water pump gasket went bad!

[mk3tattoos]

so is the gasket for the waterpump suposed to be made out of paper? i thaught my water pump went out, but upon futher investigation the seal and bearings look and feel fine, no shaft play at all. but this paper gasket look like shit. the motor only has 5k on it. oh and one other thing, whats the best way to get the paper gasket off of the motor? thank you and i hope i put enough info.

 

[Fozbo]

The stock gasket for the water pump is semi-paper composite stuff (might be paper), but yes, it is papery. The best way that I've found to get those paper gaskets off is to use a putty knife (like an inch wide, thin square blade) and a straight razor. You have to be very careful not to gouge the mating surface. It can take some elbow grease to get it completely clean.

Also, I've abandoned the whole paper gasket stuff around the coolant surfaces and have used only RTV sealer. Works much better in my opinion and is more reliable from the start.

What made you think that the water pump went out? Overheat I'm assuming?

 

[mk3tattoos]

The stock gasket for the water pump is semi-paper composite stuff (might be paper), but yes, it is papery. The best way that I've found to get those paper gaskets off is to use a putty knife (like an inch wide, thin square blade) and a straight razor. You have to be very careful not to gouge the mating surface. It can take some elbow grease to get it completely clean.

Also, I've abandoned the whole paper gasket stuff around the coolant surfaces and have used only RTV sealer. Works much better in my opinion and is more reliable from the start.

What made you think that the water pump went out? Overheat I'm assuming?

i saw it was getting hot and pulled over and killed the engine and popped the hood. there was steam coming from the underside of the water pump. so i let it cool down and put water into the radiator and thats when i heard water coming from under the pump. but it wasnt coming from the little hole on the pump, it was from the gasket. i dont think it was tightend very well. and or because it was made of the paper composite crap.

 

[Clip]

permatex makes gasket remover that works great, but i've only used it on parts off of the engine (helps when you can rinse the remover off in a sink)

 

[mk3tattoos]

permatex makes gasket remover that works great, but i've only used it on parts off of the engine (helps when you can rinse the remover off in a sink)

i will try some, thank you.

 

[Poodles]

Improper torque could definately be the cause (different torque for the studs and the bolts on the waterpump as well!)