Let’s talk about the water pump in this blog post. This crucial cooling system part circulates the coolant throughout the engine so it can keep the engine’s temperature under 104 degrees Celsius. Central Auto Care advises that if your car, truck, or C/SUV has over 161,000 kilometres on it, the water pump has reached the end of its life. Let’s talk about the signs that your vehicle needs a new water pump below.
1. Corrosion on the Pump
If you inspect the water pump and see corrosion on it, it needs to be replaced. Corrosion is a sign that the water pump has a slow leak that is causing the coolant to pool around it. When this happens, the coolant rusts the water pump’s metal housing. Over time, the rust will eat through the metal housing and cause the next sign of a dying water pump.
2. Leaking Engine Coolant
Once the housing has been compromised, you will end up with coolant on the garage floor. The coolant will leak from the front of your car’s engine towards the center. Replacing the old water pump will stop the coolant leak. Generally, a water pump cannot be repaired. Rather, it needs to be replaced if it is leaking or having another problem.
3. Poor Coolant Circulation
One such problem is poor coolant circulation throughout the engine. This can leave some parts of the engine without coolant or the entire engine without coolant. Naturally, your automobile will overheat if there isn’t coolant circulating through the engine to draw the heat away from the moving parts. We’ll talk more about overheating below.
4. Grinding or Growling Noises
You might also hear grinding or growling noises coming from the engine if the water pump is going bad. When this happens, the water pump is telling you that it needs to be replaced. The annoying noises can be a sign that the water pump is wearing down from the inside. Failing to replace the water pump will only cause additional internal damage.
5. Constant Overheating
Finally, as we mentioned above, without coolant circulation, your engine will overheat. It will also overheat if the water pump is leaking and reducing the coolant levels. Replacing the faulty water pump will restore your engine’s normal temperature.
Central Auto Care in Okotoks, AB, can do this for you, so call us today. We will schedule a service appointment to inspect your water pump and install a new one if necessary.