Last night I removed the thermostat and water pump on my 2002 XK8.

I was pleased to find that a previous owner had replaced the factory plastic thermostat housing with a URO metal retrofit part.

However, in dismantling the housing the gasket (circled red below) between the housing and cover was destroyed and I am beating my head on a wall trying to find where to get a replacement.

Then again, I see pictures of other aluminium (aluminum) units on line that do not show the gasket.

Can anyone tell me please, is the gasket available, is it even necessary and should I just get some gasket paper and make my own?

Thanks in advance,

 

The gasket circled appears to be used at the thermostat housing to body. The original plastic housing does not use that gasket, but a neoprene seal, which has the JLR part number of NCA2246BA.

You can obtain the seal from one of the forum vendors listed in the 'Marketplace' drop down menu.

 

Thanks. That seal I believe came with the new thermostat. I am just confused because when I took mine apart it had that seal AND the paper type gasket.

 

I don't think the paper seal is necessary, but you may want to make one and keep it handy just in case as the aluminium housing has different characteristics than the plastic one.

 

Thank you. At least it's not shockingly inaccessible if it does leak and I need to add the paper gasket.