My water pump is leaking out the bottom weep hole and I need to change it. I have never done this repair on a PSD, i was wondering if it was a PITA or relatively easy. Does anyone know of a website or have any info on the easiest way to make this repair. Also since i'm replacing the anti-freeze, is the prestone or other brand of coolant that has the anti-cavitation addative in it worth the money or better off getting addative seperate?

 

Does anyone have any ideas or comments?

 

I've been told that it is a routine repair with no "gotchas" to worry about. As far as coolant goes, I think the best is the Evans NPG+ with the 203 degree t-stat and a coolant filter. It's wallet sucking $18.00 per gallon last I checked and you need 8 or 9 to fill up the engine. Get all and I mean ALL traces of the old coolant out before you pour in the Evans.

 

what is a good way to flush all the coolant out and where do you buy evans coolant at. I'm in NE texas

 

Here's Evans web site. http://www.evanscooling.com/main23.htm

As far as the best way to flush it out: On the radiater there is a drain valve. Open it and drain the system. Remove the thermostat. (you were going to get the 203 anyway weren't you?) On both sides of the engine block there is water jacket drain plugs that can be removed to drain the coolant out of the block. Remove them both. Please be responsible and capture as much of the old coolant as possible for proper disposal. It contains heavy metals that will work it's way down into the ground water if just drained into the ground. Take that plug with you up to the local hardware store and get a piece of brass pipe (or steel if you're gentle with the threads on the engine) with the same thread on it and a cheap, disposable water hose in about the same diameter as the pipe you just picked up. A hose clamp. Go back home and screw the pipe into the block where you removed the plug. Cut off the end of the disposable garden hose you just bought and attach the hose to the pipe and connect it to the water supply and let it run for a while. ONLY DO THIS WITH A STONE COLD ENGINE!!!!!!!!!!!
Flush out the radiator and the heater core thoroughly, too.

 

Evans is propylene glycol. Here is an excerpt from a Ford TSB regarding that:

"Ford Motor Company specifications recommend that vehicles be maintained using certain ethylene glycol-based engine coolants. Those specifications do not refer to engine coolants made with propylene glycol."

They specifically recommend against it.

 

True, but many people have run it and I have yet to hear of a problem. If he were under warranty I'd agree with you, but his truck is a 1995.

 

Check out this thread. Looks like there is a link for replacement instructions.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...ht=water+pump+

 

I ran into some issues that turned this from realtively straight-forward, to a real pita. The strap wrench suggested did not work and I ended up eitheer having to purchase an $85 fan clutch wrench removal set or take the fan shroud, fan, fan clutch, and water pump out as one unit and take it to the machine shop. Then, I installed the new pump and realized that I had to install the shroud, fan, and fan clutch at the same time. Trying to do that tried my patience as you have very little clearance for your arms as you are trying to thread this thing back together. It is not tapered to assist in the threading and has to be held completely straight, so it took a long time before the threads caught. I did save some cash, though! Hopefully, yours will work out better!