Bob, great post, don't worry about the long answer. That is the kind of detailed post, that folks need allot of times on a project, such as this. I'm glad you car guys, are here on list. Their will always be auto questions, of one type are another. Regards
--- Bob Kennedy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Well you have a job ahead of you to be sure. > Especially if you are in a part of the country where > rust is a problem. > > What I can tell you about reading written > instructions is they all to often assume you have to > see what you are doing and often times outline a > whole list of things to be removed. They are > removed so they can see the rest of the parts. On > the other hand, guys like me with hands that weren't > designed to fit in tight places require things to be > removed that sometimes shouldn't be... > > I'm trying to place the 3.4 engine because this age > was nearing the end of Oldsmobile's lifetime. The > easiest way to find the thermostat on any car I can > think of is to follow the top radiator hose. It > will end at a pipe that leads to, or a housing for > the thermostat. On many of the GM V6 engines, 3.4 > is such a beast, the thermostat is on what is called > the back end of the engine. Strange term since the > engine runs sideways. For those that don't know, > right and left are directions given on a car as if > you are sitting in the driver's seat. So the back > of this engine is on the left side of the car even > though it's on your right as you face the engine. > Don't feel too confused, people in parts stores get > confused too. > > Anyway, the back is always where the transmission > bolts on. At that end of the engine will be your > airflow hose and air filter box. That hose will > more than likely need to be removed. There will be > some small heater hoses and pipes in the way and > removal is a pain. Be careful if you decide to bend > instead of remove the pipes and their brackets. > There is also a M A F (mass air flow) sensor that > may have to be removed. The dreaded crossover > exhaust pipe will be right in the way as well. > There is a shield over the pipe itself and I don't > like to mess with them unless there is no way around > it. If they don't go back together just so there > will be a new noise under the hood. > > The thermostat housing is held in place with 2 13 > millimeter bolt heads. The one on the top left has > to come all the way out. The bottom right of the > housing is usually slotted and the bolt only needs > to be loosened. There is usually enough slack in > the hoses to wiggle the housing off and bend out of > the way. > > Be sure to clean the area well before putting back > together. This means scrape any gasket or sealer > from both surfaces and spraying with a cleaner, my > favorite is sold under many names but it's used to > clean brakes. Personal choice but I will usually > leave out the gasket going back together and instead > use the "blue goo" silicone sealer. Just don't get > too happy spreading that stuff everywhere because > you can stick a thermostat if you have too much. > > Just remember to use lots of thread loosener. And > keep in mind thread loosener is petroleum based and > you need to be extremely careful not to get it on > hoses. It will turn them into a balloon and you'll > have a whole other problem then. > > Sorry for such a long answer to say yes the exhaust > pipe will be in the way... > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Ron Yearns > To: blindhandyman@yahoogroups.com > Sent: Monday, February 18, 2008 9:12 PM > Subject: [BlindHandyMan] oldsmobile thermostat > > > Well gentle handypersons it appears I may have a > leak around the thermostat > housing and a stuck open thermostat on our Olds > 2002 van with a 3.4 engine. > The book calls for removal of the exhaust pipe > before removing the stat > housing. I haven't opened things up to confirm but > was wondering if others > have done this task and if the crossover pipe > removal was totally necessary. > I am fearful of breaking manifold studs. > Suggestions and insights would be > appreciated. > Ron > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > removed] > >
