Rear water pump grease fitting
 

My rear grease fitting is is shown in the photo, it is not a zirc, it's like a threaded cap.

Attachment 448120

I'm fuzzy on the use of this fitting - Do you turn it some portion of a turn as part of the 500 mile lubrication?

How much of a turn?

And the 64,000 dollar question, which grease do you put in there? There's all kinds of discussion here on water pump grease. I guess one answer is if you don't over grease it, it matters a lot less which kind.

Re: Rear water pump grease fitting
 

The fitting you show is normal. We call it a grease cup but you guys seem to have your own language when it comes to these things. I use Penrite Water Pump Grease which is not a grease at all (and here's me saying you have your own language!). It is a wax. I put some in the cup part of the fitting and screw it on after backing off the packing nut. That forces the lube into the bearing. One capful at a time is enough IMO but some keep going till it comes out the front. I think there is a high likelihood that you will have lube in the cooling system if you do that.

Re: Rear water pump grease fitting
 

I think if you unscrew the knurled cover, you can see the rest of the story.

Re: Rear water pump grease fitting
 

My sedan doesn't have a rear water pump, just the one on the front of the head.


Sorry, couldn't help it.

Re: Rear water pump grease fitting
 

When you unscrew the cap you expose the grease fitting. On mine it is a Model A fitting, so you need that small grease gun or you can adapt another gun you may have for sure. You can remove the fitting and Napa should be able to fit you up with the adapter.
There is a "special" water pump grease. I think I got mine from Snyders Antique Auto. They have a website.
I eventually upgraded to a leakless water pump to improve the cars reliability. However, the seal/bearing with the "cap" is still there and you have to give it a shot of grease every 500 miles. I think I purchased my leakless pump from Snyders too.
I hope this helps

Re: Rear water pump grease fitting
 

Is it a newer leak less water pump ,if so the grease fittings are there for their appearance?
Just a thought best of luck to you Joe.

Re: Rear water pump grease fitting
 

Yep it's just a cap covering the grease zerk. Be very sparing with the grease you put into it as any excess goes into your coolant. IMO about a half pump is plenty once or twice a year.

Re: Rear water pump grease fitting
 

How can you tell a leakless water pump from a normal one?

Re: Rear water pump grease fitting
 

One way is by that rear grease fitting. "Leakless" pumps are usually built with a dummy grease fitting, and the cap does not unscrew. It's there as a plug for the hole in the housing and looks only, as you don't ever grease the rear sealed bearing on the leakless pumps.


IMHO, leakless pumps are only leakless until they start to leak! Then you are screwed, as there's nothing to do but replace the pump. I know, it happened to me on a tour. Standard pumps allow you to add some packing if they begin to leak, which is much easier.

Re: Rear water pump grease fitting
 

The most significant reason a leakless pump gets its name is because the shaft cannot move horizontally, and it has a modern seal under the packing nut. However, even a leakless pump will start to drip someday, and you will need to put a packing ring on the shaft.

Re: Rear water pump grease fitting
 

So the cap is real and there is a grease fitting under it. i take it that means I'm not the leakless. Do I really need a special grease gun with special grease for just this one fitting? (I maintain a lot of equipment and the parts/tools/supplies spread is plenty big already) Or do most A owners just do the 1/4 shot of regular grease and call it good enough?

Re: Rear water pump grease fitting
 

You can give it a shot of chassis grease with a regular gun, just push it tight while doing it. I have been told not to use water pump grease because it might migrate to the radiator and it can clog passages because it doesn't melt easily.

Re: Rear water pump grease fitting
 

The fact that water pump grease is very water insoluble, and it doesn't thin out under high temperature is exactly why you want to use it in this application. That rear bearing is open to the cooling system, and you want a grease that will resist being flushed out by the hot coolant. As J Franklin mentioned, you do run the risk of having the grease coat the radiator innards if you squirt in too much grease to the point where it is forced past the bearing into the impeller housing. Give it one squirt every 500 miles.