So over the past year or so, every once in awhile, I would smell coolant while going down the road. But only for a few seconds. I crawled under and saw a small drip hanging from the lower bolt from what I think is the the bottom radiator hose neck on the pump. OK Small...nothing ever showed on the ground. It can wait.
This continues about once a month.
About two weeks ago... I see a puddle under my truck. Being I park on dirt/gravel I cant see the color and it is soaked into the ground. I rub the ground and it smells of coolant. Check the collant bottle and it is empty. Crap.
So it takes 1 gallon to fill, I run it and add another 1/4 gal and it stays on the full mark, (hot). OK The leak is getting worse. I will look at getting it fixed.
Well it was below 0 degrees at that time... the next day it is about 50 outside and the low at night is in the high 20's or warmer. Hmm No leak. OK I have a finiky truck. Doesn't leak anymore.
Well the last 3 nights it has been sub zero and the high in the low to mid teens. I didn't see anything dripping and the coolant level stayed fine. Until I went home from work today. Stopped to fuel up then ran across the road to the liquor dairy. When I came out..the truck was pissing on the ground. A nice puddle had formed and was draining down the parking lot. About a 5 ft trail, (Slanted parking lot). The stream didn't seem it was under pressure, but just a constant drool. After a few seconds, (I was only inside for about 5 minutes), it started to slow down to dripping. When I got home about 10 minutes from there and parked the truck, it was down to about a drop every 1 1/2 seconds. So...Pics for clarity....

Here is what I see from below.... And the coolant level is now about 4 inches from the bottom of the bottle.


And another pic, wider view.


I am thinking weep hole is drooling it telling me my pump is done. But why only when really cold outside? I plug it in each night if it's below 20 degrees for easier starts.
Can this hold out until this weekend to get fixed? What do I need for tools? Anything special?
If I add more coolant and run it till this weekend, will it survive or will it cause major issues if I do? This is my daily driver and I drive about 25 miles each way to work.

Thanks everyone!

 

Id say its pump time, My Excursion had a similar leak, the weep hole was leaking and so was that little water neck. Coolant was getting thrown everywhere! I dont know what kind of time frame your on but I would go OEM from Riffraff.. I would keep an eye on things while driving it and go easy on it, Keep a few gals of coolant handy just in case. Now would be a good time to switch to an ELC! There is a little gasket between the filler neck and pump that tends to leak too.

Riffraff Diesel: Motorcraft Water Pump Lower Inlet Oring
Riffraff Diesel: OEM Powerstroke Water Pump
Riffraff Diesel: Motorcraft Thermostat

 

It looks like a new water pump is in the very near future for you.

Drake

 

I would trust anything from RiffRaff but ... I did find an aluminum water pump from Autozone for about $30 less and it is in stock. Total that is about $192. From Autozone its about $164 with a lifetime on the pump and 1 yr on the thermo. Add the coolant and that is about another $50. Either way...it will have to wait until this weekend to get fixed when it is supposed to be back up to about 50 degrees and I have the time.

Should I use any other sealant with the new orings and gasket? How long to let it set before adding coolant and running it?

 

OK Doing some searching.. I can get a lifetime pump from Advance Auto and with the lower tubing. Lifetime warranty, thermo and both gaskets, $122 + tax. I searched for coupon codes online and found two together to knock off $50.

Thoughts? The pump is new, not a reman.

 

If it were me I would stick with OEM on the water pump. The water pump seal on the OEM unit is a rubber gasket and there is no need for any gasket sealant of any kind in addition to the rubber gasket.

So once you install it and everything is back together, you should be ready to fire it right up immediately.

Drake

 

There is also a little more expensive option, that has the filter attachment on the water pump. There is a write-up on this in the forum, that I have been considering. I think "tarm" or "Nicmike" can give you good information on it. The option is an international T444E water pump, which is a cast iron version. I like the fact it has the filter right there on the pump.

 

Nice write up on it.

 

I would love to go the Navistar way but I don't have that much time. I need plug-n-play. So I think I will be going with the over the counter number. If it holds up 3yrs I'll be happy. At least it will have a warranty.
As for pulling the old off and the new on... Any odd tools that I will need to make sure I have?

 

Last I heard the recommendation for OEM style was stick with Airtex brand which was OEM supplier. Kinda like alternators, warranty is more a leash to keep you coming back than a benefit. I think Airtex is what Clay carries.

Let us know how it goes. I have an occasional drip too.

 

IIRC clays pumps are international pumps. Not sure who makes them but they are 100% US made. Aftermarket thermostats cause issues, especially cheap store brand units. Go with motorcraft at least on the T stat.

 

The last water pump I got from Riffraff did not have the o-rings for the lower hose extension and heater hose pipe. The main o-ring was also different (didn't have the little half moon ribs that hold the o-ring into the grooves). It made installation a little more difficult but the pump is working fine with no leaks. The water pump that I ordered from Riffraff about 2 or 3 years ago had all those parts so Riffraff may have changed the product sometime along the way.

The water pump that I recently received from dieselorings.com still has all those extra parts and the more user friendly main o-ring. Here are links to each vendor's website so you can see the differences. All you get is what is in the photos. If you read each vendor's website, the Riffraff pump says its OEM where Diesel-O-Rings says it's Non-OEM but comes directly from International/Navistar. I prefer the Diesel-O-Rings version because it has the other parts necessary for complete installation (and it's less expensive).

Riffraff Diesel: OEM Powerstroke Water Pump

Water Pump for 1999 through 2003 Ford 7.3 Powerstroke Diesels

 

I went with the Airtex WP from Rock Auto, under $85 shipped to my door. It came with all the o-rings needed too, and a new lower pipe. I also used a thermostat from them, can't remember if it is a Gates or Stant. Been 1 1/2 years and no issues with ANY of the parts.

 

OK So now on to the Antifreeze. I have looked and there doesn't seem to be what I am looking for in my local Wally World or Napa. Can someone post what will work, what won't etc. Thanks! I am still shopping for the pump. Looks like I will end up going to with a local store for it. I may skip out of work tomorrow or Thursday to get this done.

 

imo, Go with the 'lifetime' warranty. Yes, most places do not think that you will own 'your' vehicle for longer than 3years and the next owner will not know about the warranty. If it goes bad, at least it will be replaced.

Let us know how the work goes.