I was told not long ago by someone who restores old fords
that water pump grease needs to be water soluble.
That way if/when it gets into the cooling system it doesn't
clump and restrict passageways in the radiator and heater
core etc.
Does anyone else know anything about this?
The guy I spoke to had specific grease he used in his water pumps.
Steve
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In response to the above posting, perhaps there was some misunderstanding,
since the OPPOSITE actually appears to be true: Each of the various
specialty "water pump greases" sold by Castrol, Lubriplate, Penrite,
Drydene, etc. that I have been able to locate information about all tout
their grease's high temperature and water resistance. Castrol, for example,
describes its Water Pump Grease as "Castrol Water Pump Grease--Stiff, smooth
lime based grease with excellent water resistance ensuring unbeatable
sealing properties in water pumps". Similar products by other manufacturers
all mention high temperature and water RESISTANCE, not solubity.
Given the source you mention above, namely a rebuilder of old Ford engines,
I would refer anyone interested to an item titled "Water Pump Grease" in a
Ford-centered site called Red's Engine Talk at
http://www.reds-headers.com/html/stacked_page_19.htm . Apparently they
tested some form of speciality grease called "Neo Watercraft Grease" and
found it unsatisfactory compared with good old (water resistant) boat
trailer bearing grease.
The moral of the story: if you already have AMSOIL Water Resistant Grease in
your grease gun, then fear not! Three full pumps of the stuff into your
water pump every year will do you just fine. For a catalog of this and
other AMSOIL products, see
http://www.amphicar.net/amsoil .
~Bilgemaster~