Water pump dripping coolant

richo77 · 05-12-2009, 11:01 PM

Hey guys, need some advice please.

My water pump on my XR8 is dripping coolant slowly from the bottom end of it. Does this mean it needs to be replaced or can it simply be fixed with gasket silicone around the edges of it?

Cheers
Nathan

galaxy xr8 · 05-12-2009, 11:31 PM

Usually when a water pump starts to drip it mean's it's cactus, they are mean't to drip when stuffed it's a tell tale sign, are you sure this is where it's comming from.

saber · 05-12-2009, 11:36 PM

Yeah, the water pump has just about had it. Time to replace

richo77 · 05-12-2009, 11:48 PM

thanks - should be a relatively straight forward job hey? Theres plenty of room to work in there without having to take out the radiator.

CPOCSM · 06-12-2009, 10:58 AM

Replace it - not a difficult job but also check the timing case while you are there. Nearly all water pumps have a little hole under the spindle shaft and when that starts to seep it is time to change the pump out. This is telling you the seal is on the way out and in turn the bearing is not long for this mortal plane.

When you pull the pump make sure to note where the bolts go...

Have fun!!

FC:LTD · 08-12-2009, 12:22 AM

Quite a simple job apart from figuring out where the bolts go when asembling as previosly stated !

FTe_XR8 · 08-12-2009, 01:27 AM

yeh easy job, as mention have a good look at your timing cover. Best way to remember where the bolts go is just put them in the holes in your new pump as you pull them out one by one, also pays to change the bottom hose and the little "L" shaped one while your in there.

richo77 · 09-12-2009, 11:09 PM

Well i pulled off the old pump tonight straight forward enough, couldnt wriggle off the botton hose so ended up cutting it off. Probably best to replace it anyway. Will tackle putting the new one back on Friday.

cheers for the help, made the job all the more easy
Nathan

IH8HSV · 10-12-2009, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richo77

Well i pulled off the old pump tonight straight forward enough, couldnt wriggle off the botton hose so ended up cutting it off. Probably best to replace it anyway. Will tackle putting the new one back on Friday.

cheers for the help, made the job all the more easy
Nathan

Doesn't hurt to put Permatex gasket seal on the water pump gasket either. ( Its looks like Vegemite and works very well ). Also good to put on the inside of the hoses you are going to replace.

Creates a good permanent seal.

kratas · 10-12-2009, 03:47 AM

I also recomend checking the timing chain cover. Put the car in to fix an oil drip. Turns out water pump was gonners and the timing chain cover was loose causing the oil leak. ;)

lofty · 10-12-2009, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IH8HSV

Doesn't hurt to put Permatex gasket seal on the water pump gasket either. ( Its looks like Vegemite and works very well ). Also good to put on the inside of the hoses you are going to replace.

Creates a good permanent seal.

Yeah, a little too permanent for me.

: That stuff is from the dark ages.
Loctcite Master Gasket (515?) is much friendlier stuff. As in, easier to clean off.

Hords · 10-12-2009, 10:23 AM

When I replaced my water pump it ended up being the o-ring around the heater tube that had hardened and caused the drip. May as well replace that to while you're at it.

GK · 14-12-2009, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hords

When I replaced my water pump it ended up being the o-ring around the heater tube that had hardened and caused the drip. May as well replace that to while you're at it.

I'm wth Hords.

Both my AUs have had this O-ring replaced, and it's been the cause of similarly described coolant leaks.

The wagon did have the water pump replaced by the previous owner under warranty though.

GK

HypnoTECH03 · 15-12-2009, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IH8HSV

Doesn't hurt to put Permatex gasket seal on the water pump gasket either. ( Its looks like Vegemite and works very well ). Also good to put on the inside of the hoses you are going to replace.

Creates a good permanent seal.

as you said "It looks like Vegemite" obviously using Permatex Ultra Black,
for Water Pump usage the best Permatex Gastek Maker is "High-Temp RED"
as its specific for Water and Higher Temperatures then Ultra Black

but it shouldnt hurt using Ultra Black maybe on the I6, but the V8 would highly recommend Hi-Temp RED

saber · 16-12-2009, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HypnoTECH03

as you said "It looks like Vegemite" obviously using Permatex Ultra Black,
for Water Pump usage the best Permatex Gastek Maker is "High-Temp RED"
as its specific for Water and Higher Temperatures then Ultra Black

but it shouldnt hurt using Ultra Black maybe on the I6, but the V8 would highly recommend Hi-Temp RED

I used Permatax Ultra Blue when doing the water pump in the XF, worked like a charm.

AMB · 17-12-2009, 02:11 AM

I thought those silicone-like rubbery sealants (permatex blue, black red) where for areas like the rocker cover, where its got a rubber gasket, and you don't tighten the joint up very tight. You tighten it up loosely, let the blue/red/black dry overnight, then torque it up, but not very tight. On a water pump with paper gasket, you tighten it up pritty tight, and the silicone would just squeeze out. I think the permatex non-hardening no.3 is ideal for paper gaskets like on the water pump. Or is that the vegemite stuff you talking about?

HypnoTECH03 · 17-12-2009, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AMB

I thought those silicone-like rubbery sealants (permatex blue, black red) where for areas like the rocker cover, where its got a rubber gasket, and you don't tighten the joint up very tight. You tighten it up loosely, let the blue/red/black dry overnight, then torque it up, but not very tight. On a water pump with paper gasket, you tighten it up pritty tight, and the silicone would just squeeze out. I think the permatex non-hardening no.3 is ideal for paper gaskets like on the water pump. Or is that the vegemite stuff you talking about?

Nah the recommended Gasket maker for the water pump is High-Temp red.

i work at Supercheap Auto Head Office, along side the Category managers creating the Catalogues!.. and just over the last 2 weeks its been Permatex advertised everywhere, and the High-Temp Red happen to be one of the Main products

And when it comes to tightening with Gasket maker, you apply the Silicone on both ie, water pump surface, then put gasket on & apply Silicone to the gasket then bolt back onto the engine. only tighten till finger tight, allow the silicone to dry for 1 hour then tighten to recommended Torque level, and the Silicone will take around 24 hours to Fully Cure..

AMB · 17-12-2009, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HypnoTECH03

........i work at Supercheap Auto Head Office, along side the Category managers creating the Catalogues!.. ....

Thanks HypnoTECH03, the silicone is good for filling a big gap, but i wouldn't like to use a silicone type 'gasket maker" on something with a paper gasket that is tightened up really tight, even if they do recommend it.

Off topic, HypnoTECH03, maybe you can do something about supercheap selling sikaflex-227 (fast curing automotive sealant) as an adhesive. Sikaflex has proper strong adhesives in their range but supercheap don't stock it. If you ask for Sikaflex adhesive, supercheap will try to sell you sikaflex-227 sealant, and the receipt actually says sikaflex adhesive.

Hords · 17-12-2009, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AMB

Off topic, HypnoTECH03, maybe you can do something about supercheap selling sikaflex-227 (fast curing automotive sealant) as an adhesive. Sikaflex has proper strong adhesives in their range but supercheap don't stock it. If you ask for Sikaflex adhesive, supercheap will try to sell you sikaflex-227 sealant, and the receipt actually says sikaflex adhesive.

ke ???

IH8HSV · 18-12-2009, 03:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lofty

Yeah, a little too permanent for me.

: That stuff is from the dark ages.
Loctcite Master Gasket (515?) is much friendlier stuff. As in, easier to clean off.

LOFTY...... Yes it is from the dark ages - But it sure does seal!

But thats what you want. Its very rare you have to change a water pump or hoses again in the life time of your car. So why not seal it for good!!!

Be like Ford: And not care about the next man.