Gasket questions

[Whitephrog]

I'm going to re-install my thermostat housing, new water pump and oil filter this weekend. How do I need to treat gaskets? Coat with oil? Sealant?

 

[Trevor Jessie]

DO NOT use a cork gasket under the thermostat housing. I tried and it was a miserable failure and looked like crap within about 500 miles.

 

[Whitephrog]

Mine are all fiber from Payen.

 

[jlaird]

Or make your own, tap tap tap.

 

[dklawson]

Paper gasket, I use Aviation-Form-a-Gasket, some people use nothing... it's up to you what you like. Most importantly, coat the threads (and shanks) of the studs/bolts you're using with anti-seize compound so you can separate the parts later.

 

[SilentUnicorn]

I would use gasket sealant on the water pumps paper gasket, nothing on the paper gasket for the thermo, and coat the rubber seal on the oil filter with some motor oil.

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[Pythias]

Just a stock gasket, no coating. ... BUT.. since you're there anyway, there's no reason for those to be nuts on studs. This is your opportunity to remove the studs and put the housing back on using BOLTS. ..Much less chance of having them rust into a one piece, if they're already one piece...

My 2¢

 

[Guest]

Paper gasket, I use Aviation-Form-a-Gasket, some people use nothing... it's up to you what you like. Most importantly, coat the threads (and shanks) of the studs/bolts you're using with anti-seize compound so you can separate the parts later.

+1

This is one area I have a real hard time not wanting to use sealant. Chances are it's been pulled down several times before and could be screwwed up. A-F-G is a good choice, I find it hard to get off of my fingers afterwards as it ALWAYS seems to dool on me somehow. I usually use Permatex 2a or 2B. I can't remember which, the nonhardening one. I think they both may be the same, just different packaging. I can't remeber. I think it's 1A that hardens and should be avoided here IMO.

2B is a little easier to apply and remove, but Aviation is ALWAYS a good choice.

Can't ever go wrong with never-seize either....unless it's internal engine fasteners.

 

[Legal Bill]

I only coat one side of the gasket. That way it comes apart later. If both the cylinder head and the thermostat housing surfaces are so irregular that you need sealant on both sides, take the time to true up the surface of the thermostat housing. You can do this by placing a sheet of wet or dry sandpaper on a flat surface and evenly rubbing the thermostat housing across the sandpaper.

 

[JPSmit]

You can do this by placing a sheet of wet or dry sandpaper on a flat surface and evenly rubbing the thermostat housing across the sandpaper.

and a pane of glass makes a very good flat surface

 

[Whitephrog]

Good tip. Thermostat housing is new and smooth. Cylinder head is smooth as well

 

[Hap Waldrop]

I don't use cork thermostat gaskets either, the thing i don't like about cork is it tneds to squish out place, a paper gasket won't do this, if the gasket set only comes with a cork gasket, i simply use it for template to cut one form gasket paper, the I use the same RTV (Permatex Ulimate Black)as i use most of the rest of the motor on it as well, also, I don't use studs on a thermostat housing, always bolts, the bolts won't snap years later when trying to remove like a stud will.

 

[BuggerAll]

pay a few bucks and get the stainless studs with 12-point nuts from ATP, they never seize and look cool to boot -