thermostat housing - adaptor between housing & temp sender

[18cherokee]

hi -
changed out the t-stat on 89 GW.
had a leak at the port where the adaptor (& adjoining temperature sender bolt assembly) bolts into the housing...

the adaptor (not the temp sender assembly) that sits in the t-stat housing doesnt seem to want to pinch tight & hence the leak. wrench it tighter & it got a bit looser & the leak increased.

parts manual doesnt list this item from what i can tell - can anyone find me the part reference?

id like to order a new housing & an adaptor at the same time.

TGW & BJ's dont list it either.

cheers.

[Heavy_Metal_Thunder_81]

Got a pic?

[badaboom]

Use teflon tape

Teflon tape used ?

[babywag]

I think you're talking about the CTO in the thermostat housing?



I wouldn't order a new housing unless yours is cracked, or damaged in some way, The aftermarket replacement housings are pretty lousy quality.

For the CTO leaking I'd use teflon tape, or paste like used for plumbing.

[tgreese]

Anything like a CTO or flare nut (brake tube nut) will distort if you torque on it with an open end wrench. Not a good idea. Once the nut is distorted, it will no longer seal. Use a flare nut wrench on flare nuts, and a box end wrench on the CTO if you can get it to go over the nipples on top.

The thread of the CTO is a NPT - National pipe thread - and tapered to tighten as you thread it in. You should not have to reef on it to get it to seal. The teflon tape will help to seal it, but if you bent it, it's ruined.

In Oz, there may actually be a temperature sender in the thermostat housing. If so, it's likely adapted to the hole with a NPT pipe bushing. It's not a special part- standard hardware store item here in the USA. It too is hollow, so it will distort and leak if you reef on it.

Also, if you have an aluminum OEM thermostat housing, they are breakable. Be careful that the 'stat is properly seated in its recess, and that the edge is not trapped between the block and the housing.

[18cherokee]

Teflon tape used ?

Tape was used the first time.
It was nipped tight & seemed ok, but then started to leak. Touched it, it loosened up & leaked some more....
So pulled it out & reinstalled with thixotropic gel paste used for hydraulic connections - used as an alternative to thread tape.
But would like to find a replacement - hard to find when it's needed in the jeep & it had the guy at the hydraulic stores stumped.

Note that I have since used the gel at the housing thread, & tape at the sending unit thread - I have an additional piece between the housing & the sending unit that mates the 2 together.

Thanks for the other pointers tgreese & babywag.

My set up is pretty standard, ie nothing special about our Oz jeeps in this regard.

[18cherokee]

I think you're talking about the CTO in the thermostat housing?



I wouldn't order a new housing unless yours is cracked, or damaged in some way, The aftermarket replacement housings are pretty lousy quality.

For the CTO leaking I'd use teflon tape, or paste like used for plumbing.

Forgive me being a dumbass, but what is CTO?
Could you post a pic of your Wagoneers thermostat housing & sending unit set ups? I'm starting to think that the adaptor I'm referring to possibly shouldn't be there - wouldn't it be plausible that the sending unit thread should go straight into the housing instead of another piece between it & the housing?

[rockrollin]

My temp sending unit is threaded into the intake, not the thermostat housing. It is right in the corner of the intake, front driver side. I have a 2bbl, a 4bbl stock, and an Edelbrock, same place on all three.

[Ristow]

sounds like you have a reducer in the cto port,to fit the smaller temp probe? this is wrong,and the temp probe goes in the intake coolant runner to the right of the thermostat. as stated above.

[tgreese]

Forgive me being a dumbass, but what is CTO?
...

Coolant Temperature Override - that's what Jeep calls them. It's a thermally-driven vacuum switch.

[babywag]

Here is a pic of a thermostat housing and the stock temp sender location(center bottom).



From front of engine...stock temp sender(center right)

[18cherokee]

Ah I see....
I think what I have plugged into the top of my housing is a secondary temp sender.
It seems I have the stock in the correct spot too.
I have additional senders at the top & bottom of the block, so I have 3 gauges to look at.
I'll post pics later today...
So babywag, that's what the top housing port (you have plugged?) is for?

[babywag]

Normally it's for a CTO (vacuum coolant temp switch dealio).

Since I have no emissions equipment that requires vacuum control, it's plugged.