Replacing a water pump. Got where it bolts onto the engine block clean but I can't for the life of me get the metal plate that goes between the 2 gaskets clean. I got it smooth to the touch but still black from old gasket.

also my new pump came with 2 sets of gaskets. Paper and rubber. Planned on using the rubber. And thoughts?

thanks

 

Brake clean does wonders for removing old gaskets and anything stuck to the metal. A wire wheel helps too.

I would not use the rubber gaskets. Didn't know they offered those?
A thin layer of silicone on the paper gasket and snug it down evenly. Never had one leak, ever.

 

I planned on using rtv with the rubber ones. Guess that defeats the purpose of the rubber though. I use half a can of brake cleaner, sandpaper, wire brush. Still black spots

 

So your new pump didn't come with a backing plate? Sounds cheap.

Just a thought...
I've used Permatex #1, the non-hardening sealant often, a thin layer. If the previous pump was sealed with P #1, would brake cleaner dissolve it? I've used rubbing alcohol (Isopropyl alcohol), like 70%, to get it off my hands, and anything else. Available at Walmart for $1.xx for a quart of 70%.

 

Yea I thought so too...

If I got it smooth to the touch and use rtv will I be ok since its just a WP?

 

If "smooth" means your fingertip rides up and over it, no, for me that would not be good enough, I wouldn't want to have to take it all apart again 2 weeks later...

Since its a steel plate, have you tried a putty knife in good condition? Or a single-edge razor blade holder with a good blade (like for taking registration stickers off of windshield, etc.)?
Being steel, much less likely to gouge than aluminum!

 

Yeah gone through several new blades with a holder too, brake cleaner, goo gone. I don't feel my finger go up and over. It feels smooth as hell, but still black...

 

If you feel that it doesn't really have any "thickness" to it, I'd say you're good to proceed.

 

Ok, like I said it's soaked in several things, scraped, brushed, sanded, steel wooled. That damn black just won't come off in some places without serious material removal and I'm scared to remove much more than 200 grit paper will remove.