Water pump time

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Dec 30, 2007 | 04:05 PM

dieseloholic

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From: St. Clair, MO

Water pump time

Guys, I've found plenty of threads talking me through this procedure and I feel very confident in doing it. My question concerns which WP to get. My local NAPA guy has a reman for just under $90 and new for $168. I've found a pletura of providers online. I found Airtex which I've seen a few guys reference. I also found one with a Motorcraft part number of F81Z8501-FA which they label as an "upgrade kit"? Any one know what the upgrade would be? It's listed at about $120 -shipping. One more thing. I have the gold antifreeze in now and it's still good. Is there any good reason for not reusing what comes out and topping off with new (I didn't loose much) versus replacing it with Red? I plan on replacing the T-stat with new OEM as well as clamps and belt. I'll make a decision on the idler and tensioner pulleys when I get the belt off and can feel them. Thanks fellers.

Dec 30, 2007 | 04:47 PM

SpringerPop

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From: La La Land

I wonder, too, about that "upgrade".

Now's a good time to consider adding a coolant filter.

I don't see any reason not to re-use the coolant if it's still good. You might want to consider filtering it through a coffee maker filter, just to get any crud out that may have gotten into it. You won't have the additional work of draining and flushing the block that you need to do when moving to the ELC.

Additionally, while you have the pump out, you're never going to have the CPS more accessible. If you've ever thought about changing it, now would be a great time.

Replacing the upper hose with one for a dual alternator setup would be a useful addition for you down the road, too.

Pop

Last edited by SpringerPop; Dec 30, 2007 at 04:50 PM.

Dec 31, 2007 | 09:56 AM

dieseloholic

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From: St. Clair, MO

I was hoping some of the mechanic guys would know something about that "upgrade kit". I haven't found anymore info on it myself. I'm gonna keep the coolant, I just had a complete flush job done in July of this year so I can't see changing it out now. Ironically I just checked and my truck qualifies for the CPS recall, but I can't take it to the stealership until I get the water pump replaced and they won't just give me the new one so I can do it myself. Hopefully someone will chime in with some pump recommendations; there are just so many options out there.

Dec 31, 2007 | 10:18 AM

Kwikkordead

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From: Rio Rico, AZ.

Are you sure it's not just leaking at the lower hose flange? It's just a skinny little o-ring that seals it up.
I thought I was looking at a new pump as well until I saw that the weep hole was not the source of the leak.

Dec 31, 2007 | 10:50 AM

dieseloholic

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From: St. Clair, MO

Dan, I'll take a look tonight. I just assumed it would be the weep hole since it's a pretty steady stream dead center on the front. Can you see the weep hole from underneth? I thought someone said it was behind the pulley?

Dec 31, 2007 | 11:43 AM

Kwikkordead

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From: Rio Rico, AZ.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dieseloholic

It's behind the pulley and tough to spot.
The clincher for me was the bottom hose was wet but the casting for the flange was dry. The flange itself was the source of the leak for me and then only when the engine was cooling down after a drive. It would hold water all other times, but the coolant was obviously leaking because it was all over the bottom of the hose and the level kept going down. Since that fix it hasn't used a drop.

Dec 31, 2007 | 11:48 AM

dieseloholic

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From: St. Clair, MO

that might explain something I was curious about. I thought I must have just had great timing in spotting it as it started because I'd just driven for over an hour and no temperature issues, I stopped to pick up my little guy and noticed a leak (pretty steady stream), I finished driving home (about 2 miles) and parked it, but when I checked it after it had cooled down I'd lost very little. At the rate it was leaking when I first saw it if it had been doing that while I was driving home from work I would have lost a lot more? I'll slide under there tomorrow with the sun gun and try to pin point it.