Mercury 6L2Z-8501-A Pump Assembly - Water

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Disconnect the cable from the negative battery terminal. Drain the cooling system. Remove the drive belt. Remove the engine cooling fan. Remove the water pump pulley. When loosening the bolts, hold the pulley with a strap or chain wrench to prevent it from turning. For V6 models, remove the bypass hose, the heater hose, and the lower radiator hose from the water pump. Remove the bolts attaching the water pump to the engine block and remove the pump from the engine. If the water pump is stuck, gently tap it with a soft-faced hammer to break the seal. Clean the bolt threads and the threaded holes in the engine and remove the corrosion and sealant. Remove all traces of old gasket material from the sealing surfaces. For V8 models, remove the water pump mounting bolts. Clean the O-ring surfaces on the pump and the housing. If you're installing the old pump, install a new O-ring. Clean the bolt threads and the threaded holes in the engine and remove the corrosion and debris. Compare the new pump to the old one to make sure that they're identical. On V6 models, apply a thin film of RTV sealant to hold the new gasket in place during installation. Make sure that the gasket is correctly positioned on the water pump and the engine block surface is clean and free of old gasket material. Carefully mate the pump to the water pump housing. Install the water pump bolts and tighten them to the torque. Don't overtighten the water pump bolts; doing so will damage the pump. The remainder of the installation is the reverse of removal. Refill the cooling system when you're done. Operate the engine to check for leaks.

If the seal has leaked, it should be very apparent when you inspect for coolant residue or dried coolant tracks around the weep hole(s).

Ensure the new pump matches the old one and apply RTV sealant for 4.0L V6 models, or install new O-rings and lubricate them with clean coolant for 3.7L V6 and V8 models.

Some small black staining around the weep hole is considered normal.

Disconnect the battery, drain the cooling system, and remove the cooling fan and shroud. Loosen clamps, detach hoses, and remove the drive belt and pulley. On four-cylinder SOHC engines, remove the outer timing belt cover. For 2010 and earlier V6 engines, consider removing the alternator and its mounting bracket if needed. Unbolt and detach the water pump, clean surfaces, apply RTV sealant, and carefully install the new pump and gasket. Tighten bolts evenly to the specified torque, reinstall removed parts, refill the cooling system, and check drive belt tension.

A failure can lead to severe engine damage due to overheating.