www.iFourWinns.com

I need help finding the right thermostat for a 2004 268 Vista with a 5.7GXi-F engine. The listed part number that I find on VP’s website is 3587597. I tried two Sierra kits from Palmer Power in Houston, 18-3615 and 18-3618 and both are too small. The new thermostats have a diameter of about 1.88”. It looks like I need one about ¼” bigger. On the second order Palmer Power even sent the listed VP o-ring (983944) but it is identical to what is in the Sierra kit. The second Sierra kit listed that it was a match for the 3587597 VP part.

The lady at Palmer Power is a bit perplexed. I have always found their counter folks to be very knowledgeable. They have even looked up the part starting with the engine serial number. They now have my hull identification number and are checking to see if VP can help find the right part. I would look for a number on the old thermostat but when I pulled the cover there was none there. I bought the boat used, 5 years old at the time with only 19 hours on it. I assume now that the old unit froze up due to lack of use and the mechanic could not find the right part so just slapped in some gasket sealer and bolted it back together. The engine has always run a bit warm at 175 but I did not give it much thought. It has only recently started acting up, twice hitting the temp alarm. The second incident was after I replaced the impeller (which looked flawless).

Does anyone know the correct part number for a larger thermostat?

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Martin
04 268 Vista - Knot Again
08 Boston Whaler 130 Sport - Double Good
Previous Boat:
97 278 Vista - Buoy Howdy

I can't help you with a part number I'm afraid, but does your engine have closed cooling? The thermostat housing ( and thermostat) for a VP5.7GXi with closed cooling is different to the thermostat housing and thermostat of a raw water cooled version. Is that maybe why the thermostat is not as it was expected to be ?

It is raw water cooled. Everything I find on VP's website says that the 3587597 is the correct number. The parts diagram I found looks just like my engine and the housing gasket from the Sierra kit fits. It is just the thermostat diameter that is too small. I drove out to the marina this morning with my Harbor Freight calipers and measured the opening. The hole diameter in 1.9"and the ID of the gasket recess is 2.3". The thermostats that I was sent are 1.88". I stopped at NAPA on the way home and picked up a 2-1/8" 160 degree thermostat and 2-1/8" o-ring. $9. The NAPA part number for the t-stat is 70 in case anyone runs into the same problem. I will install these next weekend and see if it solves my overheating problem. In the mean time I will continue to work with Palmer Power and contact VP if I have too to try to identify the correct VP part number.

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Martin
04 268 Vista - Knot Again
08 Boston Whaler 130 Sport - Double Good
Previous Boat:
97 278 Vista - Buoy Howdy

volvopentastore.com is showing two different part #'s for the thermostat based on your engine under Maintenance Parts.

http://www.volvopentastore.com/Maintena ... _id.779635

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Current Boat: 2000 Four Winns 298 Vista
Previous Boat: 2000 Carver 406MY

I can't access the USA VP site; due to market/ margin protection, i.e. the prices in nthe USA are too low compared to what they charge in Europe . (I got on the site when I was in Florida last year, the difference in prices is staggering!)

eg one trsnsom shield anode about $17, $40 here !

Maybe try Marine Parts Express Graham. http://www.marinepartsexpress.com/ I get all the genuine VP parts shipped to me in Oz from them. Great prices and great service.

Like you (but not quite as bad!), we get shafted in Oz on VP parts. For example, a genuine VP oil filter is $50 here versus around $9 from Marine Parts Express - a "no brainer" where I buy from...

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Alec

2006 Horizon 190
VP 4.3GL/SX, Sunsport

+++1 on that. Great company and service. Especially love their insane schematic catalog.

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1996 205 Sundowner DLX
5.0FL Volvo SX Cobra
Tow Veh: 2012 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X

I'll give them a try.

Incidentally, the Operators manual for the 5.7GXi indicates thermostat part numbers as being 3862835 (71 deg. C) for the raw water cooled motors and 875788 (76 deg. C) for the closed cooling engines.

I heard back from Palmer Power who contacted VP about the problem. VP said I needed to replace the housing so that the listed t-stat will fit. $100.93 It blows my mind that this is VP's solution rather than just stock a thermostat that fits an engine they manufactured. I will install the NAPA t-stat this weekend and see how it works.

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Martin
04 268 Vista - Knot Again
08 Boston Whaler 130 Sport - Double Good
Previous Boat:
97 278 Vista - Buoy Howdy