What seals should I replace?
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,842
From: Bloomfield Hills MI
What seals should I replace?
I have a my engine torn apart right now and I have pretty much all the main gaskets (heads, intake, timing cover, waterpump, little coolant hoses behind heads. I am hearing of people replacing the waterpump seal and the opti seal. When I was dis assembling I dont remember an opti seal? I don't see why people are wrecking the waterpump seal on the timing cover as well. What actually rips this seal? What other seals should I replace?
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 588
From: Bluegrass State
If it were me...I would indeed change all the seals on the timing cover...I just did an opti /wp chance and I didn't notice when I pulled the waterpump off that it turned the seal inside out till I got everything back together and started the car up and the wp seal leaked like No other....AND RUINED ....my brand new opti....all this because I neglected to change the wp seal while I was there....the reason it turned inside out was that it was worn out....couldn't really tell but it was ....so needless to say if you have it apart go ahead and change it or you could be goiing back and doing it again later.....
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 479
im wondering the same thing as you Rodriguez.more specifically for the waterpump seal. the other 2 im just gonna oil up and see how it goes. how IS the waterpump seal supposed to look like when installed? i have a new one, and the "paper" part is straight. but on the one thats on the cover , its flat around the hole and facing outward. i dunno how its supposed to be either ? the crank seal's not that big of a deal i guess, cause its got the least amount of work involved if it does fail. but, like most would say, the "right" way would be to change em all
be good.
be good.
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 588
From: Bluegrass State
slashz28......The seal should be even with the shaft for the waterpump if it is sticking out than I would replace it...I went with a meziere ans I didn't pay any attention to the seal when I put it all back to gether ....and when I had to take it back apart the seal was sticking out ...the actual seal rubber part was sticking out and it shouldn't have been...should be flat....and tight against the wp shaft.....Hope this helps.....
Registered User
Joined: Dec 1969
Posts: 27,725
From: Little Rock, AR
Originally posted by Rodrigues
Alright, does any have part numbers?
Alright, does any have part numbers?
1995-1997 front cover opti seal 12552428
1993-1997 front cover crank seal 10128316
1993-1997 front cover water pump seal 10217886
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 69
From: Gurnee, IL
Or you can just get a FELPRO timing set kit from pep boys for like $10 and you get all the timing cover seals, waterpump gaskets, timing cover gaskets etc. No brainer. You will pay more than that for one seal from GM.
As far as why the water pump seal fails so easily it is becase when installing the timing cover the inner facing part of the seal gets rolled outward. This results in it not "sealing" properly anymore.
The key to installing the new water pump seal is after you get the timing cover back in place you install the seal using the water pump gear extension as a "tool" If you put the extension up to the gear you will see that they have the same diameter. Clean off the extension of any curossion with a cup brush or some other method, lube it with some grease, slip the seal on it from the front. Then place the extension on the water pump drive gear ans slide the seal back on the drive gear. Get a deep well socket which is the same size as the outer diameter of the seal and tap it the rest of the way in place. e-mail me if you have questions. FWIW, I haven't had a wp seal fail when using this technique. I have seen probably 5 out of 6 WP seal installs fail when not using it.
The opti and front main seals are much easier to install. Just tap them in place with a big socket or with a piece of PVC pipe with a cap on the end that is the same diameter as the seal.
DaveW
As far as why the water pump seal fails so easily it is becase when installing the timing cover the inner facing part of the seal gets rolled outward. This results in it not "sealing" properly anymore.
The key to installing the new water pump seal is after you get the timing cover back in place you install the seal using the water pump gear extension as a "tool" If you put the extension up to the gear you will see that they have the same diameter. Clean off the extension of any curossion with a cup brush or some other method, lube it with some grease, slip the seal on it from the front. Then place the extension on the water pump drive gear ans slide the seal back on the drive gear. Get a deep well socket which is the same size as the outer diameter of the seal and tap it the rest of the way in place. e-mail me if you have questions. FWIW, I haven't had a wp seal fail when using this technique. I have seen probably 5 out of 6 WP seal installs fail when not using it.
The opti and front main seals are much easier to install. Just tap them in place with a big socket or with a piece of PVC pipe with a cap on the end that is the same diameter as the seal.
DaveW
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 501
From: Del Valle, Tx, U.S.A
Originally posted by DaveW 396ci
Or you can just get a FELPRO timing set kit from pep boys for like $10 and you get all the timing cover seals, waterpump gaskets, timing cover gaskets etc. No brainer. You will pay more than that for one seal from GM.
As far as why the water pump seal fails so easily it is becase when installing the timing cover the inner facing part of the seal gets rolled outward. This results in it not "sealing" properly anymore.
The key to installing the new water pump seal is after you get the timing cover back in place you install the seal using the water pump gear extension as a "tool" If you put the extension up to the gear you will see that they have the same diameter. Clean off the extension of any curossion with a cup brush or some other method, lube it with some grease, slip the seal on it from the front. Then place the extension on the water pump drive gear ans slide the seal back on the drive gear. Get a deep well socket which is the same size as the outer diameter of the seal and tap it the rest of the way in place. e-mail me if you have questions. FWIW, I haven't had a wp seal fail when using this technique. I have seen probably 5 out of 6 WP seal installs fail when not using it.
The opti and front main seals are much easier to install. Just tap them in place with a big socket or with a piece of PVC pipe with a cap on the end that is the same diameter as the seal.
DaveW
Or you can just get a FELPRO timing set kit from pep boys for like $10 and you get all the timing cover seals, waterpump gaskets, timing cover gaskets etc. No brainer. You will pay more than that for one seal from GM.
As far as why the water pump seal fails so easily it is becase when installing the timing cover the inner facing part of the seal gets rolled outward. This results in it not "sealing" properly anymore.
The key to installing the new water pump seal is after you get the timing cover back in place you install the seal using the water pump gear extension as a "tool" If you put the extension up to the gear you will see that they have the same diameter. Clean off the extension of any curossion with a cup brush or some other method, lube it with some grease, slip the seal on it from the front. Then place the extension on the water pump drive gear ans slide the seal back on the drive gear. Get a deep well socket which is the same size as the outer diameter of the seal and tap it the rest of the way in place. e-mail me if you have questions. FWIW, I haven't had a wp seal fail when using this technique. I have seen probably 5 out of 6 WP seal installs fail when not using it.
The opti and front main seals are much easier to install. Just tap them in place with a big socket or with a piece of PVC pipe with a cap on the end that is the same diameter as the seal.
DaveW
Kyle
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 37
From: Austin, TX, USA
I just installed a brand new WP. The old one worked fine but was weeping. Does this mean I could have just changed the seals inside the WP and saved the $$?
If so, I might have a used waterpump for sale.
If so, I might have a used waterpump for sale.
Registered User
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 525
From: Wichita Falls, Texas, U.S.
no, its not the seals inside the water pump. its the seal on the timing cover where the water pump drive shaft goes in. also, be sure and put some high temp grease on there and it will help to keep from burning those seals on startup. as stated above, just pick up the Fel-Pro kit instead of buying them all seperate.