Water pump and thermostat
12-28-2008 | 08:30 PM
#1
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04 rx-8@98 supra
Joined: Oct 2006
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From: bay area, cali
Water pump and thermostat
I tried searching with no luck. Does the thermostat and or water pump need to be replaced after a certain amount of mileage or months for preventive maintenance? The owners manual doesn't say anything either.
12-29-2008 | 11:08 AM
#3
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From: Northern Virginia
No scheduled replacement interval. Those can last for the life of the car, or randomly fail at any time.
I don't think water pumps are designed to leak a little when near failure. Leaking a little is one failure mode. Suddenly leaking a lot is another. A serious grinding noise, together with the shaft being wobbly, is also common.
Ken
I don't think water pumps are designed to leak a little when near failure. Leaking a little is one failure mode. Suddenly leaking a lot is another. A serious grinding noise, together with the shaft being wobbly, is also common.
Ken
12-29-2008 | 11:12 AM
#4
Isn't that what the weep hole is for on the water pump?
http://www.aa1car.com/library/2004/cm60450.htm
http://www.aa1car.com/library/2004/cm60450.htm
Water pumps move a lot of coolant, hundreds of gallons per hour mile after mile. The pump shaft and bearings are under constant load not only from the drive belt or timing belt but also the fan on vehicles with pump-mounted mechanical cooling fans. Eventually the water pump bearings and seal wear out, and the pump begins to leak.
If a water pump is leaking, coolant will come out of the weep hole under the pump shaft. A tiny amount of leakage is normal, but a constant drip or stream of coolant is not. A leaky pump should be replaced as soon as possible to reduce the loss of coolant and the risk of overheating. Another reason for replacing the water pump is if the shaft shows any visible wobble or the bearings are making noise.
Most original equipment water pumps last 60,000 miles or more, but a water pump can fail prematurely as a result of coolant contamination and cooling system corrosion. If the coolant is not maintained and replaced periodically, the corrosion-inhibitors eventually break down. Once this happens, rust and scale begin to attack the pump and everything else in the cooling system. These hard abrasive particles will ruin the pump seal and bearings. Symptoms of a pump failure caused by coolant contamination include rusty appearing coolant seeping out the pump shaft weep hole and hard calcium deposits around the hole.
If a water pump is leaking, coolant will come out of the weep hole under the pump shaft. A tiny amount of leakage is normal, but a constant drip or stream of coolant is not. A leaky pump should be replaced as soon as possible to reduce the loss of coolant and the risk of overheating. Another reason for replacing the water pump is if the shaft shows any visible wobble or the bearings are making noise.
Most original equipment water pumps last 60,000 miles or more, but a water pump can fail prematurely as a result of coolant contamination and cooling system corrosion. If the coolant is not maintained and replaced periodically, the corrosion-inhibitors eventually break down. Once this happens, rust and scale begin to attack the pump and everything else in the cooling system. These hard abrasive particles will ruin the pump seal and bearings. Symptoms of a pump failure caused by coolant contamination include rusty appearing coolant seeping out the pump shaft weep hole and hard calcium deposits around the hole.
12-29-2008 | 05:50 PM
#9
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Posts: 5,027
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From: Northern Virginia
Yes - it's to let water out if it leaks. I never thought of it being kind of a vent/drying mechanism for tiny leaks, but I guess that makes sense. Although the thought of any kind of seepage doesn't give me a warm fuzzy, and I'd hate to think that web page is right about some leakage being normal. If I saw any dripping, I'd replace the thing.
I've seen a few pump failures where it was the seal, and there was a nice stream of water. Those were on other people's cars, and AFAIK there was no warning. All of the failures I've personally had were the bearings. Nice grinding noise, wobbly shaft. But no leak, even when I drove for some time before I had a chance to replace the pump.
Ken
I've seen a few pump failures where it was the seal, and there was a nice stream of water. Those were on other people's cars, and AFAIK there was no warning. All of the failures I've personally had were the bearings. Nice grinding noise, wobbly shaft. But no leak, even when I drove for some time before I had a chance to replace the pump.
Ken
12-29-2008 | 06:08 PM
#10
I had a Maxima that did the tiny spots in the driveway telling me there was a problem. I'm glad I found out that way instead of full failure in 100 degree weather in rush hour traffic. Does the rebuilt engine come with a new water pump? I don't think it does. If not my water pump has 85k on it in hot Texas weather with hard driving daily and a few track events. I think thats pretty good (knocks on wood).
Last edited by 9krpmrx8; 12-29-2008 at 06:10 PM.
12-29-2008 | 06:15 PM
#11
Yes - it's to let water out if it leaks. I never thought of it being kind of a vent/drying mechanism for tiny leaks, but I guess that makes sense. Although the thought of any kind of seepage doesn't give me a warm fuzzy, and I'd hate to think that web page is right about some leakage being normal. If I saw any dripping, I'd replace the thing.
I've seen a few pump failures where it was the seal, and there was a nice stream of water. Those were on other people's cars, and AFAIK there was no warning. All of the failures I've personally had were the bearings. Nice grinding noise, wobbly shaft. But no leak, even when I drove for some time before I had a chance to replace the pump.
Ken
I've seen a few pump failures where it was the seal, and there was a nice stream of water. Those were on other people's cars, and AFAIK there was no warning. All of the failures I've personally had were the bearings. Nice grinding noise, wobbly shaft. But no leak, even when I drove for some time before I had a chance to replace the pump.
Ken
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