H22 water pump replacement

[Acclude1420]

I finally received the new maintenance parts for my H22 and am about to install the new water pump and was wondering if I need to use any type of sealant with the gasket? My Helms manual just has the torque specs, it doesn't mention if I need to seal it too. Also, what about the front main seal?

[HATCHing]

I use rtv gasket/sealant before I install the gasket on the water pump.

[batever]

********water pump gasket**********

if the mating surface on the block is absolutely clean and doesn't have nicks then you don't need to bother with rtv or sealant, the gasket will perform perfectly well without. The original water pumps are not put on with rtv and I have heard of Honda techs saying that they don't use RTV (unless the mating surface on the block is gooked up or nicked).

however, you want to be fairly on target with the torque specs on the fasteners because it is such a wide gasket sealing surface. You may need a crowsfoot extension for one of the bolts, as I recall, to enable you to reach it with your torque wrench.

If you are using RTV, I can't remember where you put it, I think on the surface of the gasket that faces the engine block though. Of course, HATCHling from above says rather than on that surface, put it on the groove in the water pump before putting the gasket in the groove (or at least implies that) and I've heard that as well. Doing it that way would preserve the bonding/forming properties of the part of the gasket that will be touching the block "virgin". Then the rtv will squish out a bit and seal the area around the gasket edge, is my guess.

*****front main seal*******

For the front main seal I believe you want to use HondaBond, same as with the rear main seal. $12 a tube at your local honda dealership. It's a gasket forming compound but it's also pretty adhesive.

[thepowderblue]

********water pump gasket**********

if the mating surface on the block is absolutely clean and doesn't have nicks then you don't need to bother with rtv or sealant, the gasket will perform perfectly well without. The original water pumps are not put on with rtv and I have heard of Honda techs saying that they don't use RTV (unless the mating surface on the block is gooked up or nicked).

however, you want to be fairly on target with the torque specs on the fasteners because it is such a wide gasket sealing surface. You may need a crowsfoot extension for one of the bolts, as I recall, to enable you to reach it with your torque wrench.

If you are using RTV, I can't remember where you put it, I think on the surface of the gasket that faces the engine block though. Of course, HATCHling from above says rather than on that surface, put it on the groove in the water pump before putting the gasket in the groove (or at least implies that) and I've heard that as well. Doing it that way would preserve the bonding/forming properties of the part of the gasket that will be touching the block "virgin". Then the rtv will squish out a bit and seal the area around the gasket edge, is my guess.

*****front main seal*******

For the front main seal I believe you want to use HondaBond, same as with the rear main seal. $12 a tube at your local honda dealership. It's a gasket forming compound but it's also pretty adhesive.

2nd that. Just clean the block good with a razor but be careful not to nick it and let the gasket do its job.