Gasket required when inspecting thermostat?

[johnhb67]

My bukh diesel is salt water cooled. If I take off intake to inspect thermostat do I need replacement gasket or is it designed to handle me taking it off for inspection?

 

[PietruPawl]

Unless it's an O ring seal... (and sometuimes also an O ring) As a proper mechanical practice, you should always replace the Gasket. It costs nothing anyways

 

[Poignard]

If I remember correctly there's a fibre gasket between the thermostat tower and the cylinder head. There is a rubber ring around the flange of the thermostat itself that provides a seal between the thermostat tower and the bypass (the piece that has the hoses connected to it).

If you can remove the bypass without disturbing the gasket between the tower and the cylinder head, then you can withdraw the thermostat.

Personally, I would always prefer to have a spare fibre gasket handy and remove the thermostat tower to inspect the interface between it and the cylinder head, which may be corroded. Mine was corroded and I repaired it with JB Weld.

 

[Malish]

It costs nothing anyways

almost nothing..., £3.15

'Nothing' in the Bukh pricing structure anyway

 

[vyv_cox]

It is a very easy gasket to make. Sheets of gasket material are available at car parts shops and on-line. Scissors to cut the shape and internal hole, ball pein hammer for the bolt holes.

My daughter used to.make mine for me from the age of 10.

 

[Poignard]

 

[Poignard]

 

[Refueler]

I am always careful to not damage gaskets when removing items - I then carefully clean them ....

Only occasionally do I put a new gasket .... yes I know - not good practice.

I am also aware that gaskets may look good - but if hardened can be useless ... new ones still have a certain amount of compression in them when used.

I remove my Perkins and Yanmar thermostat cover each end of season ... to fill with Anti-freeze as per manuals - old gaskets go back ... never had a problem.

 

[johnhb67]

It is a very easy gasket to make. Sheets of gasket material are available at car parts shops and on-line. Scissors to cut the shape and internal hole, ball pein hammer for the bolt holes.

My daughter used to.make mine for me from the age of 10.

Thanks for the advice. We don't have a lot of Bukh in New Zealand these days and only one parts supplier in the country.

 

[Malish]

Thanks for the advice. We don't have a lot of Bukh in New Zealand these days and only one parts supplier in the country.

It would help if you added a location to your info