I didn't know that my old water pump was bad so I just reinstalled it with fresh gaskets and new grey RTV gasket maker and after discovering it waa leaking from the bottom weep hole, can't get it off. The seal is too strong; guess I used too much RTV?
I have since bought a new pump and would love to put it on but first I have to know how to get this one off without damaging the engine.
I made a few attempts to pull it off with my strength, no good. I then stuck the tip of a pocket knife between the internal gasket and the pump, (so as not to scratch the engine's mating surface), no good. I tried to get a putty knife inbetween that but it's not easy and so slow going.
Any non-sarcastic and otherwise non-hateful and non-time-wasting pointers would be greatly appreciated.

If you're wondering what the red, rusty-looking stuff is, it's a stain from the contaminated coolant I flushed out.

 

Hammer, hammer and punch to the tabs on the pump.......aftet you put some cardboard in front of the radiator

 

Maybe try some CRC gasket removal. Available at auto parts. Also brake cleaner might melt it some to help. You can also spray brake cleaner on your putty knife when you try to work your way around it. Regardless, a BFH will be needed.

 

Since the pump is no good, take a smack on the shaft/fan mount and it should break loose. Don't shatter the pump..........

Next time, take the silicone and smear a very, very light coat around the gasket surface. Install gasket and put another very fine layer around the surface and install. Gobbing the silicone does nothing for sealing.

 

Well, I have since removed the old pump after speaking with a mechanic and confiming that with what I saw here. I just wish I had seen the smearing of the silicone before I re-did it. I have pictures of the bead. I decided to wait a few hours to let it dry. Gonna wait 1 more hour from the time I posted this reply until I refill with only water,and crank it up. Praying that it doesn't leak.

 

Tbh Id have not have worried about the silicon. The only times Ive ever had a leak is when Ive used a sealing compound like what you have used there. I did my water pump recently and just spent the time to make sure the surface on the engine was completely cleaned then used a new gasket and torqued it all down evenly.
Plus it looks tidier without all the silicon.
How did your new one go? no leaks?

 

You only need a thin bead of silicone

 

No leaks discovered yet. Refilled with water this morning. Had to add some power steering fluid to power steering pump. Temp guage moves up and down a lot. Will drain and refill for the next week or so until water is clear and then refill with antifreeze mix. Why would temp guage move up and down so often? Is this normal?

 

If your using a quality gasket you don't need any silicone.

 

To jump on the bandwagon, that is WAY too much sealant. If I use any at all, it would be a skim coat on one side of the gasket. All that silicone that squeezed out has to go somewhere so.....it will now be floating around in your cooling system.

The gauge is erratic because of the air pockets since you appear to have not properly bled the system.

 

I used just enough sealant to tack it up and hold into place before installing the water pump. It was only a very light skim coat, and it's been leak free for over a year.

 

You should replace the thermostat if you haven't already.

 

You probably don't want to hear this, but I would pull it and start over. Just a little time and a new cheap gasket and you will be like it should be. It may work fine like it is but if you have the time why not do it right? Install a new thermostat and fill the radiator with mix and get the air out and you should be golden. Sandy

 

Could possibly be air pockets in the system which are causing the fluctuation with the temp gauge. Make sure you bleed the system well.
+1 for doing the thermostat as well.