1996 XJ6 4.0,
I pulled her into the garage and smelled coolant.
After some sniffing around I found a trail of coolant coming from the bottom of the water pump.





I just put this water pump on & all new coolant hoses when I changed my head gasket, so this pump doesn't even have 5k miles on it yet!

Usually when I encounter an issue like this, I assume the pump needs to be replaced. But, given it's recent replacement, is there anything else it could be?

Bad gasket? Installation error?

I torqued that bottom bolt down some more in hopes that maybe I didn't tighten it enough during installation, and I'll see if it leaks anymore.

-pancho

 

These pumps have the "tell tale" hole at the top, easily seen from the top, obviously, and if coolant is NOT leaking out of that hole, then the seal is more than likely OK.

I reckon you got a bad gasket, or hose connection.

 

as a follow-up,
I took the pump off, fitted it with new grey RTV silicone for a gasket, and reassembled.

reassembly was such a fight, that I'd bet money I messed up how it seated.

the leak has been reduced to a mere drip every few days.
so better, but not completely fixed.

I'm thinking I'll just live with it and add coolant every few months

 

sure looks top me like you might have a shaft leak-

 

that did come to mind also, but I was hoping a better seal around it would cure it.

it is a reman pump, maybe a not so good rebuilt pump?

 

Well, many rebuilders might have less QC than main line manufacturers.