Ok so long story short I installed a new thermostat housing and t stat. I used rtv blue all around and let it dry for a couple hours per instructions from the parts store guy. Drivin it on the freeway it started smokin like crazy. Waitin for my buddy to come tow me now but what the hell do i do?
-
Welcome to the new NAXJA Forum! If your password does not work, please use "Forgot your password?" link on the log-in page. Please feel free to reach out to [email protected] if we can provide any assistance.
Thermostat Housing problems
- Thread starter keaton
- Start date
Flyfisher
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Billings, Montana
Basics are good...year, engine....etc.
So, did you "burp" the coolant system? Did it over heat (temperature gauge showing over-temp)? What sort of smoke....steam?
Really not enough info to help right now.
So, did you "burp" the coolant system? Did it over heat (temperature gauge showing over-temp)? What sort of smoke....steam?
Really not enough info to help right now.
- Location
- Seattle, WA
Is coolant leaking through the gasket, or is this an overheat condition?
- Location
- Maurertown,Va.
Spend the $1.00 and get the gasket--- then do it right.
cruiser54
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Prescott, Az
Yeah, it's amazing that we ever got cars to seal up before RTV, isn't it?
BrokenSockets
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Ayr, Ontario
Did you just put it on and crank it down and let it dry? Or did you put on the RTV, loosly replace the housing, let it cure for a while (couple of hours at least I think is recommended) and then snug up the bolts?
Also, did you absolutely get ALL of the old RTV off the engine side before putting on the new housing? It needs to be clean and smooth. You also did not say if you used a gasket or not.
Also, did you absolutely get ALL of the old RTV off the engine side before putting on the new housing? It needs to be clean and smooth. You also did not say if you used a gasket or not.
Last edited:
robhurlburt
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- lexington,ky
yup. i looked at the directions on the RTV and it said doesn't FULLY cure for 24 hrs. went to o'reillys and spent $1.05 on a new gasket and called it a day.
truck7575
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- georgetown
one time i overtightened my thermostat housing and it got a very small crack in it that you had to look really close to see, so it wasnt sealing up with rtv or a new gasket.
Stuka87
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Twain Harte, CA
The Thermostat on my Truck (It has a 258, older version of the 4.0) I used zero RTV on the thermostat housing. Just used the paper gasket. Has not leaked in the 6 years it has been on there. RTV is often way over used. If you do use it, use a very small amount, just enough to fill any voids that may be in the mating surfaces.
- Location
- Aberdeen, MD
did you put the thermostat in backwards? (don't laugh i've seen it done). Also make sure the vent hole is pointed UP.
this is possible. I had a cracked ear on mine and you couldn't even see it, but when I removed it you could see it on the inside of the casting. A slight flex and it broke off in my hand.
I use RTV, because the mating surface of my block is badly pitted. A smooth even smear about 1/16" thick is all you need. Install thermostat housing, tighten bolts until the RTV just starts to squeeze out. Leave it for 2 hours, come back, torque bolts to spec and call it done.
robhurlburt
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- lexington,ky
really? i didn't pay attention to that, hasn't been an issue.
- Location
- Aberdeen, MD
then you probably got it right lol
robhurlburt
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- lexington,ky
what would happen if it wasn't pointed up?
did you clean the surfaces good?
- Location
- Aberdeen, MD
Air would have a hell of a time exiting the block as the coolant expanded (prior to the thermostat opening)
Im gonna go check to see if the air hole is pointed up. I thought it was but ill double check. And yeah i scraped all the old crap off with a putty knife then cleaned em up with a scotchbrite. and the housing was brand new too.
Last edited:
robhurlburt
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- lexington,ky
and it would overheat?
after the scotchbrite use some alcohol or cleaner and let it dry. get that farker clean.
Flyfisher
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Billings, Montana
for the OP...I think the question now is did it leak because it overheated, or did it overheat cuz it leaked. If it lost enough fluid to overheat, wasn't the smoking (from fluid on the header) present long before it reached 260 degrees?