I own a 93 Dakota V6 automatic 4x4 176k miles.


So today I decided to change my radiator coolant and thermostat to improve my heat for the winter. Anyway, everything was going good until I put my thermostat back. It keeps leaking and I can't seem to get it to seal. I bought a new thermostat cover, 3 tubes of RTV sealant for thermostats, and 2 gaskets. So what I did was put RTV sealant on the housing foundation and then put some on the thermostat cover and then I put the gasket between like the book showed. (Did Not Work.) I tried four times to clean and reseal my thermostat cover but it still continues to leak. On the fourth try I waited 2 hours for the RTV sealant to dry and it still leaked.


What am I doing wrong? Should I get rid of the gasket and just use RTV sealant? Also, my thermostat housing has a nick on the edge. I really don't like the thermostat sealant because it doesn't stick to metal very good so, is there something better?



I feel embarrassed because something so easy is being a pain in the a$$.

 

i don't use gaskets for most things, just copper high heat silicone sealant and i've never had a problem.

 

Well, if the new gasket I have is causing the leaks then I'll try sealing the thermostat without it.

 

Not to sound like an A$$ but did you put the thermostat in upside down or the housing backwards. Stock housing has a tag that indicates that side forward.

 

nope everything is in the right position

 

i had the same problem with my 73 gremlin (stop laughing guys). no matter how many times i replaced the gasket it leaked. i tried cork and rubber, still the same. finally i used silicone sealant and it worked. of course this was back in 82.