Problems seating the thermostat

Help gurus…….changed radiator and some hoses today inc top and bottom rad, thought id change the thermostat…wish id never bothered. had trouble seating it into the water pump, used one of the 3 o rings that came with the new one, same size as one that came off. stat in the same way as it came out………..had trouble keeping it square as i lined up the elbow fiddling with the bolts onto the pump…..thought i had it sorted, came to filling with coolant…then it started pishing out the elbow….up on car ramps to get a better go at it, effed about for ages, thought i had it….same again…..so ive parked it up in the garage until tomorrow until i calm down.

Am i missing something, i seated the o ring onto the pump first….is this the problem??, but trying to keep the stat square and line up the elbow i found difficult regardless.

tell me where im going wrong please…..

beer

Cheers Kev
 

If its a plastic-spastic elbow they are renown for warping. Plastic parts have no place on engines.

http://vwgolfmk1.org.uk/forum/index.php?page=topicview&id=big-block-injection_2%2Fleak-from-thermostat

Early-1800 said

If its a plastic-spastic elbow they are renown for warping. Plastic parts have no place on engines.

http://vwgolfmk1.org.uk/forum/index.php?page=topicview&id=big-block-injection_2%2Fleak-from-thermostat

DITTO, another reason WHY I HATE PLASTIC PARTS.
I did create a thread on that.  

http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?6907318-I-still-hate-plastic-parts-but-thanks-Tolusina&highlight=plastic+parts

I have noticed that the o-rings that are bought at some retailers are a tad thinner than the OEM,  and when using them they don't hold the t-stat in the housing.
I started by taking the t-stat cover off, and replacing it I stacked the cover-oring-tstat as a sandwich and installing it all together.  

When I have gotten a o-ring that was correct, it would usually hold the tstat in place to get the cover on.

A while back, there were vendors that offered a metal t-stat cover, and well I guess as soon as I posted that they were avail, After I had ordered 2 of them, they ran out.

When you are going to a breaker yard, look at the older diesel engines, they usually have all metal outlets.

Thanks ,…appreciate your replys …ive calmed down now….ill have another go tomorrow…i suspect i may have the o ring in the wrong order…but it may well be the elbow as well. If it leaks tomorrow, ill source a new flange (preferably metal) and another o ring and get it done next weekend…..only thing i wasted 1.5 litres of good coolant……move house in 2 weeks so need it done.

Enjoy your evening

Kev

 

Haven't had to do this for a while but remember it being a pain, From memory you put the stat in first, followed by the 'o' ring, if you can dry it all put a bit of petroleum jelly on the seal and it should stay in place long enough to get the cover on.

Sorted…i think….a new day….clear head, new o ring (fitted in right order) new coolant….and a successful bleed i hope. Bit of cardboard down in the meantime and will check back for leaks and nip up the jubiless clips next weekend.

My battery decided to die which was a 2 hrs set back, Aldi charger £13..99 nice

Plastic housing remains

Thanks for the advice, learned a few things over the last 2 days

Kev