Water pump longevity

[Boxtaboy]

My OEM water pump died on me at 59k miles, after 8 years. It started leaking coolant below the center of the car. Replaced with another OEM pump. Coolant was changed every 4 years, but it still croaked.

[Motobob]

28,000 miles on 2001S and no issue .... Bob

[WhipE350]

I have 54k miles on my 2000 'S' was thinking of doing it before some trips to the mountains. Is $280 for genuine Porsche bump a good price? I see them listed for much more. Also do these come with metal or plastic blades and does it matter?
Thanks.

[The Radium King]

i think all the dialogue about the water pump got started when jake started seeing engine failures due to bits of deteriorated water pump impeller blocking coolant passages and killing engines.

as per porsche maintenance scheme, the water pump is one of the many items you replace upon failure and not on a scheduled basis (like brakes, engine mounts, shocks, tires, etc.). given that one failure mode of the water pump can kill the engine, jake recommended the 3 year replacement period (ie, replace it before it fails). 3 years may seem like over-cautiousness, but given all the variables that can affect the impeller lifetime (coolant type, heat/cool cycle, etc.) and consequences of failure, you have to assign some schedule to it.

there was talk of metal impellers to avoid the one catastrophic failure mode, but the only ones i can find are from a dubious vendor, and there is also talk of what damage can be done by the metal impeller to the engine if the bearings fail and the impeller starts chopping about ...

[Frodo]

Quote:

"i think all the dialogue about the water pump got started when jake started seeing engine failures due to bits of deteriorated water pump impeller blocking coolant passages and killing engines."

Posted by The Radium King.

Agreed. THAT'S the ONLY reason I had even considered replacing it at all...had previously planned on waiting til it died and throwing in a new one. With my luck, if I replace it as a preventative measure, I'll be removing a "good" one and I'll turn around and have the new one die in 15 or 20K miles...

[clickman]

Originally Posted by Frodo

With my luck, if I replace it as a preventative measure, I'll be removing a "good" one and I'll turn around and have the new one die in 15 or 20K miles...

LOL, that's exactly what I was thinking! Does a black cloud follow you around too??

[mmontfort]

Replaced mine at 120,000. Impeller in good shape and had no leaks. Just got scared by the hype on this board. Also have original IMS and 130,000 miles and have tracked it 12 times and ridden her very hard all the time. Have used 5W40 Amsoil since the day I got it.