I replaced the radiator in my 89 F250 w/ 7.3 IDI back in 2013. New brass radiator. Last fall I started having coolant leak issues again, and it looked like it was coming from the radiator. But I limped along for half a year periodically adding stop leak and adding a quart or two of coolant every time I drove ol' Teddy.. which over the winter was not all that often.

Two weeks ago I was coming home from a job and the temp gauge started creeping up, so I pulled off in a city park in a town about 20 mi from home. I could see a virtual waterfall coming out of the bottom of the radiator. I emptied out some 10 gallon totes I carry tools and stuff in and filled 'em up with water from the park bathroom and figured I could make it home if I stopped and filled up the radiator every couple miles.

Well, i made it about five miles and then realized the water was pouring out about as fast as I could pour it in, gave up and called AAA. It was about 9:30 at night when the tow truck guy finally came & hauled me to a mechanic who has done quite a bit of work for me over the years. I did notice there were more cars parked in his lot than usual.

Turns out my mechanic was way behind because his partner's on leave because his wife was busy having a baby. I was like a week and a half before he could get time to replace my radiator. I was about to go down there and do it myself in his lot when he called to say it was done.

So, today I went out to do a job (I fix old farm windmills, and several customers have been wondering where the hell I was). On the way home, I stopped at the bank to deposit my earnings, and to my considerable dismay noticed a green rivulet snaking its way across the parking lot from under my truck. I was about to whip out my phone and ream my mechanic a new ***hole, but decide I should crawl under the truck and inspect the situation first. And discovered that the new radiator is not leaking; the coolant seems to be coming out from the water pump.

I paid over $600 to have the radiator replaced, and the truck was out of commission for a week and a half; I guess I am going to replace the water pump myself. Probably order one from Rock Auto.

Here is my question for this forum: Rock Auto is recommending I replace the fan clutch along with the water pump. Is this necessary?

 

I'm not familiar with diesels, but with gassers.
I would change the fan clutch if the water pump was done, if it has a lot of miles on it. But i wouwould highly recommend a Motorcraft fan clutch, not an aftermarket version.

If it has any wobble, then it'll destroy the water pump soon after.

 

i only replace the fan clutch if there is play in it. and i do not use rock auto anymore for anything. they have gone from people customer service to computer customer service. and if you have any problems at all, you are SOL because their computers do not make mistakes.
and they charge you to return shipping even if it was their mistake.
i would just order from a local auto store or ford direct.