new Fel-pro water pump gasket doesn't seal on 3800?

[GJD5]

I bought this gasket at autozone part #35351 and it's like a somewhat hard blue plastic gasket. So I put it on and torqued all the bolts to the specs with a torque wrench, and after I filled the radiator back up you can actually see where coolant is seeping past the gasket. I tightened the bolts even tighter, still leaks. WTH? I had both surfaces cleaned like perfect and wiped them down so they were clean and dry too. Anybody else have this problem on the 3800's with this fel-pro gasket. It's like a hard plastic, so I don't see how the hell this thing would work?

[89GP_SE]

in my esperience gaskets should be that cardboard paper stuff. I too wonder why it is plastic

[White93z34]

beats me why you got a plastic one. the one I put on my bonneville came with a decent rubber gasket. never leaked.

[GJD5]

where did you get the rubber one?

[88red4cyl]

It probably came with the water pump.. I know the water pump I installed on my Lumina came with a gasket last year...

[Crazy K]

????? did the gasket come with specific instructions? including specific torque for that gasket only?

 

did you also replace the pump?

[White93z34]

yeah mine came with my new water pump.

[GJD5]

I replaced the water pump about 2 yrs ago and it did come with a paper gasket. But it started leaking recently. This Fel-pro gasket that I got did not come with any instructions at all. It would be nice to find the paper gasket that has the red dry sealant on both sides all ready...like the one for the thermostats.

[White93z34]

just get another rubber gasket from advance auto or whoever else is local to you, and use put a thin layer of black RTV on it

[xtremerevolution]

I bought the felpro water pump gasket for my 95 regal (Series 1 3800), and its been going without any problems for 15,000 miles so far. IIRC it was a plastic gasket with some rubber as well. I can't stand paper gaskets, because its a bitch to get them off.

[GJD5]

just get another rubber gasket from advance auto or whoever else is local to you, and use put a thin layer of black RTV on it

 

I havn't been able to find any stores selling a rubber gasket. Most sell the fel-pro plastic one or a paper gasket.

 

The area where the water pump was leaking at the gasket is the same area where the paper gasket the water pump came with eventually gave way...could this new autozone water pump be warped a litte?...I know I know...autozone NEVER sells defective parts.

[Crazy K]

if you bought it there, take it back and get another. life time warranty, FTW!

[GJD5]

if you bought it there, take it back and get another. life time warranty, FTW!

 

I think I will do that...it just doesn't make sense. I can't believe it was leaking just by filling the radiator up with coolant and no pressure on it.

[GJD5]

I ended up getting a reman water pump from O'reillys. It is a A1 Cardone reman and came with a rubberish type gasket. I went with a reman since it's a AC Delco housing. It's on there and I have filled the radiator with no signs of leaking so far. Hopefully once I run the engine and get all the air out and pressurised it stays that way. Don't know what the deal was with the fel-pro plastic gasket and/or the auto zone pump...it was a first for me to see a water pump leak just by filling the radiator up...crazy.