Sometimes I Hate Cars!! (Thermostat Gasket)

[Ghettoboom767]

Hi everyone-I've been working on my 93' T-Bird with the 3.8 V-6.
First of all I didn't have a thermostat in the car since I bought it.It would run cool but still got heat unless It got down below 10F.
Now I bought an original Motorcraft one and put it in-get's hot and well to make along story short,my car just doesn't want one in there! Using some ant-freeze-head gaskets could be getting weak.
So I took out the thermostat with the original gasket and bought a gasket at O'Reilly's-seemed cheap,not as thick and had some adhesive crap-like a sticker on it!
I put it in yesterday and today I put antifreeze in and it leaks!
Now I scraped off of this one and have to buy another original gasket-the original one was thicker and didn't really leak at all.
This is so frustrating!!! :annoyed:
I put a thin layer of gasket compound on both sides and put it in but the last one still had some plastic layer on it!
Damn cheap aftermarket crap!!
Tomorrow morning I pick up my 3rd. gasket and with it being an original Motorcraft gasket hopefully I will have success!!

I hate anti-freeze all together since I was burned bad by it when I was 18!! Never have liked working on cooling systems since!!

Gosh I hope I get this to work & not leak!! Been using that permatex water pump thermostat gasket compound-seems to work good but need to have an original gasket again-Please let it not leak tomorrow-I let it cure for almost 24 hours last time to!
Stupid plastic layer thing that wasn't taken off all the way-Ughhh!!!!!!!-
I'm hoping for the best tomorrow!!-Jeff. :annoyed: :'-(

 

[Superduper]

Those thermostat housing gaskets can be a real bugger. The best way is ensure no leaks first time around is to put silicone on both sides of the gasket, then install. THEN WAIT for the silicone to cure BEFORE using. You should have good success if done this way.

As for operating the vehicle with no thermostat -- it's not good for the car. The reason is that modern engines needs to operate at a high enough temperature to burn off the contaminants in the motor oil, etc. When constantly operated at below normal operating temperatures, it is not good for it. Also, it will throw more smog out the tail pipe and possibly contaminate the catalytic converter or other parts of your emissions system. You are doing the right thing by putting it back in. Hope the third time for you is the charm, Jeff.

 

[jaetee]

I'm hoping for the best tomorrow!!-Jeff. :annoyed: :'-(

Cooling systems are among my least favorite to work on as well, water pumps are the worst! Usually tough to get to and clean, and easy to snap off bolts if you're not careful...

I had to replace the thermostat housing on my 85 Benz. The upper housing is actually plastic and had a hairline crack. It would leak gently under pressure. I'd end up with a puddle of coolant under the car and no idea where it came from. Finally, I got lucky and actually saw the crack. It was tiny!

OEM replacement upper housing (made of plastic) cost less than $20. Getting the special aluminum one that won't ever crack - $150!!!!! Why have two?

Anyway, I went with the cheapo. I'm over budget on the Benz.

When I took the old one off, the thermostat that was in there was fine, but I had to change the gasket. And whoever had worked on the car before used a ton of that sealant. It was all over the place inside of the housing, and probably affected proper thermostat operation. Completely ridiculous, way too much. I had to clean the old lower housing and clean the thermostat. When I realized I didn't have any sealant on hand, I put it back together completely without. I just cleaned up every contact surface as much as humanly possible to make it super smooth and put the new gasket that came with the new housing in. Made sure nothing slipped, and appled torque to the three screws holding the whole thing together in incriments one at a time to make sure nothing worked its way out of place.

I was afraid it would leak, but I got lucky. Turns out German parts usually go together real good.

Benz cooling system works like a charm now...

Anyway, good luck with your T-Bird.

JT

 

[Ghettoboom767]

Thanks guys for your replies!
First of all Norm-I know about proper temps & what-not BUT this car has 270,000 miles on it & I've driven this car without a thermostat for over a year now with no problem.
I just wanted better heat & wanted to see how it would run with one in there.
So I'm leaving the thermostat out as I believe the head gaskets are weak!
This is the safe way for me as I have to take a long drive again.
It get's warm enough and it does run excellent!
I cant afford another car & I'm not doing head gaskets on this car!
Just want to get the thermostat gasket in there tomorrow-being that I'm buying an original Motorcraft gasket I should have beter luck.
I wish I could leave one in there but I'm losing some antifreeze and just don't want any problems.
My converters are fine and I believe later this summer it's time for another daily driver car!
My 81' Z-28 is a weekend driver especially with the 5.7litre and a 3.23 rear end.
Thanks again & I did use gasket compound on both sides-just need a good gasket & some luck tomorrow-Jeff.

 

[floyd]

i would suggest using the rtv black silicone the type used for installing the water pumps it's much thicker and dries a lot faster ,like norm said once its on let it completely dry before re filling with anti freeze.

 

[eldorado]

i couldnt read all that text boom, but i wish you get it fixed

 

[Superduper]

i would suggest using the rtv black silicone the type used for installing the water pumps it's much thicker and dries a lot faster ,like norm said once its on let it completely dry before re filling with anti freeze.

Yep. I learned that the hard way.

 

[oldskool69]

Jeff...you gotta get the head gaskets fixed and THEN get the T-stat right.

With you driving in parts of the country with extreme temperature and driving condition variations it will catch up to you sooner than later. And what you don't wan't to happen is that the gasket fails internally against the cylinder where you won't get an external coolant leak, but a leak into the cylinder. What will happen is one or both of the following:

1. Coolant will seep into the cylinder housing which will reduce or eliminate the ability for the spark to fire properly. Not only that, you will risk getting coolant into the oil passages which will turn the oil into a mayonnaise like substance. End result? Blown engine possibly a cracked block.

2. Oil will get into your coolant resulting in the same jelly like substance noted above, resulting in overheating and blocked coolant passages and a ruined water pump, radiator, heater core and...if you had one, thermostat.

If you were to survive driving with no damage from the swapping of fluids (please keep minds out of gutter here ) you would have to completely flush both systems multiple times to ensure the gunk gets out before replacing oil and coolant.

I know you said you can't afford another car. But realistically driving it the way it is, it's just a matter of time and for the expense to fix it once really damaged, you may as well buy another.

All that said, you'll get better mileage as well if you get it in proper running order. And if the AC isn't going, you'll be better off when getting that fixed to as the cooling system will handle it properly.

 

[jaetee]

Jeff...you gotta get the head gaskets fixed and THEN get the T-stat right.

With you driving in parts of the country with extreme temperature and driving condition variations it will catch up to you sooner than later. And what you don't wan't to happen is that the gasket fails internally against the cylinder where you won't get an external coolant leak, but a leak into the cylinder. What will happen is one or both of the following:

1. Coolant will seep into the cylinder housing which will reduce or eliminate the ability for the spark to fire properly. Not only that, you will risk getting coolant into the oil passages which will turn the oil into a mayonnaise like substance. End result? Blown engine possibly a cracked block.

2. Oil will get into your coolant resulting in the same jelly like substance noted above, resulting in overheating and blocked coolant passages and a ruined water pump, radiator, heater core and...if you had one, thermostat.

If you were to survive driving with no damage from the swapping of fluids (please keep minds out of gutter here ) you would have to completely flush both systems multiple times to ensure the gunk gets out before replacing oil and coolant.

I know you said you can't afford another car. But realistically driving it the way it is, it's just a matter of time and for the expense to fix it once really damaged, you may as well buy another.

All that said, you'll get better mileage as well if you get it in proper running order. And if the AC isn't going, you'll be better off when getting that fixed to as the cooling system will handle it properly.

Been there, done that... with a euro spec '82 BMW 323i (E21). IIRC, it took $3000 to get her to cruise at 140 on the autobahn again... At the time I was enlisted in the air force and living in Germany, I really couldn't afford that car.... but OHHHHHH THE FUN!!!

(I'll have to dig out pics of that one and scan them)

Maybe now's a good time to mention that I have a sweet-ass, ultra-reliable '97 Toyota Avalon XL I"m gettin' ready to sell....

 

[bill]

after many years of taking out engines and putting in engines and pulling of heads and putting on this that and the other thing,i decided to just let the mechanic do it.
i mean its more expensive but i had my fill of the frustrations over the years.
my old man threw me a socket set a water pump and a few hours to chuck the water pump on his grantorino back in the day.
i was like fourteen and never worked on a car before.
i didnt know what a freaking gasket was needless to say once the pump was on there it pissed water all over the block. i figured out pretty fast that chincey piece of cardboard wasnt for packaging.
thermostats are always a drag should be a fifteen minute job never works out that way.
seriously tho we were lucky no one was killed when we used to work on our cars. i mean everything we did was just so wrong.

 

[walkgirl]

My car does not need that stuff because it is a VW = Good ® :sin:

and my nice VW = Good ® is just 26 years old :sin:

 

[Ghettoboom767]

Thanks guys-Have the original Motorcraft thermostat gasket in there now.Used plenty of the Permatex water pump thermostat gasket compound,had my friend hold the housing tight while I tightened up the bolts.
Hopefully tomorrow after the full 24 hours it will NOT LEAK!
I sure hope so!

Freddie-No way am I going to fix the head gaskets-not that bad yet & I only paid 800.00 for the car.
Just will have to do the best I can with what I have right now.
I know all about the symptoms and the ill effects of what happens-I had an old 88' Dodge Shadow-after 200,000 it puked but good!
I appreciate your concern & stuff but if it will quit leaking out the thermostat area I should be set.
I'll keep you informed-I like the car but if it goes it might be time for another ride & I'll keep the car & fix it when I can.
If it pukes on me on the road somewhere then so be it! I really drive it easy and keep lots of water & anti-freeze with me.
The 3.8 is a really good motor but I do have 275,000.

Hi Nicole-yes the Golfs & Rabbits are not bad cars-just those old VW bugs drop valves! I know-my friend had many.He had a cool Baja Bug!!
Fun car!
I love my BMW-good German engineering! -just not driving until later in May!
Have a good weekwnd everyone & thanks for your comments & help!-GB.

 

[ahardb0dy]

what did you expect it's a FORD, buy a Nissan and you won't be having these problems !!

 

[Ghettoboom767]

Hurray-success!!!!
After 5 gaskets and trial & error it doesn't leak!
It was a slightly bent thermostat housing that was making it leak.
I went to Autozone & they had this special gasket that was like 8.99 and it's really thick & re-usable!
It has a special formed goo around the areas that need it-I'm so happy!!!
Thanks for your inputs!
Have a great Saturday night!
Now for no power for an hour-I reccomend that everyone do this-Jeff.