I'm putting a new water pump in. The directions that came with it says "apply suitable rubber lubricant to o-ring and o-ring sealing surfaces." Should I just coat it with some coolant before installing it?

I work on aircraft engines. Normally oil system o-rings get coated in oil, fuel system o-rings get coated in petrolatum which is similar to vasoline and hydraulic system o-rings get coated in hydraulic fluid.

Please let me know what I should use if I should use something other than coolant.

 

I would get a tube of o-ring grease and use that just because it will help it stay in place during install. Coolant should be fine too.

 

We just use a little coolant to lubricate them....pretty much the same you mentioned....oil for oil, fuel for fuel....etc....

 

Dielectric grease works too.

 

Thanks. I figured a coating a coolant would be good enough, but wanted to make sure first.

 

I usually go by the same rule of thumb.

What about the O-Ring type intake manifold gaskets ? That's why I didn't reply. Service = DO NOT use oil on the O-rings for install. This can cause adverse effects and leakage to occur.

From what I gathered over the years - Like Quintin suggests sort of - Di-grease,Petroleum Jelly,Vaseline - something along those lines except when it comes to injectors.

King James - Hell, just a little water would work on that one - you want it to compress freely and lock in place. Water will allow that while grease will allow it to move and deflect, that doesn't mean it may leak using grease or that moving and deflecting is bad - Just means you'll be alright using water on that one.