Team Chepsk8
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- November 7, 2010
- Messages
- 118
- Reaction score
- 1
- City, State
- Easton PA
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2001 Explorer Sport Trak
Definitely have my second housing leaking top and bottom. Will have to remove it.
Two areas I would like forum member input:
1 - Which plastic replacement assembly seems to work best? I am looking for specific part numbers. Did some research, seems the Dorman brand has an updated bottom O-ring? Please tell me what specific brand and part number has worked in stopping the seepage.
2 - If you are creative, stubborn, and cheap (like me), did you try alternate methods of sealing the plastic parts to the manifold, and to each other?
A - At the bottom of the housing which feeds into the engine, could the O-ring area be filled, and sanded smooth, and a traditional gasket be created and used for a better and more secure seal? Has anyone tried this?
B - At the bottom seal area, has anyone ground the O-ring area out to fit a regular round O-ring, and filled in the area that the upper part of the rubber band O-ring used to go? This method would result in a traditional O-ring seal. Has anyone tried this?
C - In the seal in the thermostat area, at the location of the thermostat, lower, and upper sections, many also seep. Has anyone machined surfaces, added a gasket, thicker O-ring, or other methods to improve the seal there?
D - I do not trust that sonic seal crap when the two helves of the lower housing are sealed by the manufacturer. Has anyone done any additional sealing?
Obviously, I do not believe in simple parts replacement when the entire design is flawed. I would like to effect a seal which works, and is a method that is known to work. Throwing money and parts is not the way I fix. I look for fix the cause, not the symptom.
Yes, the aluminum housing could work, but my truck has 225,000 miles, still runs great, but that is an expense I have a hard time approving. So, I do know of it, please do not make that the reason you reply.
I want to see creativity, ingenuity, and results.
Many thanks!
Dan
Two areas I would like forum member input:
1 - Which plastic replacement assembly seems to work best? I am looking for specific part numbers. Did some research, seems the Dorman brand has an updated bottom O-ring? Please tell me what specific brand and part number has worked in stopping the seepage.
2 - If you are creative, stubborn, and cheap (like me), did you try alternate methods of sealing the plastic parts to the manifold, and to each other?
A - At the bottom of the housing which feeds into the engine, could the O-ring area be filled, and sanded smooth, and a traditional gasket be created and used for a better and more secure seal? Has anyone tried this?
B - At the bottom seal area, has anyone ground the O-ring area out to fit a regular round O-ring, and filled in the area that the upper part of the rubber band O-ring used to go? This method would result in a traditional O-ring seal. Has anyone tried this?
C - In the seal in the thermostat area, at the location of the thermostat, lower, and upper sections, many also seep. Has anyone machined surfaces, added a gasket, thicker O-ring, or other methods to improve the seal there?
D - I do not trust that sonic seal crap when the two helves of the lower housing are sealed by the manufacturer. Has anyone done any additional sealing?
Obviously, I do not believe in simple parts replacement when the entire design is flawed. I would like to effect a seal which works, and is a method that is known to work. Throwing money and parts is not the way I fix. I look for fix the cause, not the symptom.
Yes, the aluminum housing could work, but my truck has 225,000 miles, still runs great, but that is an expense I have a hard time approving. So, I do know of it, please do not make that the reason you reply.
I want to see creativity, ingenuity, and results.
Many thanks!
Dan
