Fix that water pump shaft leak for good!!!
#1
Fix that water pump shaft leak for good!!!
Hi guys.
I thought I’d give sometime back to this forum sense
it has helped me a lot.
I have battled a oil leak coming from the water pump drive shaft for months.
I would put a new seal in and it would be fine for about 2000 mile and it would start to leak.
The more I drove it the worse it got.
I had my mind made up that I was going to do something about it, and I did, and it works!!!
The cavity that’s behind the seal has no place to drain.
There are 2 small holes about 2 and 10 o’clock at the top of the shaft so when oil gets in the cavity it has to get ¾ full before it can drain back in the motor.
The seal is swimming in oil and I think that’s why it’s so prone to leaking.
I drilled a 1/8 hole at the bottom of the cavity so the oil
that gets in the cavity can drain right back in the motor.
This way the seal isn’t swimming in oil.
My timing cover has never been so dry!!!
Be sure to drill at a down hill angle so the side of the bit don’t cut a grove in the timing cover where the seal press’s in.
I used my coupler shaft as a install tool.
I thought I’d give sometime back to this forum sense
it has helped me a lot.
I have battled a oil leak coming from the water pump drive shaft for months.
I would put a new seal in and it would be fine for about 2000 mile and it would start to leak.
The more I drove it the worse it got.
I had my mind made up that I was going to do something about it, and I did, and it works!!!
The cavity that’s behind the seal has no place to drain.
There are 2 small holes about 2 and 10 o’clock at the top of the shaft so when oil gets in the cavity it has to get ¾ full before it can drain back in the motor.
The seal is swimming in oil and I think that’s why it’s so prone to leaking.
I drilled a 1/8 hole at the bottom of the cavity so the oil
that gets in the cavity can drain right back in the motor.
This way the seal isn’t swimming in oil.
My timing cover has never been so dry!!!
Be sure to drill at a down hill angle so the side of the bit don’t cut a grove in the timing cover where the seal press’s in.
I used my coupler shaft as a install tool.
#2
Re: Fix that water pump shaft leak for good!!!
not to be a pessimist, but I'm pretty sure that rubber seal needs a little oil to lubricate it...otherwise it'll dry out quickly and fail again. On the up side there won't really won't be ny oil in there to leak out. FWIW, I would have gone a little higher up the side, but it's a good idea non the less....
#5
Re: Fix that water pump shaft leak for good!!!
So, you came over to my house and took a picture? At any rate, mine looks similar and I have had two positive results:
It no longer leaks oil out of the engine, and the water pump shaft/seal no longer leaks water down onto my Opti. Win/Win. Ain't it great?
#7
Re: Fix that water pump shaft leak for good!!!
I didn’t expect many of you would agree with my mod but my leak is fixed.
My timing cover is as dry as a popcorn fart!
As a far as the seal getting oil to keep it from drying out and lubed that isn’t a problem,
there’s plenty of oil being passed over the seal for that.
Take it or leave it my leak is fixed.
My timing cover is as dry as a popcorn fart!
As a far as the seal getting oil to keep it from drying out and lubed that isn’t a problem,
there’s plenty of oil being passed over the seal for that.
Take it or leave it my leak is fixed.
#8
Re: Fix that water pump shaft leak for good!!!
I'm not an engineer but I bet the little bit of oil that still makes it way thru is enough to keep it from drying out. I highly doubt that it needs to be saturated in oil.
I'm in favor of the mod- if it isn't getting oil to keep from drying out I guess that means that it can't leak out either? Sounds like another win-win to me...
I'm in favor of the mod- if it isn't getting oil to keep from drying out I guess that means that it can't leak out either? Sounds like another win-win to me...
#9
Re: Fix that water pump shaft leak for good!!!
I'm not an engineer but I bet the little bit of oil that still makes it way thru is enough to keep it from drying out. I highly doubt that it needs to be saturated in oil.
I'm in favor of the mod- if it isn't getting oil to keep from drying out I guess that means that it can't leak out either? Sounds like another win-win to me...
I'm in favor of the mod- if it isn't getting oil to keep from drying out I guess that means that it can't leak out either? Sounds like another win-win to me...
#11
Re: Fix that water pump shaft leak for good!!!
I do not disagree with your patch. It is a good patch, and I wish you the best. However, it does not fix the real issue, which is the water pump leaking water onto the Opti. When you are ready for the real cure, just go with an electric water pump and that seal is in seal heaven and the shaft is given the shaft.
And I always use a dab-o-grease on any seal I install. On any vehicle, 2 or 4 wheeled. Just makes sense.
And I always use a dab-o-grease on any seal I install. On any vehicle, 2 or 4 wheeled. Just makes sense.
#12
Re: Fix that water pump shaft leak for good!!!
Keeping the water and oil out of the OPTI is not hard to do.
When you do a tune up just throw the O ring on the cap
and mid plate “if that is what it’s called” away and run
a bead of RTY the seal the mid plate to the housing and
the cap to the mid pate and your set.
All that you have to do is seal it up, it’s not hard to do.
The O rings are junk.
I didn’t post “save the OPTI” I posted on how to fix a common oil leak with these cars.
I don’t care if you do it or not I’m just passing along
a mod that worked for me.
Just trying to share some info.
When you do a tune up just throw the O ring on the cap
and mid plate “if that is what it’s called” away and run
a bead of RTY the seal the mid plate to the housing and
the cap to the mid pate and your set.
All that you have to do is seal it up, it’s not hard to do.
The O rings are junk.
I didn’t post “save the OPTI” I posted on how to fix a common oil leak with these cars.
I don’t care if you do it or not I’m just passing along
a mod that worked for me.
Just trying to share some info.
#13
Re: Fix that water pump shaft leak for good!!!
Great idea!! I have my seal out right now and will be drilling tommorrow.As yours did, mine has always leaked within a couple thousand miles of replacement.I'm sure there's enough oil flying around it'll be fine as 150,000 mile wine!