Water Pump Leaking from the Hose

[Jartin]

My water pump is leaking from this spot here. I took some pictures and circled the area its leaking from.

Part: This is just the spot circled on a diagram of the part.
http://i.imgur.com/cPZzB.png


Bottom: Here is a photo I took from laying under my truck.
http://i.imgur.com/GEV5n.jpg

Top: Here is the water pump from the top down, it's leaking from the bottom of that point circled.
http://i.imgur.com/I5JcO.jpg

I'm wondering if I need to replace the whole part or just reseat the hose. Another thing is that someone tried to tighten the bolt before, and stripped the head, so just tightening it is nearly impossible.

Any help will be greatly appreciated,

Thanks Kyle

[RT]

It looks more like it is coming from the inlet flange - water pump interface. That's a common leak site. There is an o-ring in there. The culprit often times is the aluminum seat on the water pump side becomes pitted and the o-ring won't seat. When I had that problem, I built the seat up with JB Weld and fixed the issue with a new o-ring. Then my water pump died a month later - that fixed the problem for good.

If your bolt is stripped, you could spend the time and energy to insert a Helicoil, build up any pitting in the o-ring seat, and hope it lasts. Or, you could replace the water pump and be done with it. Airtex is the OEM supplier. They are about $70 at RockAuto.

[Jartin]

I'm just gonna replace it if its only $70... I'm glad you let me know RockAuto has them, because I was about to shell out some serious dough to buy it from Tousley.

2002 FORD F-350 SUPER DUTY Parts - Tousley Ford Parts Depot

Do you suggest to do the thermostat, the thermostat housing, and the hose for the radiator that doesn't go through the serpentine belt also?

[RT]

I would definitely do the dual alternator hose. The thermostat housing depends on how yours is - if its pitted - replace it. I wouldn't change your thermostat unless you are having issues with it. A new one has a greater chance of being bad than a known good one has of failing. This would be a great time to do a flush and upgrade to ELC coolant.

[01f25073]

I would replace all of those if I were you. You can also get an upper hose that runs around the belt instead of through it. You wouldn't have to remove the upper hose to take off the belt. Make sure you get the Motorcraft thermostat as well. Just my opinion, I feel Motorcraft is best for the trucks.

[robertth]

I can recommend the billet thermostat housing from dieselsite.com, though it is about $46, and their 203F thermostat. Also, use something like Permatex RTV for Waterpumps. A small tube costs about 3.79 at autozone or o'reilys. Used it between the pump and the tstat housing, to hold the wp gasket in place, and when attaching the water inlet tube and haven't had any leaks.

I had about a 2 year long leak where the water inlet tube attached to the wp and was just waiting for the wp to fail, which it did. Unless your pump is new, I would just replace it, rather than trying to fix the leak. To fix the leak, you'ld have to drain about 5 gallons + of coolant, take off the lower hose, take off the inlet tube and probably replace it, and put it back together (with the RTV stuff). Just the O-ring, for me, hasn't proved sufficient either at the inlet tube or at the tstat housing.

[Jartin]

Where do y'all find your ELC coolant? I cant find a place around here (Biloxi, MS) that sells it.

[robertth]

I used the Chevron Delo ELC and it was very hard to find. You could check the Chevron.com site and look for the distributors in your area, then call them to see which retailers in your area have ordered it (if they won't sell it to you directly). Another option is to check with the big truck service stations/shops. I found after the fact that I would have been better off using the Catepillar CAT-1 ELC because there was a local place that worked on their equipment that had it in the 100% or 50% concentrate. NAPA has one that is also compatible. Somewhere on the site there is list of the possibilities. Another is Rotella ELC, which is also probably more widely available than the Chevron DELO ELC.

[txemt39]

Can you use Caterpillar ELC? I have about 55 gallons of it I keep at my shop for heavy equipment. I've been thinking about putting it in my 02' 550

[robertth]

Yes, Caterpillar CAT-1 ELC is described here: CAT Extended Life Coolant

It is actually made by Chevron.

[Jartin]

I also just found out Wal-Mart doesn't carry distilled water, could I use reverse osmosis water to flush my fluid with? Following these rules Coolant changing instructions....

I'll have to check my base's commissary, but I don't know where else to look for distilled water.

[RT]

RO water should be just fine unless its the kind that has minerals added back in for flavor. My WalMart has distilled water. So do the local grocery stores.

[Jartin]

This is the only coolant I found. I bought the Extended Life Concentrated (black bottle)

Smitty's Super S Antifreeze * Coolant

Will that be good for my truck?

[444-4D]

Congratulation, you bought the only coolant that Ford specifically says not to use.

[Jartin]

Does Ford recommend this? http://www.valvoline.com/products/br.../antifreeze/43