If your older automobile is overheating constantly, Service Masters advises that it may be time to replace the water pump. Most drivers get about 10 years out of the factory pump. After this time, the pump will start to leak or malfunction and need to be replaced. Let’s talk about the signs that your water pump is malfunctioning below so you know what to look for in your automobile.
Corrosion on the Pump
A leak in the water pump usually starts as a slow leak. This leak pools coolant around the water pumps housing where it starts to eat through the metal material. You won’t end up with coolant spots on the garage floor with this type of leak but you will end up with a corroded water pump. If you look at the water pump in your engine and see that it is corroded, it is slowly leaking.
Coolant on the Garage Floor
Eventually, as you probably already know, the coolant will eat through the metal and you will end up with coolant on the garage floor. This can cause problems with your engine overheating when you drive your automobile. It’s important to replace the water pump or any other leaking cooling system part if you have coolant dripping onto the garage floor. You don’t want to drive your automobile with low coolant levels.
Problems With Coolant Circulation
The water pump pushes the coolant throughout the engine to keep the temperature under 220 degrees Fahrenheit. An older water pump may start to have problems circulating the coolant through the engine. This will make your engine overheat. We can test your coolant circulation to see if the pump is doing its job. If not, we will replace it.
Grinding or Growling Noises
One indication that the water pump is struggling is if you hear grinding or growling noises coming from the front of your engine. The water pump can make these noises when it is going bad. As an aside, the water pump is attached to the accessory belt and accessory belt failure can also cause problems with the pump. You may hear squealing if the belt is having problems.
A Constant Overheating Engine
Finally, as we have mentioned above, a faulty water pump is going to make your engine overheat all the time. This could be because the pump is leaking coolant, or it could be because the pump is no longer circulating the coolant.
Call Service Masters in Clearwater, FL, today to set up a service appointment for your automobile if you are having problems with the water pump.