Thermostat leaking

2000 LINCOLN TOWN CAR
145,000 MILES
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DEENELLY
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
I noticed antifreeze in my driveway so I checked my car to find antifreeze running down the thermostat housing and leaking onto my driveway. So I changed the thermostat and it came with the black circular seal and it was fine for a couple of weeks but now it’s leaking again and when I first cut my heat on you can smell a whiff of antifreeze but it then spins disappears. Any idea what could be causing the leak?
Jan 11, 2019 at 11:28 AM
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KENW1
  • ✓ASE Certified Mechanic
  • 213 POSTS
  • ASE Certified Mechanic
Thanks for visiting 2CarPros. on this model it's not uncommon for the thermostat housing to leak as the housing can corrode and not seal well.

Purchasing a new housing and sealing ring should resolve the issue. it's important to torque the housing to 18 ft-lb and make sure the housing is centered while tightening it.


These cars were also known for intake gasket failure. You may want to pressure test the system after fixing the thermostat issue to find any other leaks. The guide below shows how to check for leaks with a pressure tester.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/radiator-pressure-test
Jan 11, 2019 at 3:34 PM
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