This weekend I did some sustained high speed traveling with my 91 240. I started with 3 adults and one teenager in the car the first day, then the second day it was only myself and another adult. We were traveling with friends who have a new, recently broken in S70, and our speeds were usually around 85, with brief 90 - 95 spurts. We traveled about 750 miles before I losteither my water pump or a gasket. In either event, my temp gage went into the red and my check engine light came on immediately. I was in the high speed lane on the crowded autobahn and it was a couple of miles before I could pull over, but when I did my system was completely dry. When the ADAC repairman (similar to AAA)got there and put water in it immediately ran out where the pipe enters the top of the water pump. Since we could do nothing else I had it towed to a garage for repair.
My question is, did my high speed driving cause the problem? I can't see how my speed would cause this failure, since my water temp through the trip remained at the middle of the gage, as it always does. I realize that sustained high speed stresses certain engine and drive train components, but I wouldn't think the water pump would be one of them. Any expert opinions?
BTW, I kept track of my mileage through the trip, and at my last fill-up I had been averaging 20.66 mph, which I consider excellent at that speed.