Dear Metallo,

Hope you're well and stay so. I rely on Volvo's top-of-water-pump seal. On the 940s, Volvo-original rubber items - seals, bushings, etc. - seem to be very durable. Further, the Volvo brand water pump top seal is "thicker" than substitutes, so is less likely to distort under pressure.

During installation, I use a bottle jack and a piece of wood to raise the pump to compress the seal. With a bottle jack I can apply just enough pressure can be applied to compress the seal, while I insert and tighten the bolts to secure the pump.

As to preventing a leak around bolt threads, might I suggest use of: (a) anti-seize or - if that fails - (b) the white (teflon-loaded) pipe joint compound plumbers use to seal threaded water pipe fittings? This teflon-loaded pipe joint compound not only prevents leaks, it prevents rust-bonding between pipe segments. It does not harden, so allows fittings to be undone. I'd apply a thin coating to the bolt threads and bolt-up snug.

Hope this helps.

Yours faithfully,

Spook