2005 Buick LaCrosse 3.8 Water pump leak after install

[Jrio7]

OP. you have a few concerning things
1) what pump and gasket did you use? a ac delco with metal frame? did you clean the old one off and make the surface clean/true no nicks
2) what did you do about thread sealant
3) what ddi you do about the two different length bolts becauuse you can put the wrong ones in the wrong spot
4) Why did you use sealer? Did you torque and let it set up and cure as the instructions require?

did you use SAE too when wrenching on the water pump bolts and pulley, those are SAE not metric. Same with some engine upper end stuff. Mostly else is metric
and is your hose fully seated with the ORIGINAL TYPE constant tension clamp and did you put the spring back in it and also clean the sealing edge of the hose on the timing cover and the inside of the hose?your stream looks like it could be shoot from under the hose from scale buildup jacking up the rubber shooting out

View attachment 35226 View attachment 35227
also, theres a joke there(With what i last said)

I used a cheap O’Reilly water pump with the paper gasket that comes with it. It wasn’t an ac Delco with metal gasket . I did scrape the mating surface of the engine block . I did use thread sealant. I didn’t know the 05 Buick LaCrosse 3.8 had two different size bolts . I measured and they all measured the same to me so let me know if there is two different size bolts. I used sealer because one of my mechanic friends said to use it and people on other threads recommend that also. I let it cure about 2-3 hours before adding coolant. What do you recommend ? I’m doing the job all over again for the third time. Hopefully this time is the last time .

 

[LARRY70GS]

If you don't know exactly where the leak is coming from (that's a big leak), you are wasting your time and money.

 

[Jrio7]

If you don't know exactly where the leak is coming from (that's a big leak), you are wasting your time and money.

It is from the water pump gasket . I could see it with my own eyes as we speak

 

[LARRY70GS]

It is from the water pump gasket . I could see it with my own eyes as we speak

Then the gasket surface was either not cleaned correctly, or it is damaged to the point where the gasket is unable to seal it effectively.

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[Mad_Coachman]

You should get a better gasket. I used a Fel-Pro with the Rubber seals built in. No gasket sealer needed and absolutely no leaks.

 

[Jrio7]

You should get a better gasket. I used a Fel-Pro with the Rubber seals built in. No gasket sealer needed and absolutely no leaks.

Do you have a part number for that felpro gasket ? I’ve been using the paper gasket with gasket maker on both sides of the gasket. Still leaking .

 

[Mad_Coachman]

More Information for FEL-PRO 35804

 

[LARRY70GS]

2005 BUICK LACROSSE 3.8L V6 Water Pump Gasket | RockAuto

RockAuto ships auto parts and body parts from over 300 manufacturers to customers' doors worldwide, all at warehouse prices. Easy to use parts catalog.

www.rockauto.com

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[Mad_Coachman]

Also make sure you use thread sealer on the bolts as some of them go through the water jackets.

 

[Mad_Coachman]

I used an AC Delco Professional water pump but if you want a design that is closer to the OEM the GMB brand would be a more cost effective solution.

2005 BUICK LACROSSE 3.8L V6 Water Pump | RockAuto

RockAuto ships auto parts and body parts from over 300 manufacturers to customers' doors worldwide, all at warehouse prices. Easy to use parts catalog.

www.rockauto.com

The main difference is the design of the impeller.

 

[BuickGirlFromMars]

Also make sure you use thread sealer on the bolts as some of them go through the water jackets.

The sealer is good idea for keeping the torque down but he needs to make sure to put the right bolts in the right holes too, also, yes the rubber on metal gaskets are very good mine is an ac delco. I cleaned off my engine and the gasket was even kinked from falling and something sat on top it on one corner, i bent it back, dusted off, put the pump on and properly torqued. still leak free

 

[BuickGirlFromMars]

--------Small Bolts - 1/4-20 x 1.7 1.03 thread (loctite, the proper kind, or thread sealer would not hurt these but the large ones pass through water jacket)
--------Large Bolts - 5/16-18 x 3.07 w/ Sealer

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[Jrio7]

The sealer is good idea for keeping the torque down but he needs to make sure to put the right bolts in the right holes too, also, yes the rubber on metal gaskets are very good mine is an ac delco. I cleaned off my engine and the gasket was even kinked from falling and something sat on top it on one corner, i bent it back, dusted off, put the pump on and properly torqued. still leak free

I looked at the bolts and they all seem the same size.

 

[BuickGirlFromMars]

I looked at the bolts and they all seem the same size.

Thats not good.
Found your leak.

 

[BuickGirlFromMars]

hopefully this helps

Blue x get the sealer For sure, but you have probably ruined the threads of your small ones. We need to see the extent of the damage.

 

[BuickGirlFromMars]

there is a kit that can be boguht online or in person(may need to wait for it to come in on truck, early in morning should get by evening)

That has the bolts all in it and the ones for the pulley, 3/8 ones prone to stripping, too!

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[Mad_Coachman]

If all of your bolts are the same length then someone has been in there already.

 

[Jrio7]

If all of your bolts are the same length then someone has been in there already.

Ok let me make a correction there lol it was early in the am when I replied but only 4 which are the larger bolts are the same size and the other are the smaller 4 bolts. Gonna give it a try today again with the metal felpro gasket and a GMB water pump I got . Not sure if I should put gasket sealant this time since the other 2 times I’ve done it on the paper gasket and it failed both times. What do y’all recommend ? I bought this Right Stuff gasket maker (in the picture below) would this work as a sealer?

 

[Jrio7]

Ok let me make a correction there lol it was early in the am when I replied but only 4 which are the larger bolts are the same size and the other are the smaller 4 bolts. Gonna give it a try today again with the metal felpro gasket and a GMB water pump I got . Not sure if I should put gasket sealant this time since the other 2 times I’ve done it on the paper gasket and it failed both times. What do y’all recommend ? I bought this Right Stuff gasket maker (in the picture below) would this work as a sealer?

 

[Mad_Coachman]

If you have the proper Fel-Pro gasket no sealer is needed. The gasket has a rubber seal on it. I replaced my water pump last July and have no leaks.