you can hold it in place by holding the housing up tight against the mating surface while you install the screws. It is just an award position to hold while you are trying to snug down the 10 mm nuts, your hand does not want to bend that way and there is not quite enough room to get both hands up in there holding both the housing in place and threading on the small nut. A "third" hand would be helpful (an assistant) and more room to work, but most of us do not have that luxury. the sealant is a simple solution that holds the t-stat and housing in place until you can get both nuts on the small studs and snug them down. Trying to use some kind of tool to do that will get in the way and just complicate a fairly simple installation.slimdude85 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 04, 2019 1:50 pm
I've got a coolant leak at the 'stat housing. I surmise it is due to this very issue. I never even thought it could have been due to the 'stat shifting. Could one hold the 'stat in place with a screw driver or needle-nose pliers (through the coolant neck opening) instead?
it is not that it can not be done without the sealant, it is just frustrating because you can not be sure you have the t-stat in the correct position after the nuts are tightened, until you fill and run it. the sealant acts like that third hand, holding in the right position until you can tighten it down.
don't over analyze it, it is a simple solution to a practical problem.