95 F250 5.8. Is this the water pump seal? If not, can you tell me what it is?

 

Looks like your front timing cover is leaking. This is fairly common on our engines, I have replaced my 460 and my 302 gaskets (and timing covers) for the same malady, plus another friend's 460. What motor do you have?

 

Try running your finger inside the water pump pulley and under the front of the pump housing where the hole is. That will tell if the pump is the problem.

 

If it was me, I would expect the worst. As in the coolant pump bolts will be seized from corrosion in the front cover. New pump and cover. When the thermostat housing is removed [why not do the thermostat too?], the bolts will be broken into the intake manifold so you will have to add additional time and beer to overcome that.

When it comes to older vehicles, you might as well do everything while you are in the area. Otherwise, you will just be back in a short period of time.

 

95 F250 5.8. Sorry I forgot to add that initially. Do you know a good writeup for this job you'd recommend? I'm not a novice by any means, just really dumb. And how does this relate to the water pump assembly? Because if it's connected I'll just do them all at once. I've replaced plenty of water pumps, really not a big deal usually, so might as well get it done. I'm asking you a question I should be asking YouTube, so that's my next stop. Thank you for the info, and if you have details to add that's great too.

 

F250 5.8. Sorry I didn't mentiont that earlier. Thanks for the info. Is there a writeup on this you're familiar with? And should I do anything else at the same time (ex - water pump)? I can follow just about any writeup, I haven't gone to a mechanic in decades. But I'm too stupid to do anything without instructions. I don't even know where the water pump is (and I've replaced them on this model before maybe?)

 

I recommend you go to eBay and buy the factory Ford manual that will give you the steps.

 

I had purchased my new old stock manuals for my 96 on ebay. Then I looked at Rockauto one day and found they had reprints at a much better price. It is listed under the literature section of the vehicle parts break down.

 

Thanks but I just looked and a partial manual would cost me $125 which is cost prohibitive for me at present. Is that what you saw? I'm afraid to ask what you had to pay on ebay!

Also, RA lists it as for a 95, but maybe it's the same? And it's not a Ford manual, it's a Detroit something? Maybe I missed out before they were all gone?

Also if it's a FSM, that won't help me. I have a couple of those for other cars. Not once have I been able to read one of them and understand what they are saying. I"m a "YouTube mechanic." I got by before YT because there were old guys at NAPA to talk to, but since my mechanic friends have died, it's been YT all the way. If I can't see it step by step, I can not comprehend it.

 

Those things are always useless, at least to a dumb-dumb like me. I can only keep my cars running because YouTube came along just around the time my mechanic friends were dying. If you know a good writeup on a forum, or a good video, please let me know. I have a few links I"ll look at later today. If they explain it, I'm good. If not, I'll try posting here for links.

 

Yes, I paid about $200.00 for the original Ford shop service manual and probably $50 -$60 for the Ford vacuum & electrical troubleshooting manual. It is a thing that I do for all my vehicles and equipment. This way I have what the manufacture recommends for repairs - procedures & torque settings. Yes, at RA those are factory authorized reprints of the actual Ford service manuals. True I did not need them, but they are good reference material. Unlike opinions that people have that have never touched what they are talking about. When I say that, it is not aimed at anybody on this site. It is just a general statement about human nature and how some people get something about appearing knowledgeable. Basically they are trying to talk the talk without even taking one step in the walk. People who have actually done the job are a good reference - former or current good mechanics and even hobbyists. Some times the best teacher is experience and failure, I freely admit that I have been there and have done that miserably and expensively. By all means use Youtube, it can be a good tool. I have used Youtube as a reference source for many things : GM, Ford, Saab, Volvo, Mopar, Ford tractors, Kubota tractors, Clark forklifts, and so on. As with anything I attempt, I try to research from various sources and determine what is beneficial for my application. A 5.8 is a 351 and there is a lot of information out there in print and online. Should be able to spot something on Youtube with just 351 water pump replacement. The 351 is the Windsor family of Ford small block, so even a 302 would be the same procedure ( 5.0 Mustangs - fox body ). No worries, you got this. Just take your time.

 

The way I see it is as old as this engine is and much data that is out there, why would you open a thread asking how to replace the coolant pump or asking someone on the internet where a leak is? Is it because the truck is too high to climb in to look for yourself? Is it too low you can't see it? There may be a good reason, but I believe it would be faster to search and find the answer vs posting a new thread asking someone to point out the obvious.

Without a doubt, Google can be your friend and it's so easy to find information, compared to what it was before the internet. These trucks are so old and I just cannot believe that someone has not posted a similar complaint that matches your problem.

How I tackle problems like this is because it's so old and I do not want t be stranded on the side of the road or take something apart several times in the same area, I fix/replace all the leaks in that area. I expect to have problems. I expect that the 30 year old hose is not leaking, but I don't want to replace it 2 weeks after I fixed the first coolant leak.

I was pretty naive when I replaced the coolant pump on my 95 F250/5.8. How difficult can that be? Well, if I did search, I would have been prepared to expect the bolts to be seized and possibly the cover would have to be destroyed to make the job easier. Fortunately, I own a repair shop and I have the tools and talent to get out of corner I painted myself in. I only replaced this pump because I was going cross country to pick up a 5th wheel. Better to replace a 25 year old coolant pump in my shop vs on the side of the road [or worst yet, pay someone].

 

When someone repeatedly sez "this is my problem, this how I expect to be helped & basically screw any other recourse..."

You really should believe them.

 

Exactly. That's literally the one reason for these forums, I've always assumed. Sure you're right that there is info on water pump replacement on YouTube, etc. and I've found some good ones. But nothing beats specific info from someone who has done a job. On forums for my other cars that I know better than my stupid OBS Ford, I always chime in with info on jobs I've actually done. Links to specific writeups I've used, or my own writeups when there aren't good ones already out there. So when I have any job on my Ford I have to do, I post here for the same thing from people who are expert with these models.

Isn't that what this site is for after all?

 

Aren't the ones spending time making videos actually doing it?

My only recommendation is to expect to do everything [and more]. Some of the things you may run into are ,seized nuts/bolts. The only advice I can give you on that is never break the bolt. Once you do, many of the tricks are not available. How do you not break a bolt, knowing when to say, when. How do you know when to say when? Break a few and you will know. The school of hard knocks is the only good school to learn that. Since it appears you do not have that [yet], plan ahead for broken/seized bolts. Pat yourself on the back if you did not run into that.