Gasket, Goop, or what?

[N1VSM]

Tired of the leaks in my coolant system!
What do you recommend between the t-stat elbow & the block: gasket, goop (sealant), both?

[m15256]

I would make my own gasket with high quality fairly heavy gasket paper and if there is a lot of pitting on the cleaned surfaces use Permatex #2. I have never had a lot of luck with that blue stuff though it is easy to clean off.

[HingsingM37]

I used the gasket and coated in the Permatex liquid aviation form-a -gasket. Make sure your mating surface on the elbow is clean and not pitted.

[skinnedknuckles]

I use thin gasket material ,aviation sealer ( a thin layer, you don't want it acting as a lubricant allowing the gasket to squeeze out as you tighten the bolts ) and make sure both surfaces are FLAT and clean, and proper bolt torque.

[hbb]

The key statement make sure the surfaces are flat.Take a flat mill file and make a light pass across the thermostat housing base and neck this will tell you if they are straight,if surface is warped file to correct the imperfection and if they are straight a very thin/light coat of Aviation Permatex is all that is needed if done right it will never leak.

hb