so while checking for vac leaks i noticed my thermowax makes a hissing sound like air in coming through or getting sucked in. i wrapped a rubber glove around it and it goes away. but what does this mean....bad thermowax?

 

I think you're talking about the water thermo valve, unless you've got something really weird going on...The thermo wax gets "activated" by coolant flow temps, not vac...

The thermo valve, on the other hand, routes vac to the secondary throttle plates' dashpot thingy, or to atmospheric, depending on coolant temps...If it's got a couple of vac lines coming off of a couple of nipples on the bottom, it's the thermo valve...

 

k sorry...thermo valve. anyway its making a hissing noise.
nm...i found it.