Okay, so I replaced the thermostat on my jeep today and for some reason it's now leaking coolent from the T-stat seal. I used the correct gasket and used the gasket sealent on it and it still leaks. The T-stat it's self is seated properly inside it's little recess. The only thing I can think of that I could be doing wrong is adding coolent and starting it right up. Am I supposed to let the sealent dry first? Other than that I dunno what I could be doing wrong.

 

If you put to much force on the bolts when you tightened up the tstat housing you may have damaged the gasket. I've done it on a water pump before.

 

the t-stat might have slipped out of the lip and is not seated properly. you will have to pull the t-stat housing and put it back on (DO NOT overtighten the housing bolts, you will crack the housing!... speaking from experience)

 

The first time the t-stat slipped out of the lip and after I shut the Jeep off, it still leaked. I used a new gasket and re-did it, the seal held for about 10 seconds before it stared leaking. I'm going to take it apart and inspect it closer tomorrow, I may have overtightened the bolts so I'll inspect it for cracks and stuff but I don't think there are any.

 

it is very easy to crack the aluminum.... can get one from a jy for $5 if it is broken though

 

the first time I replace my tstat I had the same prob, I took out the gasket, and just use some silicon seal and it did the job HTH

 

forgot to mention that - use some gasket sealant (but not too much, don't want that stuff getting into your radiator

 

yeah, I did not use the gasket at all, bc that was causing the leak, bc it did not seal correctly, and I just used silicon, and yes, be careful not to over use,, bc that wont be good.

 

when i did mine i used both and added sealant to both sides of the gasket. Maybe a little overkill but it doesn't leak

 

I did hear a pop when I was tightening it up so I'm pretty sure I cracked it. I'm looking for a JY to get a new housing at right now.

 

One other question, does anyone know the correct torque specs? I haven't been able to find them anywhere. Thanks.

 

Haynes manual says 13 ft lbs, so not too tight. My housing cracked, too and I didn't overtighten it...it was just so brittle. Haynes also says to put RTV on both sides of the gasket. I found it easier to put the RTV on the housing itself and then on the head side of the gasket instead.

 

I spoke to the stealer and they advised not to use RTV, just use the gasket.

 

It's fixed. I cracked the housing so I just got a new one at Kragen for $7. I ended up using RTV because pretty much every write-up I saw said to. I just put on a tiny bit so I don't have to worry about it getting into the coolent system. Thanks for the help and the torque specs.