JerseyTrueBlue

Hey guys, my 01 has had a small coolant leak for a while now and I haven't been able to track down exactly where it's coming from. Recently it's turned into a not so small leak as you can see in the picture. When it wasn't as bad, I thought it was just one of the lines from the heater core leaking, but now I'm assuming it's coming from the point that I circled. I don't know what to call that piece or if that's even where it's coming from but it has the upper rad hose and one of the heater core lines going to it and it looks like it has a gasket between it and the part of the head that it mates to. Judging by all of the buildup around that piece I'm guessing that's the culprit but it's hard to tell because the coolant is dripping on to the belt and getting thrown everywhere. Anyone ever have to change this gasket before or had a similar leak? I wouldn't even know what to ask for at the parts store to get the right gasket

cruiser54

Thermostat housing.

Fred/N0AZZ

Agree, could just be a gasket or might need a new housing (they are cheap).

TFitzPat87

x3! It's an easy fix whether it's just the gasket, or both the gasket and housing.

I had my water pump go on me a couple weeks back, and although that's more of a project, it's not that bad either. Most tedious part is taking the time to scrape of the old gasket.

Mine as well get a new tstat and put that in there while you have it apart.

extrashaky

Except when the bolts break.

OP, do go ahead and change the thermostat while you're in there. They're cheap, and since it's a wear item it would be stupid to just replace the gasket and have to pull it off again in six months to replace the thermostat.

JerseyTrueBlue

Thanks for all the replies guys! Now that you say t stat housing it's pretty obvious, I should have came to that realization on my own haha. I'll definitely replace the t stat and the gasket and I'll pb blaster the crap out of the bolts so they don't give me trouble (hopefully)

TFitzPat87

Good luck, and let us know. Clean the area up while you have it off, this way you can get a better idea if you got it sealed nicely. I had to take my water pump back off and reinstall it cause I didn't get the seal just right.

Only reason I have this knowledge is because I just went through it and had the help of cruiser and some others. Grab some of this stuff, smear a thin layer of it on the engine block side of the gasket (the other side is sticky so it sticks to the tstat housing). Bolt it up finger tight, wait an hour then torque down to spec, tightening each bolt a little at a time. IIRC, the torque spec is 13ft/lbs, but make sure. Worked perfect for me.