www.iFourWinns.com

I can't recall from my 225, but I think my 268 is running a bit on the cool side. It doesn't get up above 130 degrees at all. '04 268, 5.7Gi Duoprop, same as my 225 had.

Is 130 a bit cool?

_________________
2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

I think so...raw water cooled Volvos usually come with a 160 thermstat...and can run between 160 and 175 or so...I have had this problem with my old OMC...a piece of rust stops the stat from closing all the way...because of salt water use I change them every season or so...when it's working right mine runs right at 160.

_________________
88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

Just pop a new thermostat in there... cheap enough...

You do want to run about 160....

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2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA

Thats what I was thinking, 160 or so. I'll toss a new t-stat in there and see what happens. Since I'm all freshwater, any reason to get the Volvo stat for 20, vs. a stat from the auto parts store? I know its not a sealed system, but its not salt water..

_________________
2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

auto parts store. That's one case where I don't think "marine" gets you much. Freshwater and trailer-boater... you should be fine.

_________________

2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA

Gotta disagree here.....


the issue is twofold..one a raw water cooled stat...is going to open at 160....a car stat....195 and that's too hot for an open non-pressurized cooling system...don't forget...a car system gets away with running at higher temps because it is under 15 psi...which with antifreeze raises the boiling point of coolant to 265*F...in an open system,....if you run at 195....your pretty close to boiling at 212...and parts of the engine can get even hotter....
Second issue is that just like the water pump on the front of the engine...car stuff is made to be used in coolant that's full of corrosion inhibitors....raw water will corrode car parts....

So just use the marine stat....get the stat...the little rubber ring that holds it in and the gasket and put OMC gasket sealer or similar on the gasket and bolt threads for the thermo housing...then they will come right out the next time you have to do this....

_________________
88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

I got the VP stat. It was only $22 total with the gasket, NAPA crossed it to a kit for 28 bucks. No thanks.

I've always put the gasket on dry, you say coat it with a sealant? RTV?

_________________
2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

nope the right stuff to use is a gasket sealing compound that stays pilable...like OMC gasket sealer...it is a sticky brown stuff that never hardens...you don't have to scrape so much as with RTV....Merc and Volvo both have a similar product...

_________________
88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

Anything I might have in my garage, or just "gasket sealer" Is it a must have, or can I put it on dry?

_________________
2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

On a boat as new as yours if you put it on dry it will probably seal just fine....mine is a crusty old salt water boat so I do anything I can to make sure things seal right and the bolts come out next time...OMC recommended using their gasket sealer on all kinds of bolts...thermo housing and gasket....outdrive gasket...6 studs that drive bolts to...bolts that hold the upper and lower housings together...it works great and when I take things apart...after 6 months in salt water...it comes apart...so you can put it in without it but I'd pick some up at an Evinrude dealer or use Volvo's equivalent because if you do your own work it makes things a lot easier....

_________________
88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

Any link to the VP stuff, or OMC for that matter?

_________________
2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

Just search the web...not that hard.

http://www.go2marine.com/product.do?no=78394F

Also, OMC Gasket Sealer is the same as Merc's Perfect Seal. In the automotive trade it is known as Perfect Seal #4.

Thanks Wet Doggg. So my local auto parts store should have something similar, Perfect Seal #4?

_________________
2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225