Hi, forgive the newbness of my question but I'm at a loss. I installed a new radiator for my 1992 civic EX yesterday and in the process of purging air from the cooling system I spotted a leak from this part I can not identify. I believe it is missing a gasket. I'm sure metal-on-metal isn't the ideal partnership when it comes to fluid transfer. I've checked my repair book for the name of this piece but could not find an answer. I have also done extensive research on the internet before making this post. The closest thing I found was here http://oem.thepartsbin.com/parts/the...Gasket&dp=true . However this gasket has three bolt knockouts while this part has only two bolts. Is this part called the Water Outlet? The upper hose from my radiator runs to this and the bleed valve sits on top . Thanks in advance Honda Gurus.

Would a liquid gasket seal work in place of a rubber one?

Here's the Pic



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I'm pretty sure that the part that is leaking is the outlet gasket. I would not use a liquid gasket, i would get the proper gasket and install that. If there is still a leak with the new gasket. You could use RTV with the new gasket, but i wouldn't use just RTV or liquid gasket.

 

If I'm seeing everything correctly you just need a new thermostat gasket. That part is called a water jacket thermostat housing I believe... or just a thermostat housing... depends on who you talk to... anyway just go in and ask the parts store for another thermostat gasket and they are like a dollar or so... then when you remove the old one be sure you DRY AND CLEAN the two metal parts throughly, install the new gasket and tighten down the bolts just make sure you keep it dry/clean when you do it and don't use any of that form a gasket crap unless you are using a very thin film on both sides of some high temp form a seal... Pretty simple job but be aware that you are going to leak/loose coolant...

 

side note: to avoid an air pocket once you replace that gasket (and after thinking about it spend the few dollars and get some high temp sealant...) start up the car and let it run, right after you start it open up that bleeder valve on the top until a little coolant comes out.... that way you know all the air is out... well most of it anyway....

 

While I greatly appreciate your help and also wish it were the thermostat, it is not. The themostat housing on my 92 civic sits on the backside of the engine. I know that it is the thermostat because A. It says so in my manuals B. I opened it up to flush coolant and finally C. Because it is the only gasket I can find on the internet (how frustrating...). I've included a picture to show the location difference under the hood. Thanks guys for your input anyway. Perhaps it never had a gasket? Surely not.

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