I just replaced water pump and thermostat. Man is it cold outside. No garage either. Will red rtv cure at 0 degrees F? I hope so.

probably not.
read the tube, it probably says what temps it can be used at.

It starts curing with air contact. I think you'll be fine, but it will take a lot longer than the bottle says. I think 24 hours @ 70F would mean like 5+++ days @ 0F (a month?)

One thing you could do is borrow a heater... Or a heat gun if you don't mind standing over it for an hour. It will speed the cure, and IIRC cure times get into the hours at elevated temps.

[This message has been edited by ryan.hess (edited 01-19-2008).]

You have to be careful about prepping the surface, more chance of condensation on a cold metal surface.
Like stated above if you can raise the temp you will have a better chance of it working. I would keep an eye on it.

When it's cold in the garage and I want to induce some artificial heat I'll point my double halogen work light at whatever I'm working on ... amazing how much that'll warm things .... but with you being out of doors, not sure what real options you have to help things along...

Rich

[This message has been edited by Richjk21 (edited 01-19-2008).]

Most RTV will not cure at freezing temperatures or below.

you MUST get the engine warmed up above freezing to cure the RTV. good luck doing that outside, even a 1mph wind will carry away any and all heat you try and create.

The water pump went out in my 87GT a couple days ago. Yesterday I replaced it, today I filled it and drove it about 10 miles with no leaks. It was like 10 degrees when I replaced it and about the same temp today.

I used the grey colored RTV. Not sure of the brand and I threw it away since it was empty. It said it was water pump sealant.

I never use rtv unless there is no gasket....and then I use the manufacturer gasket goo which only cures in a sealed condition. The excess doesn't dry and can be wiped off. I like copper spray gasket and indian head shellac for a light coating on paper gaskets.
Dave

It seems to be doing fine. I let it all sit for about 4 hours before I added coolant and took it for a test drive. Temp gauge came up to about 200 and the thermostat opened then the gauge stayed between 150 to 175 for my brief test drive. No leaks so far. Yea.. I used the copper stuff on the waterpump gasket and red rtv on the thermostat housing. The rtv tube didn't mention anything about temps. Just a clean and dry surface. Apply 1/8 to 1/4 in bead around bolts and surface to be sealed. Finger tighten for 1 hour then tighten bolts again.

I heard RTV stood for "room temp vulcanizing", I also think it says on the tube what temps to work in.

What makes RTV cure if the release of an acid used in the curing process. It's related to vinegar hence the smell that RTV has.

The acid has to get out of the rtv to cure so if it freezes it will take a long time and if the acid formes ice crystals it might weaken the bond but not sure...

Heat helps to drive it out faster..