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After Market Thermostat Is Different, Safe?
Topic Started: Dec 29 2009, 04:39 PM (3,458 Views)
f100240
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I just got a 195 degree Motor Rad thermostat from Autozone because my original one on my 1995 LSI 1.3 L seems to be opening slowly and maybe not completely. The new one doesn't have the rubber gasket around the edge and has no bleed hole. I can put the old gasket around the new one, I guess.

Does anyone know if this thermostat is safe to use? I just put a timing belt and water pump in my car. I've heard that bad thermostats can cause a water pump to fail. I'm going on a trip in a few days so I can use some advice.

Thanks.

f100.
Edited by f100240, Dec 29 2009, 05:43 PM.
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PA.metro,fixer,frames,ect
Frame Fixer

they sell the new rubber gasket ????? w t f they suspost to ask AND try to sell you another sale ,,, no rubber gets very cracked and brittle ,because of heat and the coolant , do not re use if not broke down...... do it right, do it once,,,,,, i do preferr the therm s with the little bleed valve or air bleeder , yea more money,,,= do once do right,,,,,,,buy usa made ,, ask there are some save your fellow mans job
Edited by PA.metro,fixer,frames,ect, Dec 29 2009, 04:57 PM.
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mwebb
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FOG

...."Does anyone know if this gasket is safe to use?[b/]
I just put a timing belt and water pump in my car. I've heard that bad thermostats can cause a water pump to fail. I'm going on a trip in a few days so I can use some advice."....


safe ?
will you be injured if you use the crap thermostat from auto junk ?
probably not .

but
DO NOT USE IT go to the dealer , Buy the correct part with the correct gasket.

it will be more economical as in cheaper to pay more for the CORRECT parts as the OEM part will operate inside the Coolant Map designed by the engineers who engineered the car
which means
your car will function better AND get Better fuel economy With the correct OEM thermostat
and
auto junk does not sell those
..........................................................
i have never discovered a situation where a bad thermostat killed a water pump ....
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f100240
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I agree with using the best, but the dealer can't get it until next week. I did get lucky, though. After trying AutoZone, and Advance, I went to Napa and they had a full display of gaskets and seals for thermostats. They were also the only ones to have a timing belt tensioner, and at a reasonable price, $30. So, I think its back to Napa for me in the future.

f100
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PA.metro,fixer,frames,ect
Frame Fixer

order the good one , run the cheap o till then,,,, couple bucks ??? so what
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billy508
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billy508

If you are going to be buying very much from NAPA, Very quietly as them for a commercial discount. Not to get anyone in trouble, but many NAPAs have a commercial account that they can write a cash sale to. Your ticket might read "BillyJoes car service" but it will be cheaper. You must still pay all the taxes Etc. This usually only works with a store that you regularly do business with. Most of the time I go online and get the part number and the price and if the store has it in stock. Saves everyone time a effort. .............................I just drilled a 1/8 inch hole in my Tstat to make a bleed hole :banana :banana :banana
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f100240
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Thanks for all of the input. I just installed the AutoZone Fail Safe thermostat with the rubber gasket from Napa. I still have two questions: (1) The factory manual says if the bleed hole gets clogged, the car could overheat. The Fail Safe one doesn't have a bleed hole. (2) There is a little play with the thermostat because the Napa rubber seal (gasket) is a little thinner than the factory one. Are either of these things a concern? I'm going on a 250 mile trip in two days. Today I am ordering the factory thermostat ($32) which comes with the rubber seal and has the bleed hole. It won't be in until the middle of next week.

The car seems fine after a short test ride.

f100.
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billy508
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billy508

You might like to read this link http://www.motoradusa.com/products/failsafethermo/index.html My guess is all the bleed hole does is help remove any air in the system. My 2 cents says you will be ok. Even though thermostats do not often fail in the closed position, I also use the failsafe thermostats. :banana :banana :banana
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Johnny Mullet
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Fear the Mullet

You replaced the thermostat. Good job!

I prefer quality parts and use them for suspension, chassis, brakes, engine, etc, but when it comes to simple replacement crap like plugs, wires, cap, rotor, T-stat, etc the discount items will work.

At my workplace, we refuse to use junk parts and don't even offer an estimate with cheaper prices to secure a job. And guess what? No "comebacks" :beer
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dimetrodon


billy508
Dec 30 2009, 12:30 PM
... My guess is all the bleed hole does is help remove any air in the system. My 2 cents says you will be ok.
It is not a minor problem if there is a large bubble of air trapped behind the thermostat. That bubble will insulate the thermostat from the rising temperature of the engine, and if the bubble is large enough, it might prevent the coolant from carrying away the heat from engine combustion. If the thermostat stays closed for only a couple minutes, the temperature around the cylinders may rise far enough to do serious damage. I think there is a discussion with pictures on this site that shows where to drill a hole in case you have to use a thermostat that came without the bleed hole.
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jeff


JM when u said "will work," iyo are they lesser grade? thanxs
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Pilot-Terry
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Thanks for the post - just the answers I was looking for, Autozone or the Chevy dealer (by phone) never mentioned the need for this rubber spacer/gasket, in addition to the flat normal flange gasket. It was very evident you need the rubber spacer/gasket to make a replacement thermostat fit properly without slop. It's not in the diagrams though: GM Part Supplier Diagram

Just found the awesome post by Geo Glenn - the napa replacement rubber gasket - Wahoo -

http://geometroforum.com/topic/5173887/1/?x=0#post809497


Called the local chevy dealer parts guy - the right thermostat for mine is part number 96069300.



Edited by Pilot-Terry, Jul 16 2013, 07:02 PM.
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awames76


there was a different thread that said some use the rubber gasket and some dont, just depends on how deep the recess is where the tstat sets.

my tstat failed closed, found that the bulb on then end pushed off the shaft till it stoped and would not let it open. installed a new one.
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Old Man


here is a convienent "how to" that tells all about thermostats, gaskets, holes etc etc
http://geometroforum.com/topic/5015643/1/
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Pilot-Terry
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Old Man
Jul 16 2013, 09:44 PM
here is a convienent "how to" that tells all about thermostats, gaskets, holes etc etc
http://geometroforum.com/topic/5015643/1/



Most Excellent ! Thanks!!!
Edited by Pilot-Terry, Jul 23 2013, 01:54 PM.
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