Ford didn't use anything.

 

The main thing about the sealer is it will take up any imperfections for a better seal when ford did it everything was new but doesn't have to be done I just do it for piece of mind . With the sealer you should only torque down snug let sit for and hour or so then torque down as the sealer will have started to dry . Not sure what sealer you used but I always use the permatex ultra black .

 

I use Loctite Hi-Tack on one side, stick it to the pump and let it sit a few minutes, then a very light coat of silicone on the other side.

Silicone is good but you really do not want to go nuts with it unless using it to fill an actual gap like where the cylinder heads meet the block under the intake manifold on V8 engines, or using it by itself with no gasket.

 

I put a thin layer of ultra black that I smear on with my finger just around the water ports on both sides of the gasket blue fel pro. Just did this last night drove it around town tonight hit 5000 rpm a few times no leaks.

 

I'm filling the cooling system tonight and taking it for a test drive. I'll re-torque tomorrow after it cools overnight and then I'll be driving it again during the holiday weekend. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

UPDATE.....

In case anybody cares, it's been several days since I changed the gasket and so far it hasn't leaked and the gasket isn't squishing out. I've driven the car every day so it could heat all the way up and cool back down.

I installed the gasket completely dry right out of the package. I torqued it as stated in the directions and re-torqued after the first heat cycle.

Dean

 

In case anybody cares, it's been several days since I changed the gasket and so far it hasn't leaked and the gasket isn't squishing out. I've driven the car every day so it could heat all the way up and cool back down.

I installed the gasket completely dry right out of the package. I torqued it as stated in the directions and re-torqued after the first heat cycle.

Dean

Sounds like both mating surfaces were pretty flat and square. Good to hear it's holding as advertised.

 

I think using Hylomar Universal Blue on the water pump gaskets is a much better choice than RTV.Easier to work with and unlimited assembly time.
Goes on thin unlike thick messy RTV.

I used it on the last new stock Ford water pump I installed.On the wp backing plate gasket and on the timing cover gasket where the pump bolts on.