Notices
1999 - 2003 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel  
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: DP Tuner

Water Pump Leak??

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 11, 2013 | 09:24 PM
  #1  
KH85's Avatar
KH85
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
15 Year Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 483
Likes: 1
From: Washington
Water Pump Leak??

So the other day I noticed a new wet spot under the truck. Upon inspection it looked like anti-freeze, and appeared to be coming from around the water pump where the upper radiator hose connects to the pump. The area around it was a bit damp so I started the truck and could see very small air bubbles coming from the gasket between the water pump and the motor. I hadn't driven the truck in a bout 18 hrs and after driving the truck for the last three days I have not noticed any more leaking?? So my question is is this normal?? Am I missing something??

Water temps have been normal but I have lost some water over a long period of time. Heres a few pics of where it was leaking...it was coming from the gasket just to the right of the plug under the upper hose.



 
Reply
Old Jun 11, 2013 | 09:32 PM
  #2  
snakedoc's Avatar
snakedoc
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 4,006
Likes: 1
From: AL, Reform
it may just need a new seal or it could be a fluke
 
Reply
Old Jun 11, 2013 | 10:26 PM
  #3  
KH85's Avatar
KH85
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
15 Year Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 483
Likes: 1
From: Washington
Yeah I'm kinda hoping for a fluke but it still worries me. Ive got a lot of towing miles coming up this summer and don't want to get stuck on the side of the road!!

Wondering how hard it is to change the water pump out and re-seal everything? Can you get the fan, pully, and pump off without taking out the radiator, intercooler etc??
 
Reply
Old Jun 12, 2013 | 10:54 AM
  #4  
rjwood5's Avatar
rjwood5
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
From: New Mexico
I replaced my water pump two weeks ago. It's a pretty easy job. There is a really good series of videos on YouTube from Powerstrokehelp with step by step instructions. I couldn't tell from your picture where your leak is. If it's just from the thermostat housing you can replace that separately. Mine was leaking from between the water pump housing and the front of the engine. Took about 3 hours but most of that was hunting tools that my son borrowed. Try to order all the parts you will need beforehand. You will need to buy a thermostat gasket as it does not come with the thermostat. Good luck.

By the way mine only leaked intermittently but overall I lost about a gallon and a half of antifreeze.
 
Reply
Old Jun 12, 2013 | 08:43 PM
  #5  
KH85's Avatar
KH85
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
15 Year Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 483
Likes: 1
From: Washington
Originally Posted by rjwood5
I replaced my water pump two weeks ago. It's a pretty easy job. There is a really good series of videos on YouTube from Powerstrokehelp with step by step instructions. I couldn't tell from your picture where your leak is. If it's just from the thermostat housing you can replace that separately. Mine was leaking from between the water pump housing and the front of the engine. Took about 3 hours but most of that was hunting tools that my son borrowed. Try to order all the parts you will need beforehand. You will need to buy a thermostat gasket as it does not come with the thermostat. Good luck.

By the way mine only leaked intermittently but overall I lost about a gallon and a half of antifreeze.
That is exactly where mine was leaking. The pictures I took were just to give a bit of reference because at the time it was not leaking and hasent leaked since. I think I will start to order some parts and change it before it hoses me!!

Think I will order through dieselsite.com and get a new water pump, with the aluminum thermostat housing and the 203* t-stat. Also I will probably do all the radiator hoses and flush the system with new ELC coolant and distilled water!!

One question has anyone ever had any trouble with the 203* thermostat??
 
Reply
Old Jun 12, 2013 | 09:45 PM
  #6  
snakedoc's Avatar
snakedoc
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 4,006
Likes: 1
From: AL, Reform
i think if you search you will find a long thread about the 203* thermostat.
i dont think it is good for me as it is 99* out to day, and it is to be close to 105* tomorrow.
 
Reply
Old Jun 12, 2013 | 11:54 PM
  #7  
ScaldedDog's Avatar
ScaldedDog
Fleet Mechanic
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,466
Likes: 162
From: Sedalia, CO
Club FTE Silver Member

Originally Posted by KH85
That is exactly where mine was leaking. The pictures I took were just to give a bit of reference because at the time it was not leaking and hasent leaked since. I think I will start to order some parts and change it before it hoses me!!

Think I will order through dieselsite.com and get a new water pump, with the aluminum thermostat housing and the 203* t-stat. Also I will probably do all the radiator hoses and flush the system with new ELC coolant and distilled water!!

One question has anyone ever had any trouble with the 203* thermostat??
I replaced my water pump a few years ago, and it's leaked between the new pump and the motor twice. That seems really odd, but I haven't bothered to tear it apart and fix it.

I ran the 203* t-stat for awhile. I don't know that it hurts anything, but I'm not sure it does anything, either.

Mark
 
Reply
Old Jun 13, 2013 | 07:15 PM
  #8  
KH85's Avatar
KH85
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
15 Year Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 483
Likes: 1
From: Washington
Well it looks like this is a "fairly" common issue that may not really be a problem, so I think for now I will just keep an eye on it. But I may change out the pump and re seal with new t-stat before the 1200 mile tow trip to the rubicon in august just for peace of mind.

Any more input on the 203* thermostat is appreciated. I've search around a bit but didn't really find what I was looking for, just wondering if anyone that has ran it has ever had any problems with their truck running too hot at all??
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ways Ford is LOSING to the Competition

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 6 Best Deals Available on New Fords & Lincolns Right Now

 Brett Foote
story-2

This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

 Brett Foote
story-5

10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-6

Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

 Brett Foote
story-7

10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-9

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jun 13, 2013 | 07:45 PM
  #9  
StrokedRanchero's Avatar
StrokedRanchero
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 165
Likes: 0
From: Crook county, Illinois
Originally Posted by KH85
That is exactly where mine was leaking. The pictures I took were just to give a bit of reference because at the time it was not leaking and hasent leaked since. I think I will start to order some parts and change it before it hoses me!!

Think I will order through dieselsite.com and get a new water pump, with the aluminum thermostat housing and the 203* t-stat. Also I will probably do all the radiator hoses and flush the system with new ELC coolant and distilled water!!

One question has anyone ever had any trouble with the 203* thermostat??
This is on my to-do list also. I just rec'd my pump, 203 thermo.,t-stat housing, & coolant filter from DieselSite. Lifetime warr. on the pump. Will see how the pump lasts. Was told it's a Chineese housing, with USA internals/ assembled here in the U.S.. My PEPBOYS pump lasted 85,000 mi. I thought I'd try the 203 & see. It will be my first eng. mod, woo hoo.
 
Reply
Old Jun 13, 2013 | 09:29 PM
  #10  
ScaldedDog's Avatar
ScaldedDog
Fleet Mechanic
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,466
Likes: 162
From: Sedalia, CO
Club FTE Silver Member

Originally Posted by KH85
Any more input on the 203* thermostat is appreciated. I've search around a bit but didn't really find what I was looking for, just wondering if anyone that has ran it has ever had any problems with their truck running too hot at all??
When I had mine in, I thought, maybe I saw a 0.5mpg increase. If I did, that was the only positive effect. In a live tuning session, Jody suggested I take it out, as he saw 250* oil temps while towing uphill. I replaced it with a stock one, but I think the oil temp issue was from a dead fan clutch, which I just now got around to replacing. If that's the case, there were no negative effects, either. If your t-stat is bad, it's a good time to try the 203* one. I wouldn't pull a working t-stat to put in a 203*, though.

If you want my 203* stat, you can get it cheap. (Can you send beer through the mail?) Actually, you can have it for shipping.

Mark
 
Reply
Old Jun 13, 2013 | 11:25 PM
  #11  
KH85's Avatar
KH85
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
15 Year Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 483
Likes: 1
From: Washington
Originally Posted by ScaldedDog
When I had mine in, I thought, maybe I saw a 0.5mpg increase. If I did, that was the only positive effect. In a live tuning session, Jody suggested I take it out, as he saw 250* oil temps while towing uphill. I replaced it with a stock one, but I think the oil temp issue was from a dead fan clutch, which I just now got around to replacing. If that's the case, there were no negative effects, either. If your t-stat is bad, it's a good time to try the 203* one. I wouldn't pull a working t-stat to put in a 203*, though.

If you want my 203* stat, you can get it cheap. (Can you send beer through the mail?) Actually, you can have it for shipping.

Mark
Thanks for the offer Mark, man our little brotherhood is awesome!! But I think if/when I do change out the water pump I'll probably just get a new stock stat I really don't like worrying about little stuff like that that cant just be changed out real quick like a CPS with no coolant mess. Mine runs just fine now so I'll just keep it that way, but I do like the idea of the aluminum housing that wont rust.
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
grantpage
6.0L Power Stroke Diesel
2
Sep 27, 2011 03:44 PM
ghostwhite
1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
3
Dec 21, 2010 07:48 AM
rolltide3006
1994.5 - 1997 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel
4
Jan 5, 2010 11:09 AM
ducksr
1999 - 2003 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel
3
Mar 7, 2008 07:57 AM
jules
1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
3
Dec 27, 2000 09:11 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:16 PM.

story-0
10 Ways Ford is LOSING to the Competition

Slideshow: 10 ways Ford is losing to the competition

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 09:52:01


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 6 Best Deals Available on New Fords & Lincolns Right Now

Some great targets in today's expensive world.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-15 09:35:19


VIEW MORE
story-2
This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level

Slideshow: The VelociRaptor Expedition gains a lift, upgraded suspension, Brembo brakes, and trail-ready equipment while retaining the stock 440-horsepower EcoBoost V6.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-12 11:01:55


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

Slideshow: Top 10 Fords at 2026 Ford Nationals

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 11:10:08


VIEW MORE
story-4
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

Based on years of owning multiple modern Ford products.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-09 10:53:36


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

SPONSORED: From muddy boots to rain-soaked cargo, these upgrades address some of the most common frustrations Ford truck owners face every day.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-06-08 18:50:34


VIEW MORE
story-6
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

Here's everything you need to know about every Ford engine available for the 2026 model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-05 12:58:01


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Ford trucks that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 09:51:16


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: the best gifts for dads & grads

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:58


VIEW MORE
story-9
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 11:38:36


VIEW MORE