Water Pump

[fdlguy32]

Just successfully replaced the water pump kit on my 89 mercruiser alpha one. Not to bad of a job as long as you take your time. Only problem is I originally took apart my housing for the thermostat and tore up part of the gasket. Now I have a slight leak.
Anyone suggest making my own gasket or getting some liquid gasket to solve the problem?

 

[searay3]

Re: Water Pump

Buy or make one, don't use silicone unless the manual calls for it. There it does not.

 

[dubs283]

Re: Water Pump

make your own gasket

go to parts store

ask for gasket material

they will give you an 8x10 sheet of it

 

[cr2k]

Re: Water Pump

If your t-stat housing has a temp sender in the top part you should buy the correct gasket that has the grommets that make the electrical ground for the sender.

 

[Marine Mechanic]

Re: Water Pump

Buy a new gasket. They are not that expensive and cr2k is right on the money about the grounding grommets.

 

[fdlguy32]

Re: Water Pump

Thanks guys, I was wondering what those things were on the gasket. I thought since 95 percent of the gasket was still intact I could maybe get away with just filling in the part that isn't with some liquid gasket. Grounding part of it is still in tip-top shape. I'm not looking for the easy way out or cheap out considering the gasket is only 3 bones.

 

[jimbo_jwc]

Re: Water Pump

Buy a new gasket. They are not that expensive and cr2k is right on the money about the grounding grommets.

Bolts holding thermostat housing aren't good ground ? Are they to be thread sealed when installed and don't make good enough connection ? Brass NTP temp sending unit
installed bare for good grnd. ? I need to do mine too for I opened up to see what it looked like and size and ending up peening one from what i had laying around and it still
works without leaking so far but will be ordering one soon 23yr old boat .

 

[cr2k]

Re: Water Pump

Yes the bolts should be gooped with gasket sealing compound or they may never come apart again.
The grommets weren't just put there for S&G they serve a purpose as all things marine that don't make sence to car mechanics.

No it's not "just" a chevy V-8 it is a Marine engine, big diff.

Do you really want to trust a patched gasket 30 miles out to sea?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Water Pump

I'm not looking for the easy way out or cheap out considering the gasket is only 3 bones.

Ayuh,... Gaskets in general, especially paper gaskets, are NOT reusable parts,....

Go buy a New 1...

 

[fdlguy32]

Re: Water Pump

Ok, I got the new gasket on with no more leaking but now it seems like the engine isn't warming up to operating temp. Did I possibly ruin the thermostat when it overheated before I changed out the water pump. Could it be that those grounding tabs on the gasket aren't getting a good ground? One thing after another.

 

[Brentathon]

Re: Water Pump

Check continuity between the body of the temp sender and the engine, and that should tell you if your T-stat housing is grounded.
I have a separate ground wire that's clamped to the body of my temp sender, with a small hose clamp, so I don't have to rely on the little grounding grommets in the gasket.

 

[fdlguy32]

Re: Water Pump

Checked for continuity and it was good. I guess I should wait until I get it out on the water and have the RPM's up for a bit. Although I ran it plenty of times last year on the muffs at Idle and it seemed to open up at like 175 and know it stays at like 140.

 

[jimbo_jwc]

Re: Water Pump

Not just car mechanic but would neverseize serve purpose as bolt heads contact thermostat casting and threads contact block casting ? Smeared enough antiseize around old ford truck starter nose to loose ground
connection . Sr. Master Tech