How to Replace the Water Pump in a Ford F-Series

The water pump is a very important part of the cooling system in your Ford F-Series truck.The water pump works like the heart of the cooling system, circulating the coolant. A faulty pump could cause all kinds of problems in your vehicle's engine. To prolong the life of your engine, make sure to change out a leaky water pump.

Things You'll Need

  • Drain pan
  • Wrench set
  • Coolant

4.9L Ford F-Series Engine

  • Place a drain pan underneath the radiator. When the engine is cool, drain the cooling system from the radiator into the pan.

  • Remove the lower radiator hose from the water pump.

  • Take out the drive belt along with the fan and the fan spacer and shroud.

  • Remove the water pump pulley.

  • Disconnect the alternator pivot arm and the heater hose from the water pump. Loosen and remove the water pump bolts and take out the pump.

  • Clean all the mounting surfaces on the pump and cylinder block for the gasket. Replace the heater hose fitting with a new one.

  • Install the new pump with new gaskets, tightening the bolts to 18 foot pounds (24 Nm). Make sure to coat the gaskets with sealer on both sides when installing.

  • Reinstall and reconnect all remaining parts in the order in which they were removed.

  • Refill the cooling system, start the car and check for leaks once the engine reaches normal operating temperatures.

7.5L, 5.8L and 5.0L Ford F-Series Engines

  • Place a drain pan underneath the radiator. When the engine is cool, drain the cooling system from the radiator into the pan.

  • Loosen and remove the bolts to the fan shroud connecting it to the radiator. Place the shroud over the fan.

  • Disconnect the following hoses from the water pump: lower radiator hose, by-pass hose and heater hose. Then remove the fan, fan spacer, fan shroud and drive belts.

  • Remove the pulley from the pump. Use belt tension to hold the pulley when doing so.

  • Loosen the bolt that attaches the alternator arm to the water pump and the alternator pivot bolt. Remove the power steering pump bracket from the pump if equipped, then move it to the side.

  • Remove the bolts that attach the water pump to the timing chain cover. Remove the water pump from the engine.

  • Install the new water pump with new gaskets, tightening the bolts to 18 foot pounds (24 Nm). Make sure to coat the new gasket with sealer when doing so.

  • Reconnect and install all remaining parts in the order in which they were removed.

  • Refill the cooling system, start the car and check for leaks once the engine reaches normal operating temperatures.