Scared to loosen 18 year old thermostat bolts!

98V70T5 · Post by **98V70T5** » 09 Dec 2016, 10:52

I can't say my memory serves me well on the size. I have a full set of Torx bits, so it may be a T-40, I just typed the wrong size. Just for the record.

osmium · Post by **osmium** » 09 Dec 2016, 11:07

98V70T5 wrote:I can't say my memory serves me well on the size. I have a full set of Torx bits, so it may be a T-40, I just typed the wrong size. Just for the record.

Did this job earlier in the year, but had the same concern about the bolts.

I PB blasted the bolts everyday for about a week.

Bought the correct size Torx bit from Home Depot (Husky?) Had no problem getting the bolts loose after giving them a few taps.

-Os

Post by **sleddriver** » 09 Dec 2016, 11:51

My soln was to buy a long-shaft Torx screwdriver with a flat on the handle. Even then I bent the male driver end! Used AL anti-sieze upon reinstallation. No worries since.

98V70T5 · Post by **98V70T5** » 09 Dec 2016, 13:33

sleddriver wrote:My soln was to buy a long-shaft Torx screwdriver with a flat on the handle. Even then I bent the male driver end! Used AL anti-sieze upon reinstallation. No worries since.

How did you get leverage using a screwdriver?

Post by **abscate** » 09 Dec 2016, 13:39

Clean out the bolt head with a dental pick - really dig all the stuff out.

PB blaster or your favorite brew applied every day for a week before, then put the bit into the head and give it light taps with a hammer to work the solvent into the the heads

Go out and buy a brand new Torx bit, a good quality one (not HF) and even think about ordering a SnapOn if a stripped head will be a real problem.

Get the bit absolutely straight in and up/down before applying torque.

Post by **BEJinFbk** » 09 Dec 2016, 14:20

+1 for Liberal and Long Term application of PB Blaster and getcha one of these:

: image.jpeg (28.04 KiB) Viewed 1723 times

Don't cheap out at Harbor Freight... Get a GOOD one!

Post by **erikv11** » 09 Dec 2016, 16:44

98V70T5 wrote:
sleddriver wrote:My soln was to buy a long-shaft Torx screwdriver with a flat on the handle. Even then I bent the male driver end! Used AL anti-sieze upon reinstallation. No worries since.
How did you get leverage using a screwdriver?

With palm-heel of left hand, push the screwdriver straight down. Hard.
With right hand, use channel locks on the handle to rotate the screwdriver.

My "long torx" for this application is actually a T40 screwdriver, that's exactly how I do it when a new (old) P80 comes into the fleet. Pliers will mar the screwdriver handle a little but that's OK. Second time around they are easy to turn, I just use the screwdriver by had. If I haven't swapped in cam cover bolts already.

98V70T5 · Post by **98V70T5** » 09 Dec 2016, 18:13

Wow, that's a way of loosening them (screwdriver+channel locks), that I would have never considered. Is there an advantage in using the screwdriver vs. just using a ratchet and Torx bit?

Post by **cn90** » 09 Dec 2016, 20:09

When dealing with stubborn bolt, there are 2 different problems:

1. Broken in half: since the tstat bolt has a Torx head (and not a hex head), this is not going to happen b/c the Torx head will strip first as it does not have good bite like a normal hex head.

2. Stripped head, no worry, just drill it out.
Lowes Hardware sells good drill bits made by Bosch (made in Germany).
Robert DIY posted this video a while back:

Get 2 spare bolts ahead of time either from dealer or local hardware store.
Home Depot has these bolts: 7mmx1.0mmx30mm.

During installation, apply some anti-seize.

Post by **rspi** » 10 Dec 2016, 04:53

Please don't hit it with force. Changing the housing is no fun.