| Re: [GMCnet] Do our engine water pumps die from age, or miles ? [message #329443 is a reply to message #329427] |
Fri, 23 February 2018 14:09   |
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Matt Colie
Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
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BobDunahugh wrote on Fri, 23 February 2018 01:03My radiator is out. So it's simple to change the water pump. PO rebuilt the 403 in 1994. Put 1880 miles on it in 1995. Then this 78 Royale was parked outside from Oct of 1995 to Oct of 2015. Now we've put 12,000 miles on it. The radiator is a mess inside. I'm changing that. So what condition is the water pump in? Bob Dunahugh 78 Royale
Bob,
To answer your question as best it can be answered.
Jacket water pumps in passcar (as close to the coach as I know) die of either:
A - Seal failure
B - Bearing failure
Seal failures used to be common before the Stellite/Ceramic mechanical seals. These are lubricated by the coolant, and come very close to not wearing at all, but they do this with a very little, but almost continues leak when running. If you look "under the chin" of any new water pump, you will see a small feature that has a plug in it with a tiny hole. That is a "Warranty Avoider". The drips from the seal go in there instead of into the bearing (pumps have always had the feature to leak coolant and not have it end up in the bearing), and there is often some packing in the space to help the trapped coolant evaporate before an owner sees it and complains.
Bearing failures used to be common before synthetic grease. Normal grease has a limited life and this is way we used to repack wheel bearings all the time. When the grease did age out, the bearing was soon toast. That was not uncommon at 15~20 years, but it could easily happen sooner. How long is a synthetic grease good? I don't know. I have things here that I repacked with a synthetic two houses ago.
So, is it a good thing to change out on general principle?
As said above, it is kind of a slongaz thing.
Matt
Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
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