Engine Coolant leak after replacing water pump

91GTstroked · Sep 9, 2021

Hey guys,

I haven't driven my 90 coupe much this year after replacing the timing cover gasket and water pump. Mainly because of what you'll see in the picture.

This picture was after a short drive out of town and in town. But this is as bad as it's been getting. No evidence of it dripping anywhere. It's almost like it's just "sweating" a bit if that makes sense?

Where did I go wrong? I re-tightened everything after a couple heat cycles. Used Permatex thread sealant on the bolt threads. I used Permatex high tack sealant on the gaskets to keep the in place. I put loc-tite on the two bolts on the water pump back plate.

I noticed there was a little slit or groove at the bottom of the timing cover. Was I suppose to put rtv there?

I'll probably keep driving it and checking it so often. It's been sitting for months in my shop with zero coolant leak.

Thanks!

Olivethefet · Sep 9, 2021

Im currently battling a timing chain cover that wont seal properly. I dont really have any advice to help you fix the problem but wanted to point out that you might want to keep an eye on your oil. My leak lets coolant leak into the oil pan and contaminate the oil. Good luck getting it fixed!

91GTstroked · Sep 9, 2021

Olivethefet said:
Im currently battling a timing chain cover that wont seal properly. I dont really have any advice to help you fix the problem but wanted to point out that you might want to keep an eye on your oil. My leak lets coolant leak into the oil pan and contaminate the oil. Good luck getting it fixed!

Thanks I'll keep an eye on it.

General karthief · Sep 9, 2021

The slot at the bottom of the water pump gasket surface looks to me like a drain slot (for what I don't know) and never had the guts to ask, so if anybody knows then spill it.
Yeah, that little leak will be annoying, it may stop over time but I doubt it.

91GTstroked · Sep 10, 2021

General karthief said:
The slot at the bottom of the water pump gasket surface looks to me like a drain slot (for what I don't know) and never had the guts to ask, so if anybody knows then spill it.
Yeah, that little leak will be annoying, it may stop over time but I doubt it.

Yeah that little leak is annoying. As of now none of it is actually hitting the ground. I would have never known if I hadn't looked under the water pump.

General karthief · Sep 10, 2021

Stop looking

7991LXnSHO · Sep 10, 2021

For your next gasket change-

Permatex® Form-A-Gasket® No. 2 Sealant

Slow-drying, non-hardening sealant approved for use in aviation as well as automotive applications. Temperature range -65°F to 400°F (-54°C to 204°C); resists gasoline, oil and grease.

www.permatex.com

91GTstroked · Sep 10, 2021

7991LXnSHO said:
For your next gasket change-

Permatex® Form-A-Gasket® No. 2 Sealant

Slow-drying, non-hardening sealant approved for use in aviation as well as automotive applications. Temperature range -65°F to 400°F (-54°C to 204°C); resists gasoline, oil and grease.

www.permatex.com

Actually is that a spray that's red? If so, I used that on the water pump gaskets.

The Permatex high tack sealant I used on the cork corner pieces for the oil pan to timing cover.

7991LXnSHO · Sep 10, 2021

91GTstroked said:
Actually is that a spray that's red? If so, I used that on the water pump gaskets.

The Permatex high tack sealant I used on the cork corner pieces for the oil pan to timing cover.

No. This is a different sealer that fils in imperfections. It looks a lot like shellac, but does not harden like that.

Potomus Pete · Sep 10, 2021

After I did mine it went away after a while.

nickyb · Sep 10, 2021

I'll tell you after a few wp changes over the last 14 years I have a (I belive 5/8 open end ) wrench that I ground down to tighten those 2 bolts on backing plate. Once installed I like to make sure they are tight.

General karthief · Sep 10, 2021

Potomus Pete said:
After I did mine it went away after a while.

You just ain't checked the coolant in a while, it may have leaked out

jrichker · Sep 10, 2021

@Olivethefet

Old cars are like rain; just when you think it has cleared up, it starts again somewhere else...
Look for rust stains after letting this go on for a little while longer. That's a clue as to where to look next

I couldn't get the heater hose connections to stop leaking. I emery clothed the heater tubing coming out of the water pump to clean up it's pitting and roughness and then coated it with blue silicone sealer.

That fixed one leak, but i have another one in the heater hose to the heater core or EGR cooling plumbing. I need to get energized and do the Explorer intake manifold swap that I have been planning.

General karthief · Sep 10, 2021

jrichker said:
@Olivethefet

Old cars are like rain; just when you think it has cleared up, it starts again somewhere else...
Look for rust stains after letting this go on for a little while longer. That's a clue as to where to look next

I couldn't get the heater hose connections to stop leaking. I emery clothed the heater tubing coming out of the water pump to clean up it's pitting and roughness and then coated it with blue silicone sealer.

That fixed one leak, but i have another one in the heater hose to the heater core or EGR cooling plumbing. I need to get energized and do the Explorer intake manifold swap that I have been planning.

you don't need a explorer intake, you need a 471 blower!!
Oh, wait. You gots the Stalker hood nevermind, back to the unscheduled explorer intake install.

91GTstroked · Sep 11, 2021

nickyb said:
I'll tell you after a few wp changes over the last 14 years I have a (I belive 5/8 open end ) wrench that I ground down to tighten those 2 bolts on backing plate. Once installed I like to make sure they are tight.

That's a good idea. Unfortunately, mine have allen heads. And I tightened them down good and applied loc tire

91GTstroked · Sep 11, 2021

Potomus Pete said:
After I did mine it went away after a while.

So you had a leak in the same spot?

Potomus Pete · Sep 11, 2021

91GTstroked said:
So you had a leak in the same spot?

No mine was at the top. Very light, but I used some of that ceramic powder sealer a year before. That stuff works incredibly well. It comes in a little jug.

OldManRiver · Sep 11, 2021

91GTstroked said:
That's a good idea. Unfortunately, mine have allen heads. And I tightened them down good and applied loc tire

Button heads right,not socket head cap srews?
I'm sure socket heads were not what was used but must say the height of the heads may cause an interference issue keeping the pump from seating properly.
After all that,if that was the case I'm sure the leak would be more than what your seeing currently.

91GTstroked · Sep 12, 2021

Water pump seems to be sitting flush.

chrlsful · Sep 13, 2021

"...if anybody knows then spill it..."
when pump blows U see the signs here ('big gush").

"...Water pump seems to be sitting flush..."
I cant tell from the pic. Did U follow all the recommended proceedures when doing the job? It's not just R&R but rather precise. Inc running the cover on a straight edge to ck for straightness, etc, etc. If U did the FULL job were there any anomalies? How did U solve them?

Engine Coolant leak after replacing water pump

91GTstroked

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wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

91GTstroked

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wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

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wanna catch the space herp

Permatex® Form-A-Gasket® No. 2 Sealant

91GTstroked

Permatex® Form-A-Gasket® No. 2 Sealant

7991LXnSHO

wanna catch the space herp

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I'm still waiting for the fully nude shots

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wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

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wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

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Engine Coolant leak after replacing water pump

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I will own your nuts! LOL

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

wanna catch the space herp

wanna catch the space herp

I'm still waiting for the fully nude shots

I gotta say i never painted my nuts, Never Ever

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

StangNet's favorite TOOL

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

I'm still waiting for the fully nude shots

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