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[Bionic]

The V6 lumps heaters were crap so a thermostat was needed. The system had been well flushed and everything else was in order. I finally decided that the weather would not get any better so I had to start on the busted (jammed oepn it turned out to be) thermostat change. Great I thought! I will follow the guides that others have written and it should be straight forward. Notwithstanding that I have over 30, nearer to 40 years in the motor fitting trade it should have been a cake walk. It was nothing like and I ended up doing it the hard way, no shortcuts cos all they were doing were causing me more work. At least I did find out the 'bastard bolt' so described by others was not a problem at all! The corroded together thremostat and transfer pipe was though and I ended up breaking the thermostat housing with a chisel to seperate them. Plenty of coppaslip went on when it was replaced though. Next big problem was the dipstick tube. What pratt decided to put it there? Freekin idiot. It took me as long to get the thing back into its sump hole than virtually the whole job put together. Anyone else about to undetake this I would suggest that they insert a full length welding rod down the pipe and leave it in place as you remove the dipstick tube, at least then you can just slip the tube over the welding rod and it will guide it straight into its location. At least I took the time to mark and label permanently all of the various connectors and vac pipes for an easier future life. I used a Dyno label maker and a plain paired matching number system for ease of use. Senility must be setting in cos I should have thought of that first and saved myself the grief! Anyway, I now have decent heaters again even though it took me 2 or 3 runs and top ups before it finally bled itself right through. I might have warm heaters but my freekin hands, arms and back are giving me hell! As for the bionic knee joints, I will not go there! My experience is they are not be recommended! Where are the painkillers???

[Andy H]

Why did you take the dip stick tube out? I managed to free my transfer tube from the thermostat housing by waggling it until the corrosion broke up and I could rotate it 90 degrees anti clockwise. After that the bracket was clear of the dipstick tube & I could slide it out.

I must have ached for a week after changing my thermostat (and I don't think I can blame my age as a contributary factor)