Thermostat GASKET question. Just the gasket.

I've been told I'm the smartest retarded person on the board. This could be another example thereof, but I have to take the chance.

QUESTION: When installing the new thermostat gasket, should the gasket be so fat that it prevents the housing from sitting flush against the block (or whatever you call it...the backside of the housing which doesn't come off when you replace the t-stat)?

To put it another way...if this were a sandwich, would the meat and cheese stick out on all sides past the crust? Or would the two pieces of bread be touching each other smoothly around the edges?

I have a new t-stat and gasket, I've wrapped the gasket around the t-stat, I'm putting the air hole at the top, and I'm putting the gasket's two nubs into their correct spots up top. Still, when I put the t-stat housing on and put the two bolts in, the housing doesn't sit flush against the other metal. The gasket is so fat that it prevents a smooth flush fit.

Two thoughts I had...1) it's an AutoZone brand gasket, sometimes they're just plain wrong. 2) is there any chance the 88-89 models are different from the 90-91 models, gasketly speaking?

Any and all help/advice appreciated. Anyone got thoughts on this? Thanks in advance. :-)

Comments

  • I think I understand what you mean, but its a little difficult without a picture. I would just bolt it all up, and then fill the cooling system and let the car warm up, and watch for leaks. If you don't see any, just keep an eye on it for a few days as you drive around.

    As long as the gasket makes a complete seal where it needs to, I imagine it would be fine.
  • I'm not sure that the gaskets are different between 88-89/90-91, but I have installed an autozone gasket and the meat and cheese did stick out. I actually put my old gasket on because I thought that the new one was wrong, but then that one leaked and I put the autozone one back on it it worked fine.
  • Meat and cheese... It makes perfect sense but still..... I'm going to be laughing about this for days!
  • danzdanz Wagonist
    tighten the gasket up. it has slightly more girth so when u tighten everything up it squeezes the rubber to make a water tight seal.
  • NoseNose New Wagonist
    Well, long story short, you guys were right!

    I can be a little overly OCD about things at times, this being one of them. I ordered a $5 gasket from the dealer and compared it closely to the AutoZone gasket. No difference whatsoever. Well, $1.81 difference, but no other difference. I went ahead and tightened it down (as suggested) and sure enough, the dealer and aftermarket gaskets compress exactly like yall said it would. Sincere thanks to everyone!

    HondaCivicWagon.com FTW! :-)
  • Awesome news. Usually someone on this board has already run into any issue you can think up. :)
  • kingxcorekingxcore Band Wagon
    place in in the housing as best you can. line it up and tighten it down. then test for leaks.
  • HaydzHaydz Moderator
    Meat and cheese... It makes perfect sense but still..... I'm going to be laughing about this for days!

    Least i'm not the only one... :D
  • g. mang. man Band Wagon
    Haydz wrote:
    Meat and cheese... It makes perfect sense but still..... I'm going to be laughing about this for days!

    Least i'm not the only one... :D


    Haha, me neither lol. I needed that :D
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