This may be a dumb question, but do new thermostats come with gaskets? I have an occasional dribble from where the housing goes on the block. Just getting ready for the upcoming coolant and t-stat change

 

you have to buy the gasket seperate.

 

A dab of sealant will do ya.

 

Get one from a GM dealer, the newer style GMSPO units are a print seal type, needs no goop and they never leak. Once and done.

 

Ok, thanks guys

So if I got to Autozone and get their 59 cent gasket, I need some sealer too? I'd rather not visit my local dealerships, they tend to take 2 weeks to get anything in. They are handy for rare parts though.

 

go to pep boys and get a felpro gasket for like $2 and you wont need any sealer

 

Err, I thought the V8's didnt have gaskets? My 305 doesn't have a gasket to be bought for it, just RTV sealant

 

my 92 305 has a gasket and no sealer. I hate sealer and whenever I can use a gasket I will.

 

don't hate on RTV!... lol.

Yeah, I've always wished they're was a better way other than that stuff. Besides, I've always thought it was made out of liquified smurf's... poor smurfs.

 

Should be a stock item for any GM dealer.

 

word of warning... just replacing the gasket may not fix the prob..

what happens is the housing warps over time, and it leaks coolent..

i had to buy a replacement housing.. but i was strapped for time... you can buy a new one, or try to smooth out the sealing surface with some sand paper on a sanding block... use a straight edge on the surface and yuo can probly see the tiny warp... clean up both surfaces and it will seal...

 

for the gasket, its less then a dollar, and any decient auto store has several in the back.

or you can use RTV

it comes with the new housing... rarely with the thermostat though.

and the computer should tell the parts guy to "reccomend' the gasket or RTV as a add on sale.