I just received a box of parts to change out my timing belt and water pump. Opened the pump to inspect it and the casting is not surface completely around the gasket groove. My question is this going to seal. I understand the gasket is going to make the seal but how much of a difference is this going to make. It is surfaced in spots but only about 20% and the part that isnt is really flat the gasket does protrude from the surface. I need opinion other than my own on this I waited 5 days for an origional honda part and am out my only car now.

 

Post pics if you can. It could be fine, but we need to see exactly whats going on first.

 

will try tomorrow cant find usb for my digital camera... I want to take a good pic its hard to see.

 

 

I see absolutely nothing wrong with it,like you said the gasket it what seals.

 

every pump ive ever changed had the seal surface ground smooth this is chunky casting. The problem I see is if the casting wasnt ground down enough the depth of the groove will not protrude enough to make a good seal.

 

Looks ok to me. You could sand it down with sandpaper on a chunk of aluminum if you wanted, or on the edge of a flat plate.

 

Not sure exactly what I'm supposed to be looking at in the picture.
The O-ring presses up against your engine block and gets squished.
Before assembly, the gasket should protrude above the water pump surface so that there is 20~30% o-ring squeeze when assembled.
The groove (properly called a gland) that the o-ring sits in is critical as well.
Not only does the o-ring squeeze against the bottom of the gland and the engine block, but it also squeezes against the side walls of the gland when it is squished.
Essentially, there are 4 sealing surfaces for a proper pressurized o-ring seal.

 

i always run a layer of silicone on top of the oring just to be safe, have never had one leak