When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I am planning on doing my TB and somehow putting in a real gasket (the type usually sold with an aftermarket pump) seems more attractive. Less chance of something going wrong. My mechanic put in a gasket on my A/T fluid pan and it's been great, even though it should be FIPG in there.
Just have a hard time accepting the idea of a gooey material being next to coolant. Too much of a risk.
What do you guys do and suggest? Is FIPG really superior to a gasket?
(if I can find a gasket that matches OEM water pump perfectly, that is)
On both my my LS's, I did the tbelt and water pump myself. i used the gasket supplied with the Aisin kit, and used a small amount of FIPG to both hold it in place and ensure no leaks. Neither car has had any issues
Applied a small bead directly to the pump surface, applied the gasket to the pump, and a small bead onto the block surface, especially around the circular bolt areas. When I say small bead, I mean small. The Toyota fipg comes in a nice tube with a special metal key for squeezing the end of the tube. You don't want so much that is oozes out
Applied a small bead directly to the pump surface, applied the gasket to the pump, and a small bead onto the block surface, especially around the circular bolt areas. When I say small bead, I mean small. The Toyota fipg comes in a nice tube with a special metal key for squeezing the end of the tube. You don't want so much that is oozes out
I always use the Aisin kit. I also always just use the gasket that comes with the Aisin water pump. I don't use any FIPG anywhere on the water pump to block seal, just the gasket. The only thing I use FIPG for with the water pump is the outlet housing.
And I think not using any extra sealant is a fine procedure. The water pump and gasket are slight redesigns these days anyway, compared to what they were 20+ years ago. Really the only way you can go wrong is no gasket AND no sealant.
I believe the Aisin kit comes with a slightly revised water pump. Lexus must've had the old style. The OEM pump installed by Lexus 20 years ago had no gasket and was designed to use FIPG. I assume you didn't install it with zero sealant or find a gasket for it.
1990-1997 LS400 use FIPG on water pump,.1998-200 LS400 use gasket
Originally Posted by Bylan
I believe the Aisin kit comes with a slightly revised water pump. Lexus must've had the old style. The OEM pump installed by Lexus 20 years ago had no gasket and was designed to use FIPG. I assume you didn't install it with zero sealant or find a gasket for it.
It looks like a water pump gasket was not included in the kits for LS400's produced before Decemeber of 1997. 1997 and earlier models required use of a coolant FIPG (part number is listed in the attached pictures). 1998 through 2000 LS400 water pump kits include a gasket and do not require use of FIPG.
Great info here. I was wondering when people say FIPG if they mean using (for example) the FIPG used on the AT pan (red/orange stuff) on the water pump.
I looked around a little and found the following, which summarizes the different types of Toyota FIPG, along with the ThreeBond (DreiBond) equivalents:
The part number there matches the one I used on my AT (lifetime supply = one tube, bought when I dropped the pan on my AT), and the one for coolant matches the one in the service manual above. But I think I have some oil pan FIPG that is ...00102 rather than ...00103.
So the answer is that (to do it right), the oil pan, AT pan, and coolant all have their own Toyota FIPG. I've got about a dozen Loctite, Permatex, and DreiBond RTV flavors, and would probably try to see if one of those would be compatible. The concern of course is that different fluids (engine oil vs. ATF vs. coolant) will react differently with the FIPG.
Great info yodaone and oldskewel, thank you!
BTW, years ago when I had to change A/T shift solenoid (I had a friend help me with that), I bought an aftermarket A/T gasket. My friend put it in, and it never leaked even a drop of fluid, even though we were really supposed to use FIPG.
Now, I am wondering if I could do the same with the water pump. I'd really feel much more confident putting in the aftermarket gasket there than FIPG and hoping I didn't put any inside the housing or if I have spread it uniformly enough, or whatever... and then put everything back together and find out that it leaks.
Great info yodaone and oldskewel, thank you!
BTW, years ago when I had to change A/T shift solenoid (I had a friend help me with that), I bought an aftermarket A/T gasket. My friend put it in, and it never leaked even a drop of fluid, even though we were really supposed to use FIPG.
Now, I am wondering if I could do the same with the water pump. I'd really feel much more confident putting in the aftermarket gasket there than FIPG and hoping I didn't put any inside the housing or if I have spread it uniformly enough, or whatever... and then put everything back together and find out that it leaks.
Inquire of Lexus whether increasing offset of 1990 - 1997 LS400 water pump from block via hard gasket will affect fitment of connected components or alignment of timing belt, pulleys, brackets etc.
Inquire of Lexus whether increasing offset of 1990 - 1997 LS400 water pump from block via hard gasket will affect fitment of connected components or alignment of timing belt, pulleys, brackets etc.