Dramas buying thermostat housing gaskets for EA82 .

discopotato03 · Post by **discopotato03** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 1:39 pm

Hi all , as I mentioned a while back the spider manifold went on my RX-T and it ended up with an 82 deg thermostat - which I didn't want to use .
I thinks no probs nip into Rip Every Poor Clown Off and get a thermostat housing gasket to change back to the 77 deg thermostat .

In their wisdom all ----- could sell me was a Dayco branded gasket with DT9G on the packet . This gasket has elongated bolt holes in it and thats usually a sign that the maker is using it for a number of applications to lower their range off parts . I bought two ($2 odd each - like spares) and heads home to attack the thermostat .
I suspected and was not surprised to find that the inner ends of the bolt holes were too far apart to fit so mods them to get it to fit .
I always use Avaition Form a Gasket (Permatex No 3) because it doesn't set hard and usually seals well .

Less than a week later I find coolant (green blood) sitting in the "well" in front off the inlet manifold and goes looking for the source .
The normal culprits are turbo top pipes or rad top hose because mine has the rubber hump and Davies Craig fan switch sensor at the thermostat housing end .
Nothing damp there so I fires up the old lump and see's a bead of coolant worm its way around the thermostat housing and drip down on the engine .

Today I drops into an Auto 1 in my travels and asks for a Tridon gasket because they usually work acceptably . They bring out the one listed for Subaru L Series EA82 85-92 and it looks the same as the Dayco one .
I tells this fella the story and being a veteran he agrees that its pt np is strange , he tells me it gets used for a wide range of cars ie Hiyundai .
He then goes out back and gets a Tridon gasket for an EA81 and this looks much more like what I needed . I ended up taking one of each which is no risk as the register rings up a whole four bucks .
I knew I had a "range" of EA82 thermostat housings so checking them was no issue .
The EA81 gasket fits perfectly so thats what I'll ask for in future , the EA82 one would also work BUT it doesn't seal all around the the bolt holes because the extended slot side of the gasket is not crushed between the manifold and thermo housing . If for any reason you had coolant weep up the thread holes on the bolts this gasket won't seal the coolant between the manifold and the housing - it can't because its open on one side of each bolt .

So the Tridon branded EA81 gaskets pt no is TTG15 , the one listed for EA82's is TTG9 but I wouldn't use it unless nothing else was available .
BTW the Tridon TTG9 gasket is almost the same as the Dayco DTG9 but at least it doesn't need to be altered to fit the thermo housing bolt spacing .

Cheers A .

tex · Post by **tex** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 12:34 pm

Normally I just go out and replace the whole thermostat costs around $10 to $15 and comes with a free gasket or two! Mainly because I have had these fail and its cheap insurance!

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 1:35 pm

I stocked up on TTG15 some time ago - they have self adhesive on one side which can be useful sometimes. Have used them both on EA81 and EA82T (not spider) and EA82 carby (I know both is two and I listed three)

I do have some random black rubbery ones too - not know part number or brand

discopotato03 · Post by **discopotato03** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 2:37 pm

I'm beginning to think that some of my problems are self inflicted , I have used Datsun 200B spec thermostats in the past because they were easier to get in 170/77C ratings and are also 54mm .
I get the feeling that the groove machined into EA82 inlet manifolds to locate the thermostat plate is not as deep as the Datsuns are and genuine Subie thermostats don't have the ridge towards the outer edge of this plate .
It has to be Easter Friday and no one open so I cant enquire about EA82 spec 77 deg C thermostats .

Are EA81 and 82 thermostats the same ?

Cheers A .

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 5:05 pm

same in my experience

timmo · Post by **timmo** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 8:58 am

I just use that red high temp silicone, no gasket, also on the oil sump. No leaks after 2 years

discopotato03 · Post by **discopotato03** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 9:26 am

Ok so need to get more EA81 gaskets and either an EA81 or 82 spec thermostat in 170/77C opening temp .

Like Teddles , hate leaks , hate ! hate ! vomit !

A .