Bad waterpump.
10-03-2012, 04:28 AM
#1
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Bad waterpump. So with these mechanical water pumps, do they ever completely stop pumping all together? I've been overheating lately and coolant is coming from the weep hole on the pump. I pulled all the hoses off and there was a few ounces of dirty or rusty coolant that came from each one, followed by clean stuff which makes me think nothing has been flowing through there.
Pulled the radiator and checked everything else, and there's no blockage.. I also pulled the cover off the front of the pump and cranked the engine over a few times, and the propeller is indeed spinning. So is it possible this pump isn't moving water at all?
Pulled the radiator and checked everything else, and there's no blockage.. I also pulled the cover off the front of the pump and cranked the engine over a few times, and the propeller is indeed spinning. So is it possible this pump isn't moving water at all?
10-03-2012, 04:43 AM
#2
Yes they can stop pumping. The weep hole leaks because the bearing and seal is going out. The cooling system is under pressure. If the leak is bad enough where the pump can't provide adequate suction/discharge pressure differential due to vapor forming and boiling off near the impeller eye then yes it can cavitate and will not pump properly if at all.
10-03-2012, 06:54 AM
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Another thing is sometimes with the radiator cap off, car running, when I open the bleeder coolant actually rises up and will overflow out of the radiator if I don't close it... Could that be from the pump fail or something else? If I keep the cap on it will just overflow the reservoir.
10-03-2012, 07:10 AM
#5
How much rising are you talking? Water and pretty much everything else expands as it heats up which is the whole reason for the surge tank so some rise in level is normal.
Sounds like you have pointlessly run it a fair amount knowing full well the pump was shot due to the weep hole leak. Let's hope you didn't pop a head gasket and the coolant level is climbing due to combustion gasses in the coolant. I wouldn't call that likely at this point but I would call it possible.
Sounds like you have pointlessly run it a fair amount knowing full well the pump was shot due to the weep hole leak. Let's hope you didn't pop a head gasket and the coolant level is climbing due to combustion gasses in the coolant. I wouldn't call that likely at this point but I would call it possible.
10-03-2012, 12:48 PM
#7
I wondered if I had it wrong and did a quick Google search and from what I see above 4degrees celcius water does indeed expand as heated, as most of us know though it also expands as ice crystals form which is very on-typical as most substances just contract with cold.
The water expansion is why the pressure rises.
The water expansion is why the pressure rises.
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10-03-2012, 11:58 PM
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Got the pump off just now to find something really unexpected.. My car is in really good shape but everything I saw looked horrible... My opti is all dilapidated from heat and is covered in white crust on the right side, and the spline that goes into the waterpump looks like it hasn't been in use for years! Rusty as hell and looks like every seal is bad...
Not sure what to make of it, I'll post pics if I can figure out how to from this iPad. I know my number 7 wire was arcing out bad for a long time before I found it so maybe that's why the opti is white.
Not sure what to make of it, I'll post pics if I can figure out how to from this iPad. I know my number 7 wire was arcing out bad for a long time before I found it so maybe that's why the opti is white.
10-04-2012, 11:26 AM
#13
10-04-2012, 11:41 AM
#14
The rules of physics still apply BUT the expansion of heated water is VERY small - almost unnoticeable in any real-world automotive application.
The density of water at 30 degrees C is .99823 g/mL. At 80 degrees C it is .97183 g/mL. So one gallon of water heated from 30 degrees C to 80 degrees C the density increases .02g/mL - hardly enough to notice.
There is more going on in a radiator than just the temperature changing. The water pump is running, thermostat opening/closing, air being displaced, etc. Just looking at the level in the radiator doesn't prove anything.
Put a gallon of water at room temperature in a pot. Then heat it slowly to 140 degrees. Does the water take up noticeably more space in the pot?
For the sake of argument and the basis of this post the expansion of water due to temperature is irrelevant.
The density of water at 30 degrees C is .99823 g/mL. At 80 degrees C it is .97183 g/mL. So one gallon of water heated from 30 degrees C to 80 degrees C the density increases .02g/mL - hardly enough to notice.
There is more going on in a radiator than just the temperature changing. The water pump is running, thermostat opening/closing, air being displaced, etc. Just looking at the level in the radiator doesn't prove anything.
Put a gallon of water at room temperature in a pot. Then heat it slowly to 140 degrees. Does the water take up noticeably more space in the pot?
For the sake of argument and the basis of this post the expansion of water due to temperature is irrelevant.
10-04-2012, 12:58 PM
#15
I seem to remember in the good ole physical science classes that water expanded as it got colder. Go try it with your ice cube tray. Partially fill a slot with water then freeze it. Bet you an opti the ice cube takes up more space than the liquid water did.
