Manufacturer recommendations for when you should have your car’s water pump changed vary. Some manufacturers say every 50,000 miles while others say every 100,000 miles. The average lifespan of a water pump is three to five years, but many last much longer than that. You will know when your water pump needs to be replaced because your vehicle will give you signs. Vielhaber’s Garage lists those signs below.
1. Your Car Is Overheating
The number one sign that your water pump needs to be replaced is your car, truck, or utility vehicle will overheat. This is because you don’t have any coolant circulating through the engine. This is what the water pump does; it circulates coolant through the engine. If your water pump is malfunctioning, your car will overheat in less than 15 minutes after you start it.
2. There Isn’t Any Coolant Circulation
Again, the reason why your car is overheating is because you don’t have any coolant circulation. One way to assess the health of your vehicle’s water pump is to see how well the coolant is circulating through the engine. We can do that here at our shop. If you have poor circulation, it’s time to replace the water pump. Think of the water pump as your engine’s heart.
3. You Have a Minor Coolant Leak
Another sign that your water pump is going bad is it will develop a minor coolant leak. Initially, this leak is so minor that you won’t have spots on your garage floor. The leaking coolant, however, can make your engine run hotter than normal even though it is only pooling around the water pump and its housing. You can see this leak in the form of corrosion.
4. You Have a Major Coolant Leak
Eventually, the leak might get worse and you will end up with coolant leaking onto your garage floor. The location of the coolant will be underneath the front of your engine toward the center. Sometimes the water pump itself develops a leak or the hoses attached to it develop leaks. Either way, the water pump needs to be replaced to repair the leak.
5. You Hear Grinding Noises
Finally, you may hear grinding noises coming from your engine if the water pump is wearing down on the inside. The sound might also sound like growling noises. Another problem that can happen with the water pump is a loose accessory belt. When this happens, you will hear whining or squealing when you start your automobile.
Vielhaber’s Garage in Findlay, OH, can help no matter what the problem is. Call us today if you suspect your water pump needs to be replaced.