Found This In Coolant Port

**Loser** · 10-12-2013, 11:57 AM

So I pulled my water pump to change it today and I found this partial soft rubber gasket sitting inside the lower port on the driver's side of the motor. Any ideas what it is from? Should I worry, or just put the new pump on?

- Tom

WS6 Coolant Port Find2.jpg WS6 Coolant Port Find.jpg

**2002ssslp** · 10-12-2013, 07:04 PM

?????

**98TransAmWs-6** · 10-13-2013, 05:29 AM

Pictures don't work...at least for me they don't.

***SMWS6TA*** · 10-16-2013, 09:16 AM

Originally Posted by 2002ssslp

?????

This ^^

You should not have any rubber like that there. Looks like someone RTV it. Did it have an OEM gasket as well or just this one?

**Loser** · 10-16-2013, 09:46 AM

The water pump had the OEM gasket. I am the original owner of the car. The rubber piece is a gasket that I'm guessing came from somewhere else.

***SMWS6TA*** · 10-16-2013, 10:02 AM

check your T-stat. See if the rubber ring is still there.

Otherwise I have no idea where it came from. Looks like you got luck in that it didn't clog the water system to the point that you overheated and cracked the block.

**pajeff02** · 10-16-2013, 06:32 PM

Hard to tell by the pic - my first thought was also the T-stat gasket, but it looks a bit thick and I do not see the slit where the T-stat rides. Our engines don't have a coolant crossover in the intake like a SBC. Almost has to be from the T-stat or water pump. Flush things out with the hose and look to see if anything else comes out. Absent that, I'd probably put it back together and if nothing leaks and the engine cools properly, don't worry about it.

**Too Fast** · 10-17-2013, 02:31 AM

^^^this.

**Loser** · 10-30-2013, 10:29 AM

I flushed it out. No additional gasket pieces came out. This didn't come from the thermostat. I put it back together and now have over 1000 miles on the new pump/thermostat with no leaks or overheating issues.