Sloshy IC-Engine Coolant Pump Intake?

Just a void for excess metal removal in a non critical area of the casting. Cost savings for manufacture.

That answer makes sense for what it's worth, but it would be nice to see some "bona fides" (as they say in legal circles) to lend it credibility...back it up, you might say.

I've seen "metal skimping" before, but so far, never the extra mfg engineering design and tooling effort to match skimp on two different "parts," including an engine block. And why not a cubical cut out in the block instead of a prism shaped? And how much metal saving profit could be gained in the one or two year "run" of the 2.9L Ranger series engine? Then how do you get the after-market players to play along. Finally there is the issue of extra, metal-saving-offsetting cost of assembly...to seal off the cavity. That is something that could only be done "in-house" (closed union shop) because it involves the engine block...it seems.

Actually, the "water pump" (bolt-on) part seen in the picture was a replacement installed about 10 (+/-) years ago. When I removed it (weeping fault and rapid coolant leakage failure mode), the engine part of the mystery cavity seemed to be filled with a cohered/adhered tannish material, that blew out readily with compressed air. At first I took that as indicative of sloppy earlier, repair re-assembly work...excess gasket forming sealer which overlapped interiorly, detached, and eventually found itself pulverized by the metallic impeller, circulating, and eventually collected into the (maybe?) dead flow coolant current "harbor" where it cohered over time and engine block heat sink cycles into a quasi solid, cohered/adhered mass. Then it occurred to me that the repair person, rather than sealing around the cavity, might have simply filled the cavity, effectively cutting it off from the coolant stream on the assumption it served no purpose (but at an added cost for sealant/gasket forming material--or was it just a way to use up what was in the otherwise-unreusable sealant squeeze tube?! But that does not make sense because the mechanic should know it could come loose and obstruct coolant flow; and known it would not have time to cure before delivery to customer...or would he?).

So my dilemma, now, is what to do as far as the new pump installation. It's one of those situation where, well, knowing how the "fluid dynamics" will behave with respect to the cavity during all phases of pump operation, and start/stop, might suggest an answer. That's why I came to you mechanical guys...for the "fluid dynamics" perspective.

Another thing that occurred to me was whether there might be a connection to cavitation that the cavity could ameliorate...say to lessen damage and extend pump life.

Thanks for the suggestion. Oh, and if metal saving is the definitive answer, should I seal around it or seal if off. Unfortunately, the pickup is years out of factory support so there's no one there to turn to for an answer.

PS: So far, at least, this isn't one of those question that regenerates itself into a discussion. But I hope it will...so's I can get some corroboration as the question seems to call for, what?

Specific year?

Specific engine size/designation?

Some meaningful details to allow ID of the pump in question?

What is "sloshy"?

Specific year? 1987 (or year the intem was replaced...circa 1996. But note that part of pump cast in engine matches so replacement "shell" seems an oem fit.

Specific engine size/designation? Ford Renger 2.9L.

Some meaningful details to allow ID of the pump in question? it is a rear drive, v6, "liquid" cooled, with overflow/return tank but no reserve coolant; AC; generally a very effective cooling system...unlike the Ford attempt at 4-cylinder engines of the day.

Slosh is the essence of the question...why a cavity for fluid to run the wrong way into and swirl around?

dictionary...

slosh

slosh [slosh]

v (past and past participle sloshed, present participle slosh·ing, 3rd person present singular slosh·es)

1. vt spill liquid clumsily: to spill or splash a liquid on or over something

2. vi wade in liquid: to wade or splash around in water, mud, or slush (informal)

3. vti stir something in liquid: to move or splash something, or move or splash in a liquid (informal)

Slosh the shirt in some warm water before the stain sets.

n

1. slush: wet snow or mud

2. liquid splashing: liquid splashing, or its sound

We could hear the slosh of water against the docks all night because of the storm.

[Early 19th century. Probably blend of slop1 "bog" + slush ]-slosh·y, , adj

Encarta ® World English Dictionary © & (P) 1998-2005 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Don't over think this one. Seal the mating surfaces with a good gasket and go on down the road. Your reading way to much into this. That 2.9 does not care. I use aviation type permatex for these areas, by the way.

There's your bona fide! GA for you and thanks.

So mine is just a version that is not open on the block side. Insightful! Thanks.

GA

Thats exactly my take as well.......you were first!

It's a Ford!

It must have a function in certain applications, or else the gasket would not have been cut out there.

I think tcmtech got it right.

The cutout actually serves two uses:-

1) Allows one gasket to serve for at least two different installations/engines.

2) Not having a piece of gasket material "flapping" about when there is no passage for water, and possibly eventually separating itself from the rest of the correctly trapped gasket. Eventually getting carried to a possible place in the block or pump, often unseen unreachable, but partially or completely blocking water flow, leading to possible over heating and damage......never ever to be known why!!

The gasket is correctly made as shown.

All of any gasket material, inside an engine MUST be fully clamped. Not able to flap and weaken over time.

Most mechanics know this sort of automatically......but do not think about it.....they just do it. Amateurs on the other hand might err and leave the hole "filled".

The cut out saves material .

Nov 29/14

Steele113

If you were responding to me, no, the extra cost of tooling needed to remove material from the gasket doesn't offset the cost of material that has no use after excision from the gasket sheet.

Just leave it there.

TCM Tech, lyn, Andy...:

Your observations do, indeed, seem to eliminate all alternatives. I had wanted and tried repeatedly to add additional corroboration with a close-up picture that shows the opening canted for mixing and directing the two streams towards the pump cavity and impeller. But today is just not my picture uploading day--something about missing parameter--and even just posting this is not a sure thing. Anyhow, it's hard to see how the two input stream could be implemented in a Ic engine cooling systems; or any closed system for that matter. My best guess would run towards an industrial or farminging operation calling for mixing of two fluids. But, it would include mixing or remixing again, or finding a way to block off the "heater" hose inlet.

Thanks your helpful insights and information I can now forge ahead with the system repair. For that I am most appreciative.