Hi all What is the general consensus when installing the housing. Do you apply the gasket dry, or do you use some form of gasket sealer/adhesive? I am using the blue Felpro gasket, if that makes a difference. Cheers
I put it on dry unless the surface isn't absolutely perfect. If anything I use gasgacinch or very very thin rtv.
I sand the surface of the housing flat...and also use a thin coat of rtv on both sides of the gasket.
Randy not sure if you know but some guys drill a small 1/8” hole in the face of the thermostat and orient the hole to the top prior to putting the thermostat housing on. This helps with filling the antifreeze so it doesn’t air lock. Also a small couple of dabs of rtv on the backside of the thermostat and set it in the intake and leave it for awhile so it’s glued in prior to housing install. Other fellow might have other ideas ? Good luck Gordon
Many years ago, I had a leak about the t-stat housing. I flat sanded the housing & on the manifold. Still had a leak. I was able to purchase a cork gasket & no more. Think it has been installed 15 years.
I only put the gasket maker or sealer on the housing side of the gasket. That way the next time you pull it off, the gasket stays with housing for easier cleaning instead of having to scrape it off your block or intake in the engine compartment.
Well the housing is on now and I used a very small amount of the Permatex Aviation Form-A-Gasket, because the housing is the original aluminium piece and showed a less than perfect mating surface. Time will tell if I made the right call.
I go against the grain. I rarely use any kind of sealer/rtv. I let the gasket do it's job. Nowadays it's common practice to smear RTV on everything. Unless I know there is a big imperfection in the surface, I don't bother with it. I've done this with great success too.
