On my 2016 400s the clear coolant run-off has been slowly peeing coolant for a while and I'm being told that this is a sign of a bad water pump seal or bad water pump in general.

How hard of a job is the replacement? I'd like to handle it myself since the warranty is long over.

I've also heard that the seal is of poor quality and to use a grizzly 660 water pump seal that supposedly fits and to use a higher quality coolant.

Thanks

Don't know about the Grizzly pump seal, but definately go with the good quality coolant.

I've not replaced the seal in a 400, I have the 800's & 500's. The level of difficulty is your comfort & skill set working on these fussy little motors.

There are a couple of specialized tools such as the pusher for the new seal, I'm sure you could improvise that.

My advice would be to have a look @ the near useless service manual & decide if you want to take on the project 

I'm not aware of non CFMOTO replacement part, certainly worthwhile to explore that option for improved quality. Hopefully there would be a replacement as they just copy cat design good or bad. There is no innovation from that company.

[2015 Z Force 800 53/Trail EPS]

I too have heard about the Grizz seal but not for the 400. Probably the same though. There have been two main reasons for all these seal issues. One is the quality of the materials and the other has been warped or un-true shafts. For the materials is most often been the poor quality of the ceramic side of the mechanical seal surfaces. Grainy and course enough to not always seal against the phenalic side. Some break in enough to seal in time...some won't but will stop with a different coolant with better..or more water pump lubricants...like mine, it leaked for the first 200 miles but quit after changing the coolant. Then at about a 1200 miles it started again. Not much but a drop here and there. I added a third of a cup of Prestone conditioner with water pump lubricant and it stopped again. At 1600 miles and still OK. The theory is that the water pump lube gets into that porous surface and seals it...kinda like a stop leak on a smaller scale. 

I'm going to change coolant to something higher quality first, possibly add a lubricant like @NMKawierider did if it doesn't do the trick. I priced the parts on Alpha-Sports and they are relatively inexpensive. I'll order them for now and maybe look for the specialized "seal pusher" tool.

I've had coolant "issues" with this machine since day one.
First it was a coolant leak due to a slight overheat brought on by a failed thermoswitch (second) three times. The third thermoswitch finally seems to have worked. I distrusted them for so long I actually just had a jumper in place to run the fan constantly, since I couldn't ride with the uncertainty.

Any suggestions/recommended coolant you guys use?

Thanks

[2015 Z Force 800 53/Trail EPS]

I'm going to change coolant to something higher quality first, possibly add a lubricant like @NMKawierider did if it doesn't do the trick. I priced the parts on Alpha-Sports and they are relatively inexpensive. I'll order them for now and maybe look for the specialized "seal pusher" tool.

I've had coolant "issues" with this machine since day one.
First it was a coolant leak due to a slight overheat brought on by a failed thermoswitch (second) three times. The third thermoswitch finally seems to have worked. I distrusted them for so long I actually just had a jumper in place to run the fan constantly, since I couldn't ride with the uncertainty.

Any suggestions/recommended coolant you guys use?

Thanks

I just used Peak Green because it was...green. But Prestone is also just as good. Use the pre-mix 50/50 or be sure to use distilled water with the full strength stuff. No tap water.

I'm going to change coolant to something higher quality first, possibly add a lubricant like @NMKawierider did if it doesn't do the trick. I priced the parts on Alpha-Sports and they are relatively inexpensive. I'll order them for now and maybe look for the specialized "seal pusher" tool.

I've had coolant "issues" with this machine since day one.
First it was a coolant leak due to a slight overheat brought on by a failed thermoswitch (second) three times. The third thermoswitch finally seems to have worked. I distrusted them for so long I actually just had a jumper in place to run the fan constantly, since I couldn't ride with the uncertainty.

Any suggestions/recommended coolant you guys use?

Thanks

I just used Peak Green because it was...green. But Prestone is also just as good. Use the pre-mix 50/50 or be sure to use distilled water with the full strength stuff. No tap water.

Yep, got it, thank you.
I have a few jugs of prestone 50/50 already, so that's convenient.

Thanks all for the assistance