What is a water pump?

A water pump is a small impeller style pump that moves coolant through the cooling system of your car. The pump is located on the engine and is powered by the fan belt , alternator belt or even the overhead cam timing belt. The pump shaft has bearings and a seal . Water pumps do not last forever in a car and often begin to leak after 40,000. The pump is replaceable with a new or rebuilt unit.

Water Pump

The water pump is a very easy device that keeps coolant traveling around the engine. The pump is made of an housing made up of cast iron or sometimes aluminum. The impeller is mounted to the pump on a spinning shaft with a pulley fixed to the shaft. The seal inside the pump keeps the pump from leaking. The impeller uses force to get the coolant from the lower part of the radiator and with a good amount of pressure will push it into the engine.

When should I change the water pump?

The water pump is a very important part of your engine. If the pump begins to go bad or if the pump become loose or noisy, you need to replace it. The water pump is one of those parts in the car that have to be replaced with a degree of urgency. Some people wait until the car overheats hundreds of times and then decide to have it fixed. If the pump is not changed it could leak to a blown head gasket.