Water Pump with gasket

[alpinefun]

I have just purchased for my 1999 4Runner a new water pump from Toyotaoemparts.com and to my suprise I found a gasket in the box.
I have always thought that there is no gasket between water pump and the engine block and I was prepaired to use sealant. Has anyone installed water pump with the gasket? What the torque value should I use to tighten bolts in this case?

[Brian R.]

Apparently Toyota has changed the design of the water pump. When the pump was meant to be used with FIPG, there were grooves on which to place the bead of sealant. The grooves aided in sealing and provided a template for the application of the FIPG bead. In what I believe is an attempt to save some time on reassembly, they have eliminated the grooves and provided a gasket to be used instead of the FIPG bead.

Use the same torque as before, 14 ft-lbs. The gasket seals just fine.

Be sure and plug or cover the opening for the oil dipstick tube. It is difficult to avoid getting coolant in this tube when the thermostat and pump are removed.

[Airjer_]

I can't think of a pump that I have done that didn't have a gasket. I have run into a lot of water outlet/inlet/coolant manifolds that have no gaskets. Toyota and nissan comes to mind for this.

[alpinefun]

Originally Posted by Brian R.

Apparently Toyota has changed the design of the water pump. When the pump was meant to be used with FIPG, there were grooves on which to place the bead of sealant. The grooves aided in sealing and provided a template for the application of the FIPG bead. In what I believe is an attempt to save some time on reassembly, they have eliminated the grooves and provided a gasket to be used instead of the FIPG bead.

Use the same torque as before, 14 ft-lbs. The gasket seals just fine.

Be sure and plug or cover the opening for the oil dipstick tube. It is difficult to avoid getting coolant in this tube when the thermostat and pump are removed.

I have just checked the pump's contact surface - there is no groove.
Thanks a lot for your input and advice

[Brian R.]

Originally Posted by Airjer_

I can't think of a pump that I have done that didn't have a gasket. I have run into a lot of water outlet/inlet/coolant manifolds that have no gaskets. Toyota and nissan comes to mind for this.

The original water pump in the 5VZ-FE had a groove cut around all the water channels and the pump body for the FIPG sealant. Even the FSM says to install the FIPG into the grooves. At some point, Toyota stopped using the FIPG for this application. I don't know if the FIPG would seal on the non-grooved pump surface.