When we say that the water pump is the heart of your cooling system, we mean it. The water pump takes the coolant and circulates it through your engine just like your heart circulates your blood through your body. The water pump generally lasts about 100,000 miles. After this time, it’s at a higher risk of malfunctioning. Advanced Automotive is going to list the signs of a faulty water pump below. It’s important to replace the factory pump as soon as possible to avoid damaging your engine.
Poor Circulation
Naturally, if the water pump is not working correctly, your engine will suffer from poor coolant circulation. It’s important that the coolant is circulated through the engine properly when the engine needs it. If the engine is starved for coolant, it will overheat. We will talk more about overheating below. We can check to see how well the coolant is circulating through your engine if you bring your car, truck, or utility vehicle to our shop.
Leaking Coolant
Aside from poor circulation, the water pump can also leak coolant onto your garage floor. You will see the coolant spots underneath your automobile toward the front of the engine. Engine coolant comes in many different colors including green, yellow, and red. Check the color of your coolant by looking at the overflow reservoir when the engine is cold. Never check your coolant when the engine is hot.
Corroded Pump
The water pump might also spring a small leak that will leave your garage floor clean. The only way you will know that your water pump is leaking is if you visually inspect the pump. If you see tiny holes, pits, or corrosion around the pump, it is leaking just enough coolant to saturate it.
Overheating
Naturally, if any of the above is occurring, your engine is going to overheat. As we briefly mentioned, poor coolant circulation will overheat your engine because there isn’t enough coolant flowing through the engine to draw heat away from it. If your water pump is leaking coolant, this, too, can overheat the engine because the coolant levels will be reduced significantly.
Growling/Whining
You may also hear growling or whining sounds that can indicate a problem with the water pump. In the case of growling, this points to the water pump itself and a problem with its internal mechanisms. Whining points to the accessory belt to which the water pump is attached. Problems with the belt can affect the water pump’s performance.
Call Advanced Automotive in Stanwood, WA, today if your vehicle is exhibiting any of the symptoms listed above. We can check your water pump and replace it if necessary.
