Should I be concerned that my Mopar water pump came with chips on mating surface?

TJ_owns_a_TJ

TJ_owns_a_TJ

Y2K Flame Red TJ
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Replacing coolant system and I just noticed the MOPAR water pump I ordered has some small imperfections on the mating surface (pics below) - I understand the mating surface has to be clean and flat for a perfect seal so will these little imperfections be a deal breaker or is no big deal?
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they seem to be just little chips in the pump - not too deep but enough to not be “smooth”
 
I'd likely use a lite smudge of Permatex with the gasket "just in case", but you'll probably have no issues. Looks like the chips are isolated from each other and probably won't form a leak path.
 
Zorba said:
I'd likely use a lite smudge of Permatex with the gasket "just in case", but you'll probably have no issues. Looks like the chips are isolated from each other and probably won't form a leak path.
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I would not apply permatex to that type of gasket. Just a cardboard gasket is fine for the cooling system. It's even common to perform trail repairs like for the thermostat housing with nothing more than a piece of cardboard cut into a gasket. I had a stuck thermostat years ago and after removing it and destroying its gasket in the process, cut replacement gasket out of a cardboard MRE (military food) box. It was leak free for 6-9 months until my OCD forced me to replace it (still leak free) with an actual gasket. :)
 
It's aluminum, so take a piece of fine sand paper, smooth down the edges, and either install the gasket, or RTV. Just don't do both. As @Jerry Bransford said, just using the gasket makes removing it later a much quicker job.
 
Jerry Bransford said:
I would not apply permatex to that type of gasket. Just a cardboard gasket is fine for the cooling system. It's even common to perform trail repairs like for the thermostat housing with nothing more than a piece of cardboard cut into a gasket. I had a stuck thermostat years ago and after removing it and destroying its gasket in the process, cut replacement gasket out of a cardboard MRE (military food) box. It was leak free for 6-9 months until my OCD forced me to replace it (still leak free) with an actual gasket. :)
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I'll take your word for it, you know more about this stuff than I do! My thought was to fill the divots, but in the same breathe I also said that the divots are isolated and probably wouldn't form a leak path!
 
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I don’t think you’ll have any problem. My MOPAR pump looked about the same when I put it on a year and a half ago. No leaks with only the supplied gasket.
 
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