Water pump replacement - liquid gasket or not?

[TransplantCanuck]

I will be replacing the water pump when I do my upcoming timing belt change, and I'm wondering whether I should use Permatex Ultra Grey sealant when mounting the water pump (as recommended in the Haynes manual), or not (the replacement water pump instructions say "Do not use liquid packing or adhesives. Use the gasket and the o-ring provided in the original box."

What say you?

[Nat84]

hollemar (i think thats the spelling) or that indian hand gasket stuff is best in my books as when you use sealasitc it oozes out and can contribute to a block radiator

[TransplantCanuck]

I'm just wondering about the contradiction between the service manual and what the water pump's instructions say.

[PBBIZ2]

Can you gp back to Haymes and get a warranty on the gasket recommendation or results of a failure? - I think not. If it were me, I would toe the line of the water pump supplier. If there is a problem, they have to warrant it, provided it is installed per their instructions. If you are stuck on the side of a track and have to repair or fit a new unit, then the silastic style fix would suffice, as its not a matter of choice and likely to be a short term fix.

[chunks]

Just use the gasket with a very light smear of silastic or permatex sealant. Done this many times never had a problem, most other mechanics I know do the same.

[hulsty]

I used locktite blue sealant on my 3F water pump over two years ago, no problems to date. No gasket at all.

[beinthemud]

use copper gaskets from loctite itll make a 6mm gasket and can go 318deg +

[buddah_04]

im a trade mech, and i just did my cruiser waterpump, i use loctite 513/515, its a red flange water sealant that doesnt dry. i put it on the 2 mounting surfaces and still put the gasket on. never had one leak.

also helps when the mounting surfaces arent entirely clean