Thermostat Housing Gasket Removal

dlundblad · Sep 22, 2016

The Volvo is getting a coolant flush this weekend and the thermostat housing has to come off. I was complaining/ asking about gasket removal to a co-worker and he recommended a 3M made scotch-brite disk that can be used on a drill.

Seems like a decent idea, but would there be any issues with the disk being too aggressive? I have never done the procedure before, but I am assuming all surfaces will be aluminum.

I have always had poor luck with razor blades and Permatex's gasket remover stuff.

Any other suggestions?

jeepman3071 · Sep 22, 2016

I usually use a hard plastic scraper to get the big pieces off, and a scotch brite pad to finish it up. I've done this with a number of Jeep 4.0 thermostat gaskets with no leaks. A drill and scotch brite might work fine, but the last time I saw someone do that it made kind of a mess with little pieces everywhere that fell back into the coolant galley.

dlundblad · Sep 22, 2016

Originally Posted By: jeepman3071
A drill and scotch brite might work fine, but the last time I saw someone do that it made kind of a mess with little pieces everywhere that fell back into the coolant galley.

I thought about that.

Watched a YouTube video on how to do a LIM gasket on a GM 4.3 and he used a shop vac to collect the chunks. Figured I'd give that a try if I went the rotary pad method.

bullwinkle · Sep 22, 2016

If you stuff a shop towel into the thermostat opening it'll catch the crud. I'm always afraid I'll scratch the surface enough with a scraper that it'll seep coolant, that's why the rotary Scotch-Brite pads are a good way to go.

bioburner · Sep 22, 2016

Sharp putty knife and heat if real tough via a heat gun. I hate razor knives as well. The thermostat housing if flat surface and needing additional cleaning can be run across a flat sheet of sand paper acouple strokes.

Farmer · Sep 22, 2016

There are different types of scotch brite disks. So it won't be aggressive if they use a finer one. As recommended above. Use a shop towel to prevent debris falling in.

Ducked · Sep 22, 2016

Try brake fluid to soften it, then a (preferably plastic, but you might have to escalate to steel) scraper. Did one recently like that and it came off like butter.

I'm finding brake fluid increasingly useful stuff, even in the brakes.

The_Jeff · Sep 22, 2016

I think you have a rubber gasket and should expect few problems.

mehullica · Sep 22, 2016

There's several grit/coarseness types of the "3M Roloc " cleaning discs. The blue one works great for aluminum

bdcardinal · Sep 22, 2016

Pretty sure that "gasket" is a o-ring like on my S60R. If so I just cleaned up any residue with some brake cleaner on a paper towel.

dlundblad · Sep 23, 2016

Originally Posted By: eljefino

I think you have a rubber gasket and should expect few problems.

What makes you say rubber gaskets are problematic?

I am not sure on the internals, but the whole 2 piece housing has to come off. I am not sure what's between the 2 parts, but it just has a regular paper gasket between the housing and the engine.

I broke down and bought a new Volvo part. We shall see if it's worth the price I paid.

HerrStig · Sep 23, 2016

Originally Posted By: dlundblad
Originally Posted By: eljefino

I think you have a rubber gasket and should expect few problems.

What makes you say rubber gaskets are problematic?

I am not sure on the internals, but the whole 2 piece housing has to come off. I am not sure what's between the 2 parts, but it just has a regular paper gasket between the housing and the engine.

I broke down and bought a new Volvo part. We shall see if it's worth the price I paid.
The OP said expect FEW problems. Didn't you read the post?

Ducked · Sep 23, 2016

He didn't. .."expect few problems" as opposed to ..."expect a few problems".

Unless you have reason to believe that was a typo?

dlundblad · Sep 23, 2016

I did misread his post assuming it wasn't a typo.

I actually have HerrStig on ignore, but had to investigate what he said since Ducked's post seemed a bit random.

His post just reassured me I did the right thing by placing him in ignore.

Good job HerrStig.

Ducked · Sep 23, 2016

Originally Posted By: dlundblad
Ducked's post seemed a bit random.

?

dlundblad · Sep 23, 2016

Originally Posted By: Ducked
Originally Posted By: dlundblad
Ducked's post seemed a bit random.

?

You snipped out most of my post. No wonder it doesn't make sense.

I have HereStig on ignore.

Your comment right after HerrStig's appeared random since I couldn't see what he had posted.

Yah-Tah-Hey · Sep 23, 2016

On my 04 Camry V6, the thermostat gasket fits over the thermostat OD and seals like an o-ring. Very simple installation with zero problems.

andyd · Sep 23, 2016

I would use Permatex Aviation Forma gasket. Comes in a tube. It takes care of small cases of erosion on aluminum fittings. Comes right off because it never hardens. I use it on bolts involved too. It seals great.

Yah-Tah-Hey · Sep 24, 2016

Originally Posted By: andyd
I would use Permatex Aviation Forma gasket. Comes in a tube. It takes care of small cases of erosion on aluminum fittings. Comes right off because it never hardens. I use it on bolts involved too. It seals great.
Right you are sir. Permatex Aviation Forma Gasket is a very good product and I use it for years with gaskets.

Thermostat Housing Gasket Removal

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