S15/T15 2WD Jimmy V6-173 2.8L (1988)
Water Pump: Fundamentals and Basics
Gasket Removal and Inspection
REMOVAL
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Remove all traces of the old gasket material. It only takes a very small amount of left over material to cause the new gasket to leak.
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Never reuse gaskets. After a gasket has been initially installed and removed it will no longer be able to compensate for the varying expansion rates
of the water pump and block. An old gasket may seal initially but as the engine heats up cools down, the old gasket will be prone to leakage.
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When removing the gasket with a gasket scraper, be very careful not to gouge the sealing surface. Very small scratches in the sealing surface are
likely to leak.
HINT: Always sharpen your gasket scraper prior to starting a job. A dull scraper is more likely to slip and gouge the sealing surface.
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If you are using a buffing wheel to clean the gasket surface, be very careful not to burn the surface.
CAUTION: Buffing wheels can rapidly remove metal from the sealing surface, be very careful and check your work frequently.
INSPECTION
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Verify the timing cover has not been damaged by the impeller. If a worn out water pump (shaft wobbles) is operated over a length of time the
impeller (which also wobbles inside the pump) may wear into the timing cover. If the timing cover shows any signs of wear it should be replace.
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Verify the gasket sealing surfaces are free of all gasket material, dirt, gouges, and contaminants (such as coolant or oil)
