Thanks for putting this up. My thermostat was kinda broken so I had to fix it, but it wasn't leaking, only it was constantly open. Replaced with a new one, then the leak started and it was leaking by itself not even with the engine running. Trying to solve it like an idiot I ended up tightening it so hard I broke a bolt now its stuck in there, gonna have to tap it out. I'll try scraping off the gunk and making the surfaces as smooth as possible, then I'll try the sealer product. Thought it was going to be an easy fix, was so confident I'd get it done fast and it ended up becoming a nightmare. I'm officially never touching a goddamn thermostat ever again.
@@OutbackTouring Hey there, just wanted to give an update on the fix, might help someone with a similar issue! To remove a broken screw/bolt I had to make a tiny hole on it using a cordless drill and some very small drill bits, used penetrating oil as lube and after a good hour or so of drilling in incremental sizes (1.5mm, 2mm, 3mm) I was able to create a little hole big enough for a reverse drill / broken bolt extractor to fit in and get that pesky broken bolt out of there. From what I gathered researching for this issue is that these leaks are definitely caused by the previous gunk/rust residue creating an uneven mating surface between the block and the thermostat housing/gasket. To clean it off I used a razor to remove the chunky residue, very carefully not to scratch the metal, and then I used wet sandpaper grit 500, 1000, 2000. Doesn't need a lot of sanding just enough so that the surface is smooth, doesn't need a mirror finish. Give your new thermostat mating surface a quick little 2000 grit sanding as well just in case. And then clean both surfaces with a little bit of alcohol and let it evaporate, make sure its bone dry. After I used an RTV or Gasket Maker, and put it on the mating surface, just a little bit all around, it really doesn't need much at all, just enough to make a thin film and I installed the new thermostat and housing by hand tightening the bolts, afterwards waited at least 24h before torquing to final specs. Some RTV are different and you don't need to wait, it should say on the box. About the torque, you're better off seeing what grade and diamenter your bolt is, and searching online the recommended torque values for it, because my car's torque sheet was a bit confusing and originally I ended up torquing 20nm on a bolt was supposed to be 10.5nm (8.8 grade 6mmx16mm bolt) which caused the broken bolt in the first place. So be careful with the torquing and look up the bolt specs and torque before properly tightening it. And it worked, no issues so far!
Fantastic, great detail on your fix by the sounds of it, that thermostat of yours is never going to leak again. Just a update for you one mine, I checked it today after your reply and still no leak.
I had a cross threaded bolt that broke off when taking my thermostat housing off I ended up drilling it completely out with cutting oul and a carbide drill tip then I tapped it with new threads.. make sure to drill slow and use plenty of oil when doing so..just finished doing tonight any questions lmk
amzn.to/48Ru0Fm
Coolant bleeding fill kit
Thanks for putting this up. My thermostat was kinda broken so I had to fix it, but it wasn't leaking, only it was constantly open. Replaced with a new one, then the leak started and it was leaking by itself not even with the engine running. Trying to solve it like an idiot I ended up tightening it so hard I broke a bolt now its stuck in there, gonna have to tap it out. I'll try scraping off the gunk and making the surfaces as smooth as possible, then I'll try the sealer product. Thought it was going to be an easy fix, was so confident I'd get it done fast and it ended up becoming a nightmare. I'm officially never touching a goddamn thermostat ever again.
Thanks for feedback, good luck with the fix 🤙🏼
@@OutbackTouring Hey there, just wanted to give an update on the fix, might help someone with a similar issue!
To remove a broken screw/bolt I had to make a tiny hole on it using a cordless drill and some very small drill bits, used penetrating oil as lube and after a good hour or so of drilling in incremental sizes (1.5mm, 2mm, 3mm) I was able to create a little hole big enough for a reverse drill / broken bolt extractor to fit in and get that pesky broken bolt out of there.
From what I gathered researching for this issue is that these leaks are definitely caused by the previous gunk/rust residue creating an uneven mating surface between the block and the thermostat housing/gasket. To clean it off I used a razor to remove the chunky residue, very carefully not to scratch the metal, and then I used wet sandpaper grit 500, 1000, 2000. Doesn't need a lot of sanding just enough so that the surface is smooth, doesn't need a mirror finish.
Give your new thermostat mating surface a quick little 2000 grit sanding as well just in case. And then clean both surfaces with a little bit of alcohol and let it evaporate, make sure its bone dry.
After I used an RTV or Gasket Maker, and put it on the mating surface, just a little bit all around, it really doesn't need much at all, just enough to make a thin film and I installed the new thermostat and housing by hand tightening the bolts, afterwards waited at least 24h before torquing to final specs. Some RTV are different and you don't need to wait, it should say on the box.
About the torque, you're better off seeing what grade and diamenter your bolt is, and searching online the recommended torque values for it, because my car's torque sheet was a bit confusing and originally I ended up torquing 20nm on a bolt was supposed to be 10.5nm (8.8 grade 6mmx16mm bolt) which caused the broken bolt in the first place. So be careful with the torquing and look up the bolt specs and torque before properly tightening it.
And it worked, no issues so far!
Fantastic, great detail on your fix by the sounds of it, that thermostat of yours is never going to leak again.
Just a update for you one mine, I checked it today after your reply and still no leak.
@@OutbackTouring Very glad to hear it! We don't deserve more gasket leaks 😅 Thanks again for putting up the video, helped me a ton in my process!!!
@@dunnoboah so true 😂
Hello thanks for the video what's the brand of the car ramps or jacks you have the car lifted up with?
It’s a Tuff lift scissor lift rated to 3.5 ton. Bit expensive but I use it a lot.
Is there post to be a gasket around that kind of thermostat
Just the O ring type that seats in the housing. Mine is still leak free to this day.
I stripped one of the housing bolts because I thought it was only loose won’t come out anymore not sure what to do
That probably needs to go to a specialist mechanic, good luck and hope it’s an easy fix!
I had a cross threaded bolt that broke off when taking my thermostat housing off I ended up drilling it completely out with cutting oul and a carbide drill tip then I tapped it with new threads.. make sure to drill slow and use plenty of oil when doing so..just finished doing tonight any questions lmk
Nice work 🤙🏼