Re: [AMC-list] Leaking from the timing chain cover - just RTV it?

[Frank Swygert <farna@xxxxxxx>]

There is a small hole just back from the front of the water pump neck. If the coolant is coming from that hole then the seal in the water pump is bad. The hole is there to leak coolant so you'll know the seal is bad, and it won't get into the bearing at the front. Also check the heater hoses and around the pump body. Wipe it dry then run it a bit and see if you can spot the leak. As Armand suggested, you might need a dye to help find the leak that requires a black light or UV light. I have a hunch it might be the water pump seal though. 

If the pump was NOS or had been on a shelf a long time, or was simply "brought back to life" on the engine, you can probably bet on it being the seal. Unless I know it's a recently rebuilt pump, I soak the entire pump in a bucket of water for at least two hours before installing. That gets the seal nice and wet and prevents burn-out after running a few hundred miles. I've put an NOS pump on and burned the seal up in under 500 miles, then replaced it with one I pulled off an engine that had sat for several years -- only I soaked the unknown condition pump in a bucket. The old pump lasted several years!! 

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Date: Wed, 26 Aug 2009 22:53:38 -0400
From: Bruce Griffis <bruce.griffis@xxxxxxxxx>

I must have messed something up when I replaced the water pump a long
time ago. The car had no leak, then a small leak directly under the
center of the timing cover. Just a few drops, but coolant. I took the
car for a nice ride today, and parked it. Wandering back, there was
quite a bit of low-tox coolant on the ground, directly under the
timing chain cover.

Do I need new gaskets, or can I simply take it apart and go the water
pump / thermostat RTV? Just take off the cover, the pump, re-appy RTV
and put together? Do the bolts need any special attention?

--
Frank Swygert
Publisher, "American Motors Cars" 
Magazine (AMC)
For all AMC enthusiasts
http://farna.home.att.net/AMC.html
(free download available!)

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