I've been trying for the last 24 hours to try and get the thermostat housing (Pinto) reseated and the engine topped off with coolant, but I can't seem to get it water-tight.

I've used a silicon gasket, as the housing has seen better days, but it now looks like it is leaking through the bottom bolt hole. My only guess is that the head is cracked inside around the bolt.

Any ideas on a fix to prevent the leak from traveling up the bolt.

I've tried plumbers tape, but it's still leaking.

Thanks
Rob

[Edited on 31/12/18 by RobBrown]

To long a bolt can crack the head casting, you can smear grey sealant round the bolt hole and the bolt thread and use a small O ring under the the bolt head or better still a Dowty washer

I've tried the smearing around the edge technique, but no use.

I've started again, used a bit more gasket sealant and will wait for it to fully set before filling with coolant/water.
I made sure this time that there was plenty of sealant in the bolt hole.

I've not changed the original bolts but maybe there was gunk in the bottom which caused some stress on the casting!

Will see how it is in the morning when I top it up again.

Otherwise I may bit the bullet and get a newer housing on fleabay which has a better mating surface area than mine.

Cheers
Rob

quote:

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Originally posted by RobBrown

Otherwise I may bit the bullet and get a newer housing on fleabay which has a better mating surface area than mine.

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quote:

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Originally posted by SPYDER

This is the only real solution Rob, regardless of what it looks like in the morning.

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All sorted with a newer housing from ebay, for the sake of £18, with the normal paper type gasket

Job done... Onto the next one



Cheers
Rob