I have been testing this over the last week that I've had my car back together. When it was put together, the paper gasket was intentionally left off the thermostat housing. For some reason GM had called for the gasket on S2'* before 2000 and after 2000 they didn't use or require them.

I'm here to say.. I did it, monitored it and all is 100% w/o the paper gasket.

You can get some peanut butter cups with your saved dollar.

I'd be curious to see how it does in hi-heat.

I'll take your car with me to the desert, and send you back the results

I will assume it would do the same as any 2000 + car.

so wait, you didn't use any type of gasket? Not even gasket-maker? interesting...

I've replaced several thermostats, not on my Bonne yet, using only the hi-temp goo. You gotta let it sit a bit longer before driving, but I never had one leak.

This was done primarily on old GM 350'* and Ford 351'*. 70'* and early 80'* versions...

I did my '97, '98, and '00 with only the o-ring. Although it'* not the desert, 100 degree heat and Houston traffic is a pretty good test of any cooling system. I never had a leak.

It would seem to me as long there were clean surfaces to meet together,it wouldn't leak anyway


MMMMM.................

you guys use gooo Then what'* the gasket for :?:

I use blue RTV on both the coolant neck and the "cap" on the front of the LIM instead of OEM gaskets. There'* just something about a paper gasket touching coolant that doesn't seem right to me.

I use a smear of red RTV. I find without it, there will be slight weapage.