7rc1

https://imgur.com/KdWSBSP

 

https://imgur.com/Fnks8KP

 

https://imgur.com/uBgw63h

 

https://imgur.com/wWNP7q1

Cheers Jl-c, since filled with the coolant after flushing a few times, fitted my new bucket and took it a spin round my estate and all appears fine, getting up to temp and after the rather extensive service is running nice and quiet, next is the 14 degree timing.

Success!

 

Turns out you need a clean flat surface...... who'd have thought lol, a thin smear of high temp gasket sealant on either side of the genuine Mazda metal gasket done the trick, left it overnight, filled it with clean water and left for a few hours with paper underneath to see any drips and was bone dry, since done 3 flushes where it's gotten up to temp with no issues.

 

Thanks for the help and advice.

I did ask the parts guy who disappeared through to the garage area came back and said that if I wanted peace of mind put some sealant on it as it won't do any harm and my works garage said no but they would normally put some on.

Hopefully what I've done will sort it, which is now having both surfaces 100% smooth, sealant on both sides of the metal gasket, thumb tightened and left for an hour then torqued up to correct specs, garage heating turned on overnight for it to cure then I'll fill it tomorrow.

Can't do anything more than that 🙁

Ok I found the problem, hopefully.....

 

Back out into the garage after a coffee and took everything back off again, cleaned up the water pump surface to a mirror shine again and went to do the engine side, my rubber glove had torn and hand was covered in engine grime so it was off and when it was skin to metal I could feel a biggish lump at the top of the pump opening.

 

After having a look with a mirror it appeared to be a bit of old gasket which I have smoothed any edges when cleaning with the Dremel so if felt perfectly smooth through gloves but could feel it without.

 

I have scraped it away and it is almost at the 12 O'Clock mark so I am fairly sure it has been that causing the poor seal, I will find out soon enough, I will be back out at 1840 to torque up the bolts once the RTV has set then leave it overnight prior to filling with water again to see if it holds.

 

Hopefully I have found the issue and surprise surprise it was human error.