I had a coolant leak at my thermostat housing. I went to the parts store to get a new gasket. (thermostat is fairly new) The parts guy gave me an O ring. I questioned him on it because I knew there was a cork gasket on there already. He pointed to his book and told me that is what it calls for and to put the O ring around the thermostat. I came home and referred to my Haynes manual and it describes a gasket as well. I went ahead and used the O ring with no gasket of any kind anyway and so far it seems to be working just fine. I am just looking to hear peoples opinions and experience with this repair.

 

Thanks!!!

EA82 uses a gasket.  Not sure how an o ring could even work.

Use a gasket or rtv.

That's what I thought too. The thermostat fits inside a groove in the O ring and then is sandwiched between the block and the housing. So far it seems to be working fine. When I look it up on partsgeek.com it shows a gasket. I wonder why the parts store shows an O ring? It is a Fel-pro brand and said 1.8l subaru right on the packaging.

... It is a Fel-pro brand and said 1.8l subaru right on the packaging.

 

The EA81, EA82 and EJ18 Subaru Engines, are 1.8L

 

---

 

The Gasket needed for the Thermostat Housing, in the EA82 engines,

 

is Subaru Part Nº 11072AA000 see: ~► Here.

 

Kind Regards.

EJ18 uses o-ring type thermostat gasket if I remember correctly. So that is probably the reason why it states subaru 1.8 engine in the box.

 

Is it this gasket you have in there ?:

 

http://www.fme-cat.com/overlays/part-detail.aspx?brand=FL&PartNumber=35524&pt=Water%20Outlet%20O-Ring&lu=1994%20SUBARU%20IMPREZA&vin=

 

And this is probably the one you should have in there:

 

http://www.fme-cat.com/overlays/part-detail.aspx?brand=FL&PartNumber=35298-1&pt=Water%20Outlet%20Gasket&lu=1993%20SUBARU%20LOYALE&vin=

ive used both and i like the oring style better my self i think different year ea82s have a different gasket styles they both work though

EJ18 uses o-ring type thermostat gasket if I remember correctly. So that is probably the reason why it states subaru 1.8 engine in the box.

 

Is it this gasket you have in there ?:

 

http://www.fme-cat.com/overlays/part-detail.aspx?brand=FL&PartNumber=35524&pt=Water Outlet O-Ring&lu=1994 SUBARU IMPREZA&vin=

 

And this is probably the one you should have in there:

 

http://www.fme-cat.com/overlays/part-detail.aspx?brand=FL&PartNumber=35298-1&pt=Water Outlet Gasket&lu=1993 SUBARU LOYALE&vin=

Yes the top one looks similar to what I put in there. The second one is what I imagined should be the one used. It makes sense to me now because I did not specify ea82 I just said 1.8l

Edited November 8, 201510 yr by loyale1993

... It makes sense to me now because I did not specify ea82 I just said 1.8l

 

That is exactly what I was trying to say, in my post above.

 

The O-ring might get somehow, "Swallowed" by the coolant flow, with time... 

 

I don't know, but I would change it for the right one, as soon as possible.

 

Kind Regards.

That is exactly what I was trying to say, in my post above.

 

The O-ring might get somehow, "Swallowed" by the coolant flow, with time... 

 

I don't know, but I would change it for the right one, as soon as possible.

 

Kind Regards.

I agree with you 100% and now I know to specify ea82 and not just a generic 1.8l. Thanks for your help!

You're welcome.

 

By the way, maybe you can share photos of your subie with us

 

We love photos here, Kind Regards.

Don't know if it's relevant, but all the newer oubacks and ej's I've seen use the o ring, but there is space for it in the housing on those.

there space for the oring on the ea82 also it gets tight and seals the hole with out even screwing the housing down it fits so tight the water never even gets to the area that the gasket seals way less chance for a leak the gasket is old junk im trying to get away from cardboard or composit gaskits i make most of mine myself out of copper but the rubber o ring rocks and seals way better if it wasent better then why would they use it on the ej motors and the best part is theres no cleaning up old silicone with a razor blade every time its changed

This is how it's supposed to mount on  the thermostat in EJ18 engines:

 

http://images.whisystems.com/Smartpages/partinfo_resize/STN/48457.jpg

 

While it might work in the EA82 engine I wouldn't use it in one. It will seal the thermostat in but the EA82 thermostat housing does not have the groove for the gasket to mount safely in. But if you feel it works for you go ahead I don't judge in any way for using it that way.

This is how it's supposed to mount on  the thermostat in EJ18 engines:

 

http://images.whisystems.com/Smartpages/partinfo_resize/STN/48457.jpg

 

While it might work in the EA82 engine I wouldn't use it in one. It will seal the thermostat in but the EA82 thermostat housing does not have the groove for the gasket to mount safely in. But if you feel it works for you go ahead I don't judge in any way for using it that way.

It does work so far.... I think I will go with the gasket though just because it is what should be there.

i have 3 fuel injected ea82 intakes and they all have a cut out for the rubber oring gasket

None of my ea82 engines has deep ebough groove for that kind of o-ring. Only the groove for thermostat itself.

I've had 1 carbed and several SPFI EA82 s. All used a gasket, none have a proper groove for an o ring.