Ok...so I noticed antifreeze leaking from my thermostat housing area a few weeks ago...I pulled off the hose...it looks good...I changed the thermostat ...I checked the housing for cracks...no cracks. I checked the manifold for a crack...no crack from what I can see.

The bastard still leaks on me! Gerrr!!! I am having to fill it with water daily. It looks like its leaking from right under the housing right above the intake manifold. Is there supposed to be a gasket there???...I know there's supposed to be that rubber o-ring that sits on top of the thermostat...but that sits inside the manifold. Also...water surfaces ontop of the housing...it forms around the bolts that hold the housing to the manifold...I have no idea how this is happening since the actuall leak is below it unless pressure forces out between the manifold and the housing and up the bolts...???...Anyways...am I doing something wrong here???...I haven't tq'd the bolts down...but I never have and haven't had a problem b4.

 

Also...this is for a 1996 Mustang GT...could I just use some gasket maker to close the leak???

 

I know its not a 4.6, but I worked on a 2.0 that had that problem. What the real probles was was a tiny little pinhole that only started to leak when the system was pressurized. I would put some copper od high temp sealant on it for now untill you can find what is wrong. Any air entering the system can cause your car to overheat and that is never good.

 

so it'll be ok to put the gasket maker crap inbetween the two for now???

 

also...will I need to get a new o-ring if I unbolt it???

 

Those manifolds are known to crack around that area and leak. This is why in late 2001+ all 2v mustangs got an aluminum coolant crossover there instead of plastic.

 

Check the o-ring and if it is still good you don't need to replace it. I would use the sealant. Get it shecked by a shop that has the uv die and have them show you where the problem is.