Termostat + gasket

[nkukard]

Hi guys,

I replaced the thermostat on my tiby the other day, bought a new gasket, cleaned the fittings with my fingers, put some grease on the gasket and hand tightened the bolts.

Problem is now I have a leak by the gasket.... can anyone with more experience than me (backyard machanic) lend some advice on what I can do to resolve this?


Kind Regards
Nigel

[Rickna]

Originally Posted by nkukard

Hi guys,

I replaced the thermostat on my tiby the other day, bought a new gasket, cleaned the fittings with my fingers, put some grease on the gasket and hand tightened the bolts.

Problem is now I have a leak by the gasket.... can anyone with more experience than me (backyard machanic) lend some advice on what I can do to resolve this?


Kind Regards
Nigel

Are the bolts torqued properly & evenly? I don't thing grease is the right thing to use. If anything RTV gasket seal would be the choice.

[nkukard]

Originally Posted by Rickna

Are the bolts torqued properly & evenly? I don't thing grease is the right thing to use. If anything RTV gasket seal would be the choice.

I don't have a torque wrench, so I guess not ... they are to the best of my ability evenly hand-tight.

Ok ... so to fix this i must take everything apart again, should i get another gasket or clean off the current one?

Then get a torque wrench, gasket sealent and try again?

[Rickna]

Originally Posted by nkukard

I don't have a torque wrench, so I guess not ... they are to the best of my ability evenly hand-tight.

Ok ... so to fix this i must take everything apart again, should i get another gasket or clean off the current one?

Then get a torque wrench, gasket sealent and try again?

Torque is very important. Improper torquing can warp a part.try cleaning the gasket. Borrow a torque wrench if possible, some auto parts stores rent them.

[nkukard]

Originally Posted by Rickna

Torque is very important. Improper torquing can warp a part.try cleaning the gasket. Borrow a torque wrench if possible, some auto parts stores rent them.

Cool, I can get a torque wrench. My friend wants to know what the torque of those bolts must be.

He also recommended that I take some very very very fine sandpaper, I think 800 grain or something on a thick peice of glass and move the cap thing in figures of 8 on it to make sure it perfectly flat.

[Rickna]

What model, yr? I4, V6 etc. I'll look it up after work

[nkukard]

'97 2.0 dohc 16v

I found the problem, I just took the water pipe fitting off ... it appears the thermostat moved when I was bolting the fitting back on. Only thing damaged appears to be the gasket.

Not sure if I've buggered it up though ... I tooke 2 pics of both sides of it...

http://www.linuxrulz.org/nkukard/gal...p2237.jpg.html
http://www.linuxrulz.org/nkukard/gal...p2238.jpg.html

Thanks for your help
Nigel

[Rickna]

Originally Posted by nkukard

'97 2.0 dohc 16v

I found the problem, I just took the water pipe fitting off ... it appears the thermostat moved when I was bolting the fitting back on. Only thing damaged appears to be the gasket.

Not sure if I've buggered it up though ... I tooke 2 pics of both sides of it...

http://www.linuxrulz.org/nkukard/gal...p2237.jpg.html
http://www.linuxrulz.org/nkukard/gal...p2238.jpg.html

Thanks for your help
Nigel

To be safe I would replace the gasket. Torque bolts to 14-20 ft/lb

[nkukard]

Cool .... i used a very very little bit of grease around the far edges of the thermostat to get it to "stick" in place.

Used sandpaper on a peice of glass to get the hose fitting perfectly flat, first course paper, then very fine got it nice and smooth.

Used gasket sealant stuff (not the stuff that dries hard, the one which stays sortof plastic like) to get the gasket to stick, shoved on the hose fitting, had a bud of mine hold it there while i torqued the bolts.

Took the car up to 5,500rpm after filling it back up with coolant, no leaks.

Hopefully i'm fine now

[Elk]

I don’t think your problem was that you needed to sand anything, I think your problem was the parts weren’t clean. Next time you have to replace a gasket use some parts/brake cleaner to make sure there is no oil or coolant on the metal keeping the gasket sealant from sticking. Now there are some types of parts cleaners that will eat aluminum so make sure to read warning on back of the can. This stuff is safe to use on aluminum.


Also it doesn’t take much sealant. You just need enough barely cover the gasket. This is what I use: