How Could This NOT Leak??

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Nov 12, 2009 | 06:08 PM

soggysailor

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Pro

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From: Fresno CA

How Could This NOT Leak??

Doing a water pump change. I recently noticed a water leak coming from under the pulley on the water pump ,but not from the gaskets. I've had this 19997 C5 for 4 years. Looks like the pump has been replaced at least once as the gaskets are the new style, not the paper ones the 97's came with.

If you look close is looks like there's some RTV sealant on there too

These are the new gaskets I'm using with a new pump. I'm curious what would cause the deformation of the old gaskets?? Over tightening??

I'll be putting it back together tomorrow

Nov 12, 2009 | 06:24 PM

Cybermind

Melting Slicks

Joined: Apr 2009

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Looks like some pretty bad workmanship on previous install. Was it dealer installed?

Nov 12, 2009 | 06:30 PM

soggysailor

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From: Fresno CA

I have no idea. I'm at 174,000 miles, so it's seen some work along the way.

Nov 12, 2009 | 06:45 PM

zeevette

Race Director

Joined: Sep 2005

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From: Pasco WA

I'm kind of interested in why you need to use RTV with the o-ring type gaskets. I've done this a couple of times and alway used extra sealant.

Nov 12, 2009 | 07:45 PM

mojo1

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Joined: Jan 2004

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From: HOUSTON

St. Jude Donor '06 thru '15, '19

Quote:

Originally Posted by sogysailor

I have no idea. I'm at 174,000 miles, so it's seen some work along the way.

sweet, way to enjooy the car , I am only at 72 K but ready to pile on the miles.

Nov 12, 2009 | 08:15 PM

LoneStarFRC

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From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.

St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16

Quote:

Originally Posted by zeevette

I'm kind of interested in why you need to use RTV with the o-ring type gaskets.

There IS no "need".

Quote:

Originally Posted by zeevatte

I've done this a couple of times and alway used extra sealant.

Why? See above.

Nov 12, 2009 | 10:21 PM

soggysailor

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From: Fresno CA

does anyone have an idea how the gaskets got so deformed?

Nov 12, 2009 | 10:43 PM

LoneStarFRC

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Joined: May 2001

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From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.

St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16

Quote:

Originally Posted by sogysailor

does anyone have an idea how the gaskets got so deformed?

Maybe the "sealant" (what ever it was) was not compatible with the elastomer type material in the o-rings causing a softening or breakdown, or maybe there was so much applied that when tightened it somehow interfered with the ability of the of the o-ring to stay bonded to the aluminum carrier, i.e. too much uncompressible material (somethings gotta give) and lastly maybe overtorquing had a role. I would suspect probably a combination of one or more of these things. In any event, just be sure to not use ANY sealant of any kind and that the sealing surfaces are clean, undamaged, dry and NOT over torqued and you should be good to go. When I did mine a few years ago, I noticed the early signs of some corrosion on the WP mounting bolts (probably a little electrolysis going on) so I cleaned, and wire-brushed the threads, etc and applied a thin coat of anti-seize compound to the entire length of the bolts. A little preventative medicine so-to-speak and stop future corrosion.

HTH