My boat has a leak...

"cletus44 aka Clayton Seams" (cletus44)
09/19/2014 at 19:13 • Filed to: None

My Chrysler started leaking coolant from the thermostat housing. It's a slow but steady leak when the car is running. Is this something that should keep me from driving it somewhere 30 mins away tomorrow? Temp stays fine but it just leaks coolant.

DISCUSSION (15)

jlmounce > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
09/19/2014 at 19:16

If you absolutely have to make that trip, stop by the parts store and get some JB weld and do some quick patch work. If you'd rather not go that route, go to your local parts store and pick up a 50/50 mix of coolant so you can refill as needed.

If you can postpone your trip, do that and fix your car before taking it on a long journey knowing it needs repair.

Alex from Toronto > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
09/19/2014 at 19:17

Should be fine just bring some water so you can top off your radiator if you need too.

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > jlmounce
09/19/2014 at 19:17

JB weld to the rescue!

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
09/19/2014 at 19:19

Is the housing itself still okay? Either way, IMO, you'll have to refill it every once in a while, just be sure to do it cold. I drove a car that consumed oil (bad valve guides I believe) over the past 2 weeks, and I always refilled the oil pan every 4 days.

crowmolly > jlmounce
09/19/2014 at 19:19

I wouldn't JB weld anything. Probably just make it worse.

First I'd try to snug the bolts. Maybe they are loose.

If you can postpone your trip to change the gasket there's new ones with o-rings that work great. Might be available for your car. If not a basic blue Fel-Pro with high tack should be good. Just clean the surfaces well.

If you can't postpone, top it off and bring some jugs of distilled water in the trunk.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
09/19/2014 at 19:21

I say replace the gasket asap. My wagon leaked from my housing as well last month. Car wasn't overheated so I just bought a new thermostat (since I was taking it off anyway), and a new gasket, then blue-gooed the hell out of the block side. Hasn't been a problem since.

roflcopter > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
09/19/2014 at 19:25

What everyone else is saying, it should be fine to drive like that, just keep a close eye on the temp and if ANYTHING points towards it having an issue check the level and make sure the leak hasn't gotten worse.

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > crowmolly
09/19/2014 at 19:26

It's a brand new gasket and the bolts are snug :/

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
09/19/2014 at 19:26

I just replaced the gasket and thermostat :(

crowmolly > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
09/19/2014 at 19:28

Did you use any high tack or RTV? On the bolts too?

Might need a new water neck entirely. That's not unheard of.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
09/19/2014 at 19:31

The sad part is I had just done the same! The previous gasket and stat hadn't even driven 30 miles before it started gushing. My assumption is a didnt tighten something or god knows what, because it can only leak from the housing if it isn't sealed properly by definition right? Right? So I said fuck it and tore it all out again. Not much else you can do, sadly.

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > crowmolly
09/19/2014 at 19:38

dammit. I replaced it twice and I can't get it to seal properly.

Jedidiah > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
09/19/2014 at 19:48

Bolts are probably coming loose or the old gasket material might be starting to go bad. Just tighten things up gently and see if it helps.

My Cutlass leaked from the thermostat for ages until I discovered that in fact I had a aluminum Pontiac thermostat housing and not an Olds.

I swapped it for a proper Olds housing and it still leaked. So I filed it and put a ton of gasket material on it and after the third try it finally stopped leaking.

Unfortunately, after I fixed the thermostat leak, it started to leak at the water pump.

Old cars can be a pain in the ass sometimes.

Philbert/Phartnagle > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
09/21/2014 at 19:18

Most likely the T-Stat housing has been over tightened and warped. Sometimes you can correct that with a good flat file and sometimes you just need to replace the housing.

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > Philbert/Phartnagle
09/21/2014 at 19:21

Thanks for the advice! I think I'll source a new thermostat housing