Thermostat, Fuel Filter?

[Joker]

Hey sooo... I'm not much of a mechanic but I'm planning on putting in a new thermostst and a new fuel filter. I just got the parts but Now I have to find out where they go. Anyone have any pics or advice? Will this be hard and do I expect to have gas and or coolent all over the place?

[lucky_cefiro]

thermostat is above/behind the alternator, it will leak coolant out everywhere. To find it follow the lower rad hose.

Fuel filter is just behind and towards the firewall of the battery.

You will need to release the fuel pressure or gas will spray everywhere.

[mcfly]

the thermostat will have 3 12mm bolts located in a triangular coordinates from each other.

You do not have to take the intake plenum off but if you are first timing this job it would be helpful.


Once you find the 3 12mm bolts and have removed them take the end of a screwdriver and pry the thermostat elbow off the block. The thermostat will now likely be still in the block so take a long screwdriver and put the end of it through the thermostat and pry with all your might as chances are it is in there tight.

Once out clean the silicon off the elbow and the block now and put the new thermostat in place with the flapper knob at the 12 oclock position.
Take some orange RTV silicone (or black nissan, rtv is available at cnd tire and better, made by permatex in copper metal squeeze tube) and lay a bead over top of the groove on the elbow about 2-3mm wide.

place the elbow back on the block trying not to move it off and put the 3 12mm bolts back into their original positions and tighten down. Then let sit for a good while(silicone will say how long) and fill coolant back up.

After wards make sure you bleed the coolant system with the 10mm bolt located above the intake plenum between the 1st and second runners.


Here is a picture to show you the area i am taking about, this was a car i worked on and the guy had used slightly too much rtv but no leaking so all is good.

[Joker]

Thanks Guys. Couple of questions:

1. How to you get the pressure off the fuel system?
2. If I just put a bucket under the Rad hose that I assume will be connected to that elbow will only a couple cups of fluid come out? Bleed it ad a bit of water can call it done?

[lucky_cefiro]

your best bet is to drain the rad, pop off the lower hose at the rad and let the coolant into a bucket. Thats the cleanest way of doing it.

As for fuel pressure, if i remember correctly unplug the fuel pump fuse and crank the motor over, if it starts run it until it dies...sorry if this isn't right, this is how we do it on the s13's.

[Joker]

Sounds logical, this way I may get to keep all my rad fluid as well

I bought some Black RTV on the way home, "PERMATEX ULTRA BLACK" "RTV GASKET MAKER" good for "260C (500F) intermittant" Sound like the stuff will work?

[mcfly]

you will have about 5-6 liters of coolant that will drain out if you take it off from the rad.

The entire engine itself holds 8.x
So yes it will be messy.
and fuel pressure is exactly like lucky ceferio stated.