Hi guys,

I got a new Flowkooler pump for my 396 and my manifold has a water inlet from the top of the pump. The hose barb fitting that came with the pump was smooth (no hex for a wrench to tighten) but I used visegrips and teflon tape and tightened it down as much as I could, but it's leaking pretty bad under pressure. I got another fitting with a hex to tighten (Thanks Tony) which should help, but I had also heard that plumming pipe dope was much better than teflon tape for sealing. Possible that there is a material mismatch (CTE) with the cast iron pump and whatever the hose barb metal is. Since I need to drain, dry and clean out the threads again, I'd like to do it right this time.

Any experience or opinions on pipe dope vs. teflon tape?

Thanks,
dan

Pipe dope will be thicker, but that shouldn't matter too much... The way the leak looked, the pressure might still force out the pipe dope...

I am no expert, but I have never had a problem using teflon tape in an automotice application...

Hopefully, that other fitting will solve the problem...

You were right Tony.
Teflon tape and tightened it down, no leaks!

Thanks again.
Dan