Water Pump question

Onefast99gsx · 06-03-2007

Well the timing belt is on and the engine is basically ready to drop in. I wanted to ask a question in regards to the water pump. Is hasn't been exposed to antifreeze since about November. If I spin the water pump shaft after it's been sitting several hours or overnight, it will stick. You have to sort of break it loose. Not alot of force to break it free but it is froze in that spot. Is this normal of a water pump that has been sitting dormant for months and not exposed to water. I'm guessing the rubber seal or whatever inside is dry and that's why. Once the system is full of water, it can't dry and won't stick???

Please let me know your thoughts.

Thanks.

**JET** · 06-03-2007

It shouldn't be a problem, coolant lubricates it. How many miles are on it?

Onefast99gsx · 06-03-2007

I would guess about 90k off the top of my head. I didn't replace it because it was absolutely fine prior to taking it apart. No signs of water leakage thru and around the weep hole.

Yes, i probably should have replaced it but I replaced guides & valves that I didn't anticipate on doing as well as numerous other things. So I didn't wanna replace anything that wasn't broken.

Thanks JET.

tim · 06-03-2007

You can get an aftermarket waterpump for cheap and then you wouldnt have to worry about it. With 90k it probably would be worth it.

Just get a quality pump from CarQuest or wherever and you will be just fine. Stay away from the ones with the plastic impellers though.

**Kracka** · 06-03-2007

Replace it for sure if it has 90k miles on it. I bought my replacement from Autozone for $35 (not even the cheap generic one) and it has a decent warranty.

Onefast99gsx · 06-03-2007

Yes, I guess you're right and i'm sure JET would probably recommend one too at 90k. I noticed Napa has 3 different on their website. Beck Arnley for $95, TFW for $55 and NWP for $61. I've used Beck Arnley products before. Never heard of the latter two. Do you know which of the above brands you got from Autozone? Most of those stores all get from the same vendors. And was yours new or reman?

I only have a Carquest and NAPA in my town. If I call them right away in morning, I can get it in the afternoon same day.

Thanks.

tim · 06-03-2007

I have always had better luck with Carquest parts than Napa but I am sure there is someone out there that would say the opposite.

Like I said though, make sure the one you buy doesnt have a plastic impeller.

**Kracka** · 06-03-2007

The Autozone one I got is a Duralast which is their house OEM quality brand, Valucraft in their cheap generic brand.

Onefast99gsx · 06-03-2007

Thanks for the info S2, I'll see if I can come up with an excuse to work at one of our other bank branches tomorrow. There's an Autozone near our branch.

**Kracka** · 06-03-2007

http://autozone.com/N,16300095//shop...eResultSet.htm

Not sure if that link will work or not, but the Duralast is $53 with no core charge and a LLT warranty, the Valucraft is $55 with a core charge of $15 (1 year warranty), and the Beck Arnley is $98 with a 3 month warranty. The price on the Duralast must have gone up b/c I know I paid $35 last fall.

Onefast99gsx · 06-03-2007

Yes, link worked.... The one you got, the Duralast which is cheaper actually has a better warranty than the BA @ $98. I just noticed that. It will be worth the 40 minute drive to get something with the better warranty on it.

Thanks pal.

**Kracka** · 06-03-2007

No problem. Don't forget a new gasket

**Goat Blower** · 06-03-2007

I've had problems with aftermarket ones right out of the box. I use nothing but Mitsu, about $75 from Brookdale if I remember right.

**JET** · 06-04-2007

Yeah, the mitsu ones should be under $100. I would definitely replace it at 90k, it is a pain to change it later and could cost you an engine if you don't notice it right away.

**scheides** · 06-04-2007

Yea I would definitely change it, and I would go with the mitsu pump. For a little more you know you're getting one that will last as long as you are expecting it to.

tim · 06-04-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by scheides

Yea I would definitely change it, and I would go with the mitsu pump. For a little more you know you're getting one that will last as long as you are expecting it to.

I wouldnt doubt it one bit if Cardone or one of the other big pump makers makes the pumps for mitsu.

**Kracka** · 06-04-2007

I'm sure one of the large brands does make it for Mitsu and numerous other labels.

Onefast99gsx · 06-04-2007

Well I went against a few of you and went out on my own mostly for cost reasons. Autozone didn't have the Duralast in house but they had a reman one. Didn't want that. I pm'd a few people on the dsmlink board that have more hp than I'll ever have in my day. I had to keep this on a budget and also wanted to get something installed today. I quoted wrong on the OEM ones. It's $158 for a OEM water pump from my nearest Mitsu dealer. Brookdale would probably have been $130ish. Still would have had to order from my local dealer. I just can't spend $158 for awhile.

Anyway, I went with a NWP557148 from NAPA. It's a brand new one. His suggestion and reasoning behind this was that it is a close fin design. "The closed fin design prevents cavitation and aeration at higher rpm's." ... was this dsmlink members words. He's been running this pump for years without a single issue.

Looking at the back side of it, you can't see the fins like you can with an OEM water pump. To explain, it just looks like a metal disc in the picture. It would be like looking at the backside of a turbo compressor wheel.

You know DSM's, always tearing them apart for some reason. For $61, I can change it out again the next time the motor comes out. Even the NAPA guy steered me away from the BA one @ $94 for this NWP one. It will be in the store by the time I get out of work. Gotta undo my timing belt job that I proudly did in 15 minutes last night. Sooo easy when motor is out.