Pescado wrote:...if a sealer should be used on the pump and heater pipe gaskets and how to re-fill the cooling water. So...I'm sure ill get some different opinions but hoping to get a majority vote on the sealer and just an fyi all mating points look good and straight... so maybe no sealer even needed?
Opinions vary on using sealant on the water pump and heater pipe gaskets, but I personally don't use any. If the mating surfaces are clean and straight, you shouldn't need any. A few tips:
1. I'd drain the block if you can. There is a drain valve under the exhaust manifold on the side of the block, although sometimes this is just a plug. Loosen the drain if you can (or remove the plug), and flush out the block with water.
2. When first testing for leaks, I just use water until I'm sure there are no leaks, and when you've verified that it's OK, then refill with the 50/50 mix of coolant and water. Saves money on replacing coolant if there is a leak.
3. Technically, distilled water is better than tap water, but this depends how pure your water is. I usually just use tap water, but I also drain and refill the coolant every few years. If you have water with a lot of mineral content, I'd use distilled water.
4. When filling, "burping" the system is rather critical. Because of the design of the cooling system, air pockets can be left in the system and cause problems with cooling. In theory, the radiator should "self-refill" when the engine cools back down, through the coolant in the overflow tank. But, this doesn't always work. Anyway, fill it back up, warm up the engine a few times, then check the level. Refill as needed.
5. Speaking of the overflow tank, I also remove it and clean, as it's a common place for gunk to build up. Make sure it is at least half to two-thirds full when you're all done.
6. Don't forget to open the heater core valve when draining. Gunk also tends to build up in this.
7. If the cooling system hasn't been flushed in a long time, I drain and refill the system after a few hundred miles. The more gunk you can remove from the system, the better. Sometimes it takes multiple drain/refills for a really dirty engine.
8. I just use the regular "green" coolant. Some people use the more modern orange or red coolants, but Fiat engines weren't designed for this. I use Prestone as some of the cheaper alternatives seem to build up more crap over time.
-Bryan
