If you drive an automobile that has 100,000 miles or more on the odometer, you are more susceptible to having to deal with water pump failure. Peerless Automotive advises that the average lifespan of a water pump is 100,000 miles. Aside from your vehicle’s age, there are other indications that the water pump is going bad. We are going to list the signs of a bad water pump below so you know what to look for. If you suspect your water pump is going bad, bring your vehicle to our shop right away.
Rust on the Pump Housing
If you inspect the water pump and see corrosion on the pump housing, you are dealing with a small leak. Many times, when water pumps start to go bad, they start to leak small amounts of coolant. This coolant pools around the pump and corrodes it. Replacing the pump sooner rather than later is the best approach so you can avoid an even bigger coolant leak.
Leaking Engine Coolant
You may not realize that your water pump is corroded, but you will know if the water pump is leaking coolant onto the garage floor. Depending on the size of the leak, it may not be safe to drive your automobile because the engine cannot retain coolant to keep its temperature under 220 degrees Fahrenheit. In other words, don’t drive your vehicle if the coolant leak is a large one.
Poor Coolant Circulation
Even if your water pump isn’t leaking, it may start to malfunction and be unable to circulate the coolant through the engine. This is the water pump’s job. If you suspect that your engine has poor coolant circulation, bring your vehicle to our shop so we can check to see how well the coolant is circulating. If the circulation is poor, we will replace the water pump.
Growling Engine Noises
Another sign that your water pump is going bad is if you hear growling noises coming from the engine. These noises could actually be coming from the water pump. This is an indication that the water pump is worn out and the parts are grinding against each other.
Overheating Engine
Finally, as you can imagine, all of the above will cause your engine to overheat every time you drive your automobile. Driving the vehicle when the engine is too hot opens you up to the risk of damaging the engine severely. It’s better to have your car towed to our shop.
We are Peerless Automotive in Olathe, KS, and we’d be happy to test your water pump and replace it if it needs it. Call us today for an appointment.