Should I replace this Water Pump? -- Source of Oil leak?

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With the right tools, pulling the balancer isn't a bad job at all, IMO. The oil pump gasket, upgraded torx screws and front main seal are pretty inexpensive... I was in your same position and replaced them all at the same time. No regrets.

If you decide not to, a good cleaning of the area is in order to determine the source(s) of the leak but when you find it you'll wish you did it while you were in there.
 
Kernal said:
The raised hump that runs in the center of the gasket is what does the sealing (by crushing) so as long as that is good you should be OK.
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So that raised hump is supposed to go out -- towards the water pump, right?

The FSM does not specify. And the old one is smashed flat
 
I assume the FSM doesn't specify because I don't think you could even put it on backward. The holes wouldn't line up. In any case, looking at your photos, that would mean the hump faces toward the block.
 
Edit/fixed: the raised hump faces the pump (only way the gasket can fit). Technically the entire gasket is involved in sealing but the hump, IMHO, is there to help guarantee a good seal ie: against high pressure, etc. The small dent in the gasket around the bolt hole will flatten out once the bolts/studs are torqued down. If you're concerned a replacement gasket is just few dollars.
 
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Kernal said:
IIRC the raised hump faces the block. Technically the entire gasket is involved in sealing but the hump, IMHO, is there to help guarantee a good seal ie: against high pressure, etc. The small dent in the gasket around the bolt hole will flatten out once the bolts/studs are torqued down. If you're concerned a replacement gasket is just few dollars.
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I don't think it can go that way. The holes don't line up unless the hump faces the pump
 
Agree, the raised hump should face the water pump (and that's the only way the gasket will fit because it's asymetric). I wasn't paying (enough) attention :hmm:.
 
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Making slow -- very slow -- but steady progress.

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Check your harmonic balancer doesn’t have any major signs of separating they have been known to separate and cause havoc. I’m a little late to the party with that advice! Nice work so far.
 
Fj80oregon said:
Check your harmonic balancer doesn’t have any major signs of separating they have been known to separate and cause havoc. I’m a little late to the party with that advice! Nice work so far.
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I took a pretty careful look at it. So did the guy helping me. I didn't see any signs of separation. Or cracking. And the mileage is pretty low on this (154K)

If they were cheaper I would have just replaced it-- but for 600+ bucks (which seems to be the OEM price) it didn't seem like it was worth it.

My son's 96 has 278K miles, and I am thinking I will try and find a deal on an OEM replacement before he goes back to college next year. Mainly because of miles and because I won't be around to help him fix it if breaks down. There are people selling what they claim to be OEM balancers on Ebay, but I am not sure if I could trust them to really be OEM.
 
Fj80oregon said:
Check your harmonic balancer doesn’t have any major signs of separating they have been known to separate and cause havoc. I’m a little late to the party with that advice! Nice work so far.
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I do wish I had taken better pictures of it when I had it out. And I probably should have spent more time researching what a "soon to be failing" harmonic balancer looks like.
 
So to wrap this up-- did a 700 plus mile road trip last week and it all worked. No apparent leaks.

And more good news-- all this seems to have cured my ticking noises I discussed here..

The only thing I am not sure about is my belt tension. I think I might be a little low. I have an older Borroughs Belt Tension Gauge but it is real hard to get down onto the belt to get a good reading, and I don't think it is calibrated anyway. So I am really just going by feel here (i.e., guessing).

I seem to remember that there was a Gates belt tension gauge that was supposed to be easier to use-- should try and find one.
 
sjpitts said:
So to wrap this up-- did a 700 plus mile road trip last week and it all worked. No apparent leaks.

And more good news-- all this seems to have cured my ticking noises I discussed here..

The only thing I am not sure about is my belt tension. I think I might be a little low. I have an older Borroughs Belt Tension Gauge but it is real hard to get down onto the belt to get a good reading, and I don't think it is calibrated anyway. So I am really just going by feel here (i.e., guessing).

I seem to remember that there was a Gates belt tension gauge that was supposed to be easier to use-- should try and find one.
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I've bought nearly every belt tensioner known to man and I haven't found one that you can actually fit on the belt on these and still hold onto it with all the guards, belts, and stuff in place. Even so, maybe you place it on omne of the two belts, you can't check the other.....Yes, they're supposed to be matched, but I've received sets that were NOT matched.

TIghten down until you can pay a tune, then back it off two turns.

Basically, if I can push it down with 1 finger, it's too loose. These are tighter than any other vehicle I've even driven.
 
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