water pump time

[bab029]

Recently my coolant level started to drop, so I got to looking and noticed my water pump pulley slinging water off at an idle, so I started thinking getting ready to do a water pump. I assume there is some sort of weep hole or something, because the pulley seems to turn true still, but anyway....

I mulled over it and read up and found that the ford replacement is the only pump that comes recommended. The pump in place currently is the original according to the records I have so with 245,000 miles on it, I would say that (a) that's a great service life and (b) I understand why I'd want the ford part.
However, the dealer near me wants better than 100 bucks for one. I was going to take the hit, but just decided that money was tight for the time being and went to Napa and got me a new (NOT remanned) pump for 65 dollars with a lifetime warranty. I guess I'm banking on it lasting long enough for me to come on some better times financially, while at the same time letting me splurge more on correct coolant for this motor (Maybe coolant filter too?) Anyway, if I hang on the Napa pump, and it fails too soon yall will be the first to know, but for the time being, raise your beverages of choice to a long service life for my new pump. Salud!

 

[jonathan]

go for it i personaly like autozone.....let the flames come

 

[Agnem]

No need to flame. Facts are facts. The choice you are making is purely a financial one. Obviously the $40 you saved will come in handy when you have to pay yourself to replace the pump again in far less time than the NAPA pump will last.

 

[icanfixall]

Usually the oem parts will outlast any aftermarket parts. Now if you have a mom and pop repair shop that goes above and beyond when rebuilding something... then use them. I do have a shop like this that does all my alternater ans starter business. Its a family owned and operated business. I deal with them now for over 35 years. Never a come back either. If you got 245,000 miles on the oem pump you did very well. Must have tightened the belts to the correct tightness and kept the coolant clean and up to date... Take a bow for all this proper maintance... Its great to hear something almost lasted a lifetime.....

 

[SLC97SR5]

What is the average/safe life limit for our water pumps?

I have 117k on mine and yet the tensioner and idler have already failed, is the WP due for a change?

The coolant has been maintained correctly, though no coolant filter has been used.

 

[bab029]

What is far less time? 100,000 miles versus 200,000? I was under the impression that Napa parts had a pretty good track record.

 

[lotzagoodstuff]

I believe the combination of the high compression of an IDI, along with the enormous/heavy mechanical fan causes water pumps to fail pretty prematurely in these trucks. I can tell you my last water pump lasted less than 30K, so I wanted the OEM water pump. There are some things that I don't mind buying aftermarket but I figured I'd go with factory to try to get the most life out of it.

I will say that IMHO, I believe removing the clutch fan will make your water pump last longer. Removing all that rotating mass seemed like a good idea to me, and I swear my truck idles smoother and had a touch more power after I removed it. I'm gonna run twin electrics when it warms up this summer, although my buddy in Phoenix removed his fan and hasn't had any issues thus far. It should be noted that neither of us pull big loads, but I've been really impressed how well the stock IDI cooling system works without a fan at all.

Again, just my .02.

 

[oldblue05]

I had an orielly part on my truck that lasted about 6 years till my most recent occurrence of what an insurance adjuster would call "totaling" my truck, just slapped a rockauto one on... oh well with my new e-fans off of ebay it'll be easy to change!!!

 

[HammerDown]

195,000 miles and 23 years old, I'm on WP #3.
The original Ford pump didn't last any longer than the second Autozone (or) wherever I got it from. The third Pep Boys or wherever it came from WP is still doing fine.
And, my belts are always checked for proper tension and I do flush/refill my antifreeze every three/four years.

 

[gatorman21218]

To me its worth the 40 bucks to have it last even a month longer than the aftermarket one. Its a messy job and id like to not do it for a long time. Sure I have an alternator with a "lifetime warrenty" but shoot 2 bolts and its off. You can make it home with a bad alternator, but a bad water pump is another story

 

[FORDF250HDXLT]

another thing to keep in mind.
in dec of '05 ford put out a bulletin that stated ELC coolant could not be used in vehicles prior to '99.
water pump failure can be the result.
just thought this info would go well here.

 

[bab029]

I bought fleetcharge.... is this an ELC?

And also, I've been pondering a dual electric setup. Any word on how these perform in the heat? When it gets to 100 Degrees and 95% Humidity this July, am I gonna be toast at my first drive thru?

 

[Agnem]

Fleetcharge is not ELC. It is green compatable low silicate coolant with DCA-2 added to it for caviatation protection. I have had an OEM Motorcraft water pump in one hand, and a NAPA Gold Premium water pump in the other. There are sufficient visual differences to make a believer out of me without a running comparison. When quality is something you can SEE, you know for a fact there is a difference. I've posted the differences before, so I'm not going to do it here again. But the late Charlie Morar, who's truck I was working on at the time was in total agreement, and asked me NOT to use the NAPA pump he bought, but for me to sell him the Motorcraft unit that was on my shelf.

 

[hesutton]

I wouldn't trust an Autozone rebuilt pump. Mine only lasted roughly 20K. It is too much trouble to be swapping pumps every 20K, and the fear in the back of your mind that the poor quality water pump might fail on you, leaving you stranded at best and burning down your expensive IDI at worst.

For me, Ford or IH water pumps only from now on.

Heath

 

[badaceds650]

I've been running a napa pump for 5,000 we'll see how long it lasts, I got it on my works account so it was cheap, and has a warranty. If it dies I'll keep changing it out.