[Fast Corners]

When I was a mechanic, the best soloution that I found for removing the pipes from the thermostat was to cut a slot in the nut with a die grinder or dremmel tool. You need to use care not to cut too deeply. In most cases I did not even cut all the way through it. I then uesed a large screwdriver to expand the nut. This is done by inserting the screwdriver into the freshly cut slot and twisting it.

The expanded nut then turns off of the thermostat without damaging the threads. The down side of this fix is that you need to replace the oil line with a new one, however, if it was stuck on there that badly...you probably should replace the line anyway (deterioration of the rubber hose section, leaking at the clamp, etc.). The upside is that you get to save the thermostat which is way more expensive and rarely requires replacement. Another benifit is that you get to admire the nice new annodized oil line...it looks so pretty! :-)

I came to use this method by bad experience after bad experience. I tried PB Blaster, heat alone, heat & cold, busted knuckles, etc. I have witnessed other mechanics deal with this issue...some of their efforts resulted in damaged body work, melted trim, melted undercoating, small fires, a broken finger and even a hernia. Trying to save the line (if it doesn't come off easily) wastes a lot of time too. If your time is worth money, your best bet is to sacrifice the oil line for the sake of the thermostat, your car and your sanity.

FC