Just a Water Pump Question

[krs09]

Im getting ready to try to finish up my VOD clean up. Im putting together my new water pump kit I got from Specialtauto and I was wondering if I should seal the back of the pump with a sealer like Permatex or something similiar, or do you think its safe to just use the gasket that came with the kit. Also should you use a thread sealer on the sensors in the Y pipe and TTS in the thermo housing. When I was talking to John he said it wasnt really needed to replace the sensors on the right of the Y pipe but I guess better safe than sorry but do I need to seal them or is it safe to just use the seals and gaskets included with the kit ( Awesome kit btw ) .. Just figured id ask the Pros. Thanks guys..



Vin #4870 - custom interior - sweet fuzzy dash and stock everything else

[opethmike]

I replaced my water pump approximately five years ago. I only used the gasket, and I have had no leaks.

[John U]

I used the supplied gasket for the waterpump, and no sealant on the sensors.
A few months later, I used an inspection camera to look into the VOD and saw no leaks.

John

[Delorean Industries]

On a 2.8 pump the the rear housing will rub the pump if the gasket is not installed. 3.0's have a deeper rear housing and rtv only is possible.

[David T]

I like to use a sensor safe silicone sealer on gaskets. It holds them in place while you assemble so you are sure the gasket is properly lined up. You can also know you have tightened enough because you see the sealer squish out. On some bolts that go through into water you should use a little on the threads to make sure you don't have any leaks and the bolt doesn't rust.
David Teitelbaum

[kings1527]

I just finished up doing the same thing you're doing. Take a look at my blog; I have a ton of pics and show you the materials I used to get it done. In short, I put Permatex Gray on the water pump housing and the sensors on the Y-pipe do not require sealant. Any time you have a recessed connection (such as on the Y-pipe), you don't need sealant. It goes on bare. You also definitely need sealant on the top housing of the water pump.

Before reassembling the VOD, make sure you pressure test the system to find any leaks.

[opethmike]

I just finished up doing the same thing you're doing. Take a look at my blog; I have a ton of pics and show you the materials I used to get it done. In short, I put Permatex Gray on the water pump housing and the sensors on the Y-pipe do not require sealant. Any time you have a recessed connection (such as on the Y-pipe), you don't need sealant. It goes on bare. You also definitely need sealant on the top housing of the water pump.

Before reassembling the VOD, make sure you pressure test the system to find any leaks.

FYI, clicking on your link yields this:

Sorry, the blog you were looking for does not exist. However, the name delorean6575revisted is available to register!

[DMCMW Dave]

You also definitely need sealant on the top housing of the water pump.

.

If you mean the thermostat housing, you don't need sealant as there is supposed to be a rubber ring around the thermostat that should be a perfectly good seal.

[kings1527]

FYI, clicking on your link yields this:

Sorry, the blog you were looking for does not exist. However, the name delorean6575revisted is available to register!

Ugh....it helps to know how to spell "revisited" correctly and not "revisted". Corrected. Thanks Mike!


If you mean the thermostat housing, you don't need sealant as there is supposed to be a rubber ring around the thermostat that should be a perfectly good seal.

Yes Dave, the thermostat housing is what I was going after. I installed a new ring that came with my kit from Hervey and as soon as I had everything together and pressure tested the system, I had a major leak coming from between the housing and the water pump. When I tightened it down, I could feel and see the ring compress. I'm guessing since it's not OEM, it's not the fit it needs to be. And I have no idea what the PO had going on there on my old water pump. The thermostat housing was sealed with RTV but there was no thermostat inside when I put the new pump in. Who knows what that was all about!

On another note, the back of the water pump housing is another place where I used Gray RTV. Not much, but a little. Just to ensure a good seal and to not have to get in there again to fix it.

[DMCMW Dave]

Yes Dave, the thermostat housing is what I was going after. I installed a new ring that came with my kit from Hervey .

He provides the wrong kind of thermostat gasket. The proper one has a channel in it that goes around the edge of the thermostat (the cross section of the rubber seal looks like a "C" rather than an "O"). A simple o-ring over the thermostat will not seal that gap, coolant can still come under the thermostat.

As you found out. Doing what you did will work, we actually had a car come in with no seal there at all and it was not leaking. Some good machine work on that particulary water pump.

[mluder]

He provides the wrong kind of thermostat gasket. The proper one has a channel in it that goes around the edge of the thermostat (the cross section of the rubber seal looks like a "C" rather than an "O"). A simple o-ring over the thermostat will not seal that gap, coolant can still come under the thermostat.

As you found out. Doing what you did will work, we actually had a car come in with no seal there at all and it was not leaking. Some good machine work on that particulary water pump.

I noticed this difference too, Dave. I think I used the o-ring he supplied and I used a thermostat sealant between the cover and the water pump so I'm not seeing any leaks.
Is there some thermostat functionality concern if that o ring is not sealing properly?

Cheers
Steve

[DMCMW Dave]

Is there some thermostat functionality concern if that o ring is not sealing properly?

Cheers
Steve

If it's not leaking you should be fine. The o-ring will keep coolant from going "around" the thermostat. It just won't stop it from leaking outside.

[kings1527]

I noticed this difference too, Dave. I think I used the o-ring he supplied and I used a thermostat sealant between the cover and the water pump so I'm not seeing any leaks.
Is there some thermostat functionality concern if that o ring is not sealing properly?

Cheers
Steve

I can't imagine there'd be a problem with it. I don't see it interfering with the thermostat itself. It's just keeping a good seal between the water pump and the thermostat housing. But I'm definitely going to update my blog to mention that the thermostat gasket Hervey sells is technically not the correct one. And getting ahold of him to give you a status update of your mass rubber damper kit order for the rear parcel shelf is another story. :-/

[chenderson2k]

I installed a water pump kit from Hervey about 3 years ago and used whatever seals he included. I'm not going to take the thing apart to inspect it but I will say that 3 years and about 34,000 miles later I haven't noticed any leaks.

As long as that sucker doesn't give me any problems, I might be able to stay within my $500 budget for the year. So far I haven't spent a penny on that car for the year 2013.

I will admit though, it is tough driving a minimum of 10,000 miles a year without going over budget.

[jawn101]

I definitely got the wrong thermostat seal from John when I got his WP kit. I didn't get anywhere with him so I just picked up a crossover for a Volvo 760 GLE at Napa for 2 bucks and all was well.