Should the housing for the thermostat have a gasket?

I just did my annual cooling system flush in the driveway.
I drain the coolant, remove thermostat, add a bottle of cleaner and fresh water, then let engine run for 15-20 minutes until up to temp. without thermostat installed.
Then drain and flush again with fresh water until I don't see any more orange from the Dexcool.
I had previously been using both the rubber seal and flat gasket for the thermostat, but this time i cleaned the old gasket off both surfaces and just used the "O-ring" seal, filled system with new coolant and distilled water(50/50 mix).
No leak from thermostat housing using just O-Ring.

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98 Riv, 102K Miles, EBC, LS1 Ft.Calipers, STB, Addco Rr Sway Bar, 180* stat., SSAC Headers, HF Cat, 1.9's,
105# springs, MPS 3.4, DHP tuned by the Deekster.

Rickw wrote:

.... ..., filled system with new coolant and distilled water(50/50 mix). ...

Ive been sheltered alot... never heard of using distilled water in cooling systems. I ve always just used the waterhose. Why do you use distilled water?

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'98 Riv/ 3800 SERIESII SC/228k miles/gutted box fwi/K&N drop-in/180 stat/MSD coils/PRJ wires/AL605's

Distilled water has no minerals that can contribute to corrosion and helps provide proper Ph balance in an Aluminum engine.
Probably overkill and just being ANAL, but it only costs less than a buck.

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98 Riv, 102K Miles, EBC, LS1 Ft.Calipers, STB, Addco Rr Sway Bar, 180* stat., SSAC Headers, HF Cat, 1.9's,
105# springs, MPS 3.4, DHP tuned by the Deekster.

thx

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'98 Riv/ 3800 SERIESII SC/228k miles/gutted box fwi/K&N drop-in/180 stat/MSD coils/PRJ wires/AL605's

Not overkill Rick - distilled water is cheap and you should use it whenever possible in the cooling system.

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'98 Buick Riviera; Gen V 3.25 pulley, N*, VS Cam, 180 stat, Custom PCM (Powrtuner), headers & HF cat , 42.5 lb inj.

Grant-built/PRJ/Thrasher trans 3.29 gears, 7/8 chain, zzp hardened IS

Rickw wrote:

Then drain and flush again with fresh water until I don't see any more orange from the Dexcool.

I had previously been using both the rubber seal and flat gasket for the thermostat, but this time i cleaned the old gasket off both surfaces and just used the "O-ring" seal, filled system with new coolant and distilled water(50/50 mix).
No leak from thermostat housing using just O-Ring.

Glad to hear it!
I've checked my water outlet a few times since I used only the O-ring, and it's still tight, too.

You're still using Dex-Cool?

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97 Riviera L67 - Desert Sandstone - Gutted AB Lid, Kool Blue AF, 180* SuperStat, Hogan 3" DP, ZZP 3.6" MPS; Sensa-Trac struts, Rockford-Fosgate 6x9's; Annoyance-Fixes: Express-Down delete, Full-time juice to Power Port, BRP-power to Glovebox lite, Brake-to-Shift delete, Console-compartment lite, Seat/Mirror Memory in any gear.

69 Wildcat Convertible, 430" QJet - Burgundy/Black - P/Win, P/Seat, P/Ant, Tilt, Cruise, Remote Trunk, Rallyes, AM/FM Mono!

Eldo wrote:

Those friggin' filters aren't here yet...

Mark, I also found them, thru Amazon.com, and ordered 10 last week. They are shipping today. Any updates on your order status?

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Dave G
98 Riviera
Gutted, 3.8, 180, 104'S, front PEM, 3" DP & Cat, Caddy STB, GR2's. DHP 1.5

Yes, I got them Monday (or possibly Tuesday... I've been sick as a dog since Saturday.) I haven't gone through my piles of eBay packaging for padded envelopes yet, but I did take a picture of the box to share the strange part number.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3574/3639563164_c1c3e0b223.jpg?v=0

As it is easy to tear one while trying to put it on, I figured I'd put 2 in each envelope and send them out for $3, with postage. I was going to send PM's to the 3 of you, and make up the packages over the weekend. I guess I should still send PMs to the other two...

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97 Riviera L67 - Desert Sandstone - Gutted AB Lid, Kool Blue AF, 180* SuperStat, Hogan 3" DP, ZZP 3.6" MPS; Sensa-Trac struts, Rockford-Fosgate 6x9's; Annoyance-Fixes: Express-Down delete, Full-time juice to Power Port, BRP-power to Glovebox lite, Brake-to-Shift delete, Console-compartment lite, Seat/Mirror Memory in any gear.

69 Wildcat Convertible, 430" QJet - Burgundy/Black - P/Win, P/Seat, P/Ant, Tilt, Cruise, Remote Trunk, Rallyes, AM/FM Mono!

I'm surprised it actually has a GM # on the box. I tried my local dealer last week and no such part is in their parts breakdowns, though they know what it is. I figured I'd put some extras on the shelf and ordered myself. I'll bet you can get rid of your extras. Mine are coming from AC-Direct.com, is that who your supplier was? Oh nevermind, you said it was RockAuto....

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Dave G
98 Riviera
Gutted, 3.8, 180, 104'S, front PEM, 3" DP & Cat, Caddy STB, GR2's. DHP 1.5

Yes, it has a GM number, but GM hasn't used 6-digit numbers in 40 years... confused

That's why they can't find the damned thing. Plus, I believe my Chevy guy said that he finally found them listed as "EGR valve filters". rolleyes

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97 Riviera L67 - Desert Sandstone - Gutted AB Lid, Kool Blue AF, 180* SuperStat, Hogan 3" DP, ZZP 3.6" MPS; Sensa-Trac struts, Rockford-Fosgate 6x9's; Annoyance-Fixes: Express-Down delete, Full-time juice to Power Port, BRP-power to Glovebox lite, Brake-to-Shift delete, Console-compartment lite, Seat/Mirror Memory in any gear.

69 Wildcat Convertible, 430" QJet - Burgundy/Black - P/Win, P/Seat, P/Ant, Tilt, Cruise, Remote Trunk, Rallyes, AM/FM Mono!