Thermostat removal

[jimrockireland]

I went to remove my thermostat from a 1983 Mercruiser 305/5L MCM228R (serial#6275628) and it did not want to pop out. I noticed there is a sleeve on top of the thermostat which seems to be rusted into the thermostat housing. Do I need to just pry out this sleeve before the thermostat will pop out?

 

[hivoltg]

Re: Thermostat removal

Does the sleeve look kind of like this?



If so, gently pry out the sleeve to get to the thermostat.

 

[agallant80]

Re: Thermostat removal

Unrelated word of advice. Use the proper merc gasket when putting back together. There are grounding studs in it that your temp sensor needs to read properly. I used the auto parts version which does not have those studs and guess what happened.....

 

[jimrockireland]

Re: Thermostat removal

Thanks for the speedy response and the warning. It does look like your picture so I went and pried out the sleeve (destroyed it in the process). The thermostat is out.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Thermostat removal

For future use, I generally grab the top of the thermostat with a vice grips and pull it out so that the sleeve doesn't get all hacked up from prying. Your local marine store should ahve a replacement for you in stock.

 

[hivoltg]

Re: Thermostat removal

I have noticed you can get a plastic sleeve for a replacement instead of metal, but with heat and everything else its a trade off either way you go.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Thermostat removal

I have noticed you can get a plastic sleeve for a replacement instead of metal, but with heat and everything else its a trade off either way you go.

They come stock with the plastic ones in the newer engines