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Hello Ladies & Gentlemen.
Seems my stalwart 945T has a distinct aversion to the water pumps commercially available to me. The last three (3) water pumps I've installed started leaking through the "weep hole" in rather short order. The leaks are NOT coming from mounting gasket, cylinder head compression o-ring, the coolant pipe o-ring, or the water pump shaft seal. The leakage is ALWAYS from the weep hole only.
I respectfully ask that my fellow BrickBoarders take judicial notice these offending water pumps were installed with aplomb, and the usual suspect of an over-tightened drive belt has been ruled out. I employed proper removal, cleaning, installation and torquing techniques. The aforementioned tasks were completed while I was sober and in good mind. I must, however, admit continued leaks will have me dusting off a bottle of 12 year old single malt, but I digress.
This specific weep hole seepage has occurred on a new Volvo pump (#271975), an Import Direct pump (#CP9068) from O'Reilly, and a GMB unit (#1901040) from eEuroparts.com.
I've only ever used Pentosin Pentofrost NF (properly mixed with distilled water) or Zerex G48.
The vehicle is driven at an "Enthusiast Level", which is to say not babied, and with full advantage of the TD-04 Turbo.
I have purchased three different brands of water pumps, quality coolant and professional installation, yet leakage from the weep hole within 30 days or 2,000 miles. Have I perhaps overlooked a better brand of pump, or do I need some coolant recommendations?
Your suggestions are most welcome, especially if submitted with rye humor.
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Dear Townshend Act,
Hope you're well. The problem could be a misaligned pulley, i.e., a pulley the face of which is slightly at an angle relative to the other two, that share the wter pump's drive belt (crankshaft and power steering pump pulleys).
A pulley not parallel to the other two will twist the drive belt. The belt will absorb most of that punishment. As the distances between these pulleys are only a few inches (centimeters), some of the sideways belt movement will reach the other pulleys.
In short, I'd first examine the drive belt for signs of abnormal wear. I'd also use a steel ruler to see if the face of each pulley is precisely parallel to the engine block's face. A small variance can be caused by wear on the power steering pump's mounting.
Equally, if the crank pulley is "on its way out", it may no longer run true, i.e., its face may no longer be precisely parallel with the engine block's face.
These misalignments could - over a few months - cause wear on the water pump bearing and/or the shaft coolant seal.
Did the failed pumps start to make noise, at about the time you noticed coolant leakage? If so, that noise suggests bearing wear, which should not occur on any new pump after two or three months of use, absent a defective bearing. Bearing wear on a new pump - absent a manufacturing defect - results from stress on the pump's shaft or pulley.
It is possible to mis-align the water pump's pulley, if the four 10-mm bolts are tightened, before the pulley is seated flat against the water pump's flange.
That said, it is unlikely this occurred more than once.
However, a failing crank pulley or a slightly misaligned power steering pump might not attract attention and could damage any number of new pumps.
As to "rye" humor, in most U.S. states you must be of legal age (21) to consume whiskey or other alcoholic drinks.
Hope this helps.
Yours faithfully,
Spook
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I have purchased three different brands of water pumps, quality coolant and professional installation, yet leakage from the weep hole within 30 days or 2,000 miles. Have I perhaps overlooked a better brand of pump, or do I need some coolant recommendations?
-> I'd recommend just Volvo coolant. All this time using OE pumps, just install and forget about it, akin to plug n play. Weep hole stays dry after installation. However they do leak after about 7 - 8 years which means time for replacement. I renew coolant every 2 - 3 years disregarding any "lifetime" recommendation.
The elongated/snout part of the pump contains mechanical roller bearing. This has no contact with water. Behind this bearing a small air compartment with weep hole exit. Beyond this compartment is the water seal for the impeller which is lubricated by coolant. Yes coolant choice does matters.
Looks like I'm running a severe maintenance schedule like a boy racer. Long since this car has no more monthly payments why not splurge in the maintenance a bit : )
Amarin.
94 940 NA
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Is this a continual “leak” or just a drop or two every now and again?
--
82 242-6.2L; '17 Mazda3; '16 Crosstrek
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Hi Michael.
Best described as a slight "seepage". The engine bay wind turbulence mists it onto the lower splash pan and engine block, making an initial search for the source of the leak rather difficult.
I add 3 to 4 ounces of coolant per month to compensate for this "leak".
To answer your question more directly, no drip, just a fine line of coolant leakage coming from the pump shaft weep hole following gravity to against the engine block.
Anything that develops into a "drip" is quickly blown around by air coming through the radiator while driving.
I'll try to post some pictures.
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Re-read everything. I guess where I come down is here - it seems highly unlikely to me you’d end up with 3 defective water pumps in a row. That makes me wonder if it’s really the weep hole that’s the cuprit. I think I’d try to clean/dry the housing around the shaft really well. Dry up any resid fluid in the hole. And try temporarily sealing the weep hole - perhaps a small piece of rubber (cut from old hose) held in place with a clamp or tie wrap or even duct tape. (Admittedly I don’t know how the casting is configured!) See if you can seal it - and see if leak continues. If you’ve eliminated the weep hole as the source, then follow the trail and look for leak elsewhere. If sealing it stops the leak don’t know what to tell you except try another pump.
--
82 242-6.2L; '17 Mazda3; '16 Crosstrek
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Might the fan be bent or horribly out of balance somehow. I know, I’m reaching.....
--
Current rides: 2005 Volvo S80 2.5T, 2003 Volvo V70 2.4NA, 1973 Volvo 1800ES (getting ever closer to road worthiness)
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Hi Chris,
Thanks for you interest in my current issue.
This B230FT has only a pulley to join the drive belt with the power steering.
No belt driven fan. Electric fan on this year model my friend.
I'm just wondering if there are "Bad" replacement water pumps out there and I need to be steered to a higher quality unit, or if my OEM coolant selections are unnecessary or improper, and they are causing a disintegration of the inner pump seals?
Lifetime guarantee on some of the pumps, and the replacement units also soon leak.
Amazing how the current day aftermarket parts suppliers can fill a man with confidence...
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i use a gates #42309 water pump and have for years. installed at least a dozen with no problems whatsoever as long as proper technique and cleanliness is observed.
i also buy the pump gasket and mushroom gasket separately to ensure the best quality. both are small money from eeuroparts.com
imo going a la carte is better than the ones supplied with the pump
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Ive done 2 pumps on a 740 & a 940 both fromfcp & no problems w either,,they give lifetime guarantees too.
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