How to replace the water pump — Chevrolet Silverado 1500 2020

Tools you'll need

• Ratchet
• 10 mm, 13 mm and 15 mm sockets
• Serpentine belt tool or breaker bar
• Torque wrench
• Plastic gasket scraper
• Drain pan
• Pliers

Parts you'll need

• New water pump for the 5.3L V8
• New water pump gasket
• Dex-Cool coolant (about 2 gallons)
• New thermostat (optional, often done at the same time)

Steps

1. Cool the engine and drain the coolantLet the engine cool completely, then disconnect the negative battery terminal. Place a large drain pan under the radiator and open the drain to empty the coolant.
2. Remove the serpentine beltRemove the serpentine belt by turning the tensioner with a breaker bar and slipping the belt off the pulleys. Take a photo of the belt routing first.
3. Clear the fan shroud and hosesRemove the fan shroud bolts and lift the shroud out of the way if it blocks the pump. Disconnect the radiator hoses from the water pump neck.
4. Unbolt the old water pumpRemove the bolts holding the water pump to the front of the engine and pull the pump off. Some coolant will spill, so keep the drain pan underneath.
5. Clean the gasket surfaceScrape the old gasket material off the engine surface with a plastic scraper until it is clean and smooth. Do not gouge the aluminum with a metal scraper.
   Tip: A clean, flat gasket surface is what keeps the new pump from leaking.
6. Install the new water pumpFit the new gasket onto the new pump, set the pump in place, and start all the bolts by hand. Tighten them in a criss-cross pattern to the torque in your manual, usually about 11 ft-lb for the small bolts and 22 ft-lb for the larger ones.
7. Refit the belt and hoses, then refill the coolantReconnect the radiator hoses, refit the fan shroud, and route the serpentine belt back on following your photo. Refill the cooling system with Dex-Cool mixed to the ratio on the bottle.
8. Bleed the air, check for leaks, and verify the temperatureReconnect the battery, start the engine, and turn the heater to full hot so coolant circulates through the heater core. Watch the temperature gauge and top off the coolant as air bubbles work their way out. Check around the pump for leaks and confirm the temperature stays steady.
   Tip: Squeeze the upper radiator hose a few times with the engine running to help push trapped air out.

Safety first

Never open the cooling system while the engine is hot. Hot coolant can scald you badly. Coolant is toxic, so keep it away from pets and children and clean up any spills. If you are not confident, have a qualified technician do this job.