can get over sealing a thermostat housing and even more interesting on all the ways people go about the repair.
ie; don't do it if it's this temperature, only use this or that housing, this sealer, that sealer, etc., etc.....

The solution is really straight forward and simple

Clean flat surfaces, inspect for imperfections on sealing surfaces, thread sealant on bolts that are exposed to fluids, proper torque and a quality gasket. DONE

Posted By: RapidRobert

Re: Installing an OEM Thermostat Housing. - 01/12/14 08:22 PM

Quote:

Pyper if the permatex is the non hardening type thats what I use.I never remember the number.Rocky

Oh it gets better. Rock as a person that uses alot of Permatex #1 and #2 an easy way to remember the difference between the two is this analogy; for instance if 2 guys were vying for a gals' affections & if 1 guy could get hard (& stay hard) and 1 guy stayed soft, well the guy that got hard would be #1 (in her eyes) and the guy that stayed soft would be #2 (if that). I hope that helps you. RR