Reading through the fbody service manual, it seems recommended to add these sealant pellets when doing any work that involves r&r of anything in the coolant system.

I just recently replaced my water pump and noticed a very small leak (not dropping, just getting barely wet) when I started the car again. I sprayed the gaskets with copper sealant before I installed them. Do the wp gaskets need to be heat cycled to seal properly? Also, should I add two of those pellets, as recommended by GM?

 

IMHO, if you have a leak, it should be addressed. I have never used the pellets.

 

I used em - back when I was young and dumb. Not a good idea for a long term fix. They can stop up the waterpump and water jacket and, most importantly, the radiator.

If you're in a have-to situation, you can use em - maybe - to get home. But that's about it.

 

I noticed that the leak was gone after the car cycled a few times. It wasn't a really bad leak, the only reason I knew coolant was leaking was because I put my finger around the water pump gaskets, and it got a little wet.


I wouldn't put those sealant pills in normally. The only reason I mentioned it is because it was in the GM service manual. I hate putting "band aid" fixes on my car, and always do things right, even if I have to do it multiple times. I figured GM must know something however, if they recommend in their own F-body manual to add those tablets

 

Well for what its worth...i work for gm and we never put the pellets in when servicing any car due to the fact mentioned above....ive also seen on some cars the heater core getting plugged...those pellets IMO can def. do more damage that good sometimes...good luck

 

Well I won't get them in that case. Like I said, if it was in anything but the GM manual, I wouldn't have even given it a second thought. Thanks guys.

 

When I completely drain the system (remove the KS and block plug) I use two pellets
just like it says in the manual. My guess is that plugging a radiator or heater core
is a result of too many pellets or a cooling system in bad shape. It's just powdered ginger
and would only plug a very tiny hole. The pellets will not harm a cooling system that
is in good condition. But you need to use them as it says in the manual.

I'll qualify this a bit more in that my car is stock, as in setup for daily driving and
not a race car. If I had a race car I probably would not use the pellets and also
run a coolant/water mix less than 50/50, like 30/70 or 20/80.

 

I'm not a believer in the sealant pellets. My engine's been running for 13 years (counting time before and after the stroker) now without using them, and I've never had a leak of any kind.

If you had evidence of the water pump gasket leaking, you need to fix it.

 

I think it would be easier to repair it before it drips into Mr.Opti!

 

As I mentioned guys, the leak was only noticeable when I ran my finger at the bottom of the gasket and it felt barely wet. Then, after the car cycled a few times, it seems to have gone. I'll keep my eye on it however. I see no reason why it should leak, the gaskets were brand new and coated with copper spray and I spent a long time cleaning the mating surfaces.

 

re torque the WP bolts to GM specs

 

ssbowtie1, obviously your problem was small and has now subsided. Retorquing the WP bolts would be a good idea.

I agree with the above advice. If you have a leak, it needs to be addressed.

The first time I ran across use of the pellets (I call them Cadillac pills) was an underhood sticker on a Cadillac with a 4100 series engine that stated that due to the advanced design of this engine sealant pellets must be used. I don't recall the exact wording, but that was the gist of it. Hmmm, an engine design so advanced it needs a dose of stop leak for reliable operation.

 

I've always used the pellets in my T/A and I change the DEXCOOL every 3 years. I've not had any trouble. My 96 Astro Van also has a requirement for these pellets, but it is interesting that my 06 Vette's shop manual does not say to use them in its cooling system. Something has changed in 10 years. Was the DEXCOOL reformulated or improved since the mid 90's?

Warren

 

After my rebuild I found a little bit of coolant in the oil, changed the oil and found it again, thought I had a head gasket leak. Put Bars Leak in and never had anymore problems. Its been 3-4 years since. Alumseal or Bars Leak will probably be fine. I have read in a few places that some sort of sealer maybe needed on a new motor, the GM stuff is supposed to be nasty as mentioned.

 

You did put thread sealant on the bolts - right??? Hadn't seen anyone else through that out there yet.