Loosing radiator fluid ?

Thanks to all of you who posted replys and you were all correct.

I am working without an overflow recovery system.

The car sat for two days radiator tank looked low but the fins were covered with about 1/2". Don't know if the Aluma-Seal made the coolant look more Dirty but it looked a little darker and there was a slippery feel to the fluid like thin oil but not oil because the smell was radiator fluid period. So . . .

I removed the thermostat which had not been done in 3 years since I got the car. Who ever worked on the thermostat last did not use a gasket and did use a half of a tube of RTV orange, it was used to bed the thermostat and the match between the cover and head so much was used it squeezed out on top of the diaphram base backside and was broken loose but a cured runner of it sometimes hung-up and may have affected the operation from time to time. Cleaned it all up likely ten or fifteen years worth. Tested the thermostat. I know their cheap but this looked good but for surface rust which a little time with 1500 W or D sandpaper cleaned up nice. A new fel-pro gasket with a lite coat of RTV blue. Now been five days and 87 miles still no leaks, fluid is about 1 1/4" below neck base. Seems fine ! ! !

For right now I plan to leave well enough alone till oil change, lube and a radiator flush, one that will flush the engine too. Refill using a new packet of aluma-seal and see how it goes.

I hate to do anything right now because it's all going sooooo! good.

Bottom line here I think is . . . I'm a believer in RTV but in modest portion. And it does not replace a little extra time cleaning mating surfaces. And a $2 gasket as a spacer alone it worth the cost. The factory thought so.

Thanks to you A-Bodies Only posters.