RTV gasket maker vs. gasket

[Bryan]

Replacing the thermostat this week. Gasket maker alone, or use a regular gasket and sealant?


Thanks

(sorry for the "newbie question")

[yorgatron]

use the gasket and a very thin coat of blue silicone.

[Fatstang]

As Yorgatron said; but I'd add: Put the silicone on thermostat housing side only; stick the gasket to the housing and install. It's makes it easier not having to scrape the gasket off of the manifold next time.

[CruZer]

The blue RTV works great alone.Just allow time for it to set up before you put the fluid back in.I couldn't get the thermo housing on my 351W to seal either with a gasket or an O ring,but the RTV alone worked.

[Bryan]

having trouble getting my damn housing to seal. I have a tiny leak at the rear of the housing.

Try a new thermostat housing?

[playin' hookie]

not aftermarket tywanease chrome junk is it? With the O-ring in it , they never seal.

Just be sure to put a straight edge across both surfaces and make sure they are flat.

then follow the previous recommendations.

[desertratrodder]

I've had really good luck with the "Import grey" sealer. It seals even if oil or coolant is on the surfaces.
I guess I got used to it working at the Honda dealer. They do alot of metal-metal joints with no gasket. Just sealer.
If you buy it from Honda, its called Hondabond. That stuff is great.
I'm not saying for you to not use the paper gasket as mentioned in your application, just check this stuff out.

[Flat Ernie]

Ensure your thermo housing is flat as alluded to here already. Quite common for the "ears" to get distorted from overtightening. You may be able to file flat.

Depending on how hard it is to get to, try it without any sealer on it first. You can use a different material for the gasket too - often the very thin paper replacement gaskets are crap & won't seal worth a shit.

If you must use sealer, use a good quality silicone RTV & use it very, very sparingly. You do not want it squeezing out inside your cooling system.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[willowbilly3]

[ QUOTE ]
having trouble getting my damn housing to seal. I have a tiny leak at the rear of the housing.

Try a new thermostat housing?

[/ QUOTE ]

new housing or lap that one down on a flat surface with some good 180 or so.

[willowbilly3]

Even tho GM replaced many of their gaskets with rtv I don't much reccomend it. I have taken way too many things apart with huge globs of blue silicon inside. I even had one customer that ruined an engine because he used so much it clogger the oil pickup. If you do use it alone, use it judiciously and for God's sake let it set up for 24 hours before cranking up the engine.
The very best RTV I have ever found is Toyota FIPG but if you have to buy it over the counter they will nail you avout 12 bucks a tube.