Water Pump Replaced after 32,000 Miles

[Idaho Red Rocket 3]

Hi JFP,

I expected to get the metal impeller bad idea pep talk. I have read the posts over the years lamb blasting the very idea. There have been a few brave owners who have tried them, and I supported the attempt in the quest for usable data.

I am trying the pump anyway as it is already installed. I don't know if the pump I purchased is any worse than the one it replaced. As the bearing failed on it in 32K miles. No contact with the engine block was detected from the failing bearing pump when it came out. I am good at noticing things such as vibration and sound that are not right. It is a gift I suppose. I am going to be diligent as time passes with these lower cost solution components. Let's see what happens over time. I am willing to be exposed to the risk for the benefit of gathering data that can help sort out what we decide to do with our cars.

How many metal impeller pumps are you aware of being installed and failing? It would be good to know the statistics.

Bill

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by Idaho Red Rocket 3

Hi JFP,

I expected to get the metal impeller bad idea pep talk. I have read the posts over the years lamb blasting the very idea. There have been a few brave owners who have tried them, and I supported the attempt in the quest for usable data.

I am trying the pump anyway as it is already installed. I don't know if the pump I purchased is any worse than the one it replaced. As the bearing failed on it in 32K miles. No contact with the engine block was detected from the failing bearing pump when it came out. I am good at noticing things such as vibration and sound that are not right. It is a gift I suppose. I am going to be diligent as time passes with these lower cost solution components. Let's see what happens over time. I am willing to be exposed to the risk for the benefit of gathering data that can help sort out what we decide to do with our cars.

How many metal impeller pumps are you aware of being installed and failing? It would be good to know the statistics.

Bill

I can only speak from my shop's experience, and that has been awful with the aftermarket pumps; nearly everyone died way too quickly, some catastrophically. We completely stopped using them.

[mikefocke]

And JFP isn't the only shop owner to say the metal impeller causes $$$ problems.

[rah rah 986]

I replaced my waterpump a couple weeks ago. When I saw the condition of this composite impeller, I realized why porsche doesn't us metal. I replaced this waterpump with a Napa rebuild. My goal was to get a waterpump with a composite impeller and a lifetime warranty. I would have preferred a "new pump", but, the rebuild sold by Napa (remanufactured by Cardone) is what met my criteria.

[mountainman]

What brands are considered an "original" and not aftermarket? I have been told that Laso was an original supplier, but not sure what brands we can trust and what brands to stay away from. Some advertisers tend to shade the truth and hint that theirs is an original part. Does anyone have a list ot safe brands?