What is a water pump?

The pump, or simply, the water pump of an internal combustion engine, is a design for pumping coolant in the cooling system. In fact, the pump is responsible for the circulation of antifreeze in the engine.

Water pump device

Usually, the pump is located in front of the cylinder head. The water pump is a fairly simple design of a housing with an impeller mounted on a shaft. The shaft is mounted in a pair of bearings (one on each side). The rotation of the shaft is provided by the transmission of torque through the belt from the engine. When the engine is running, antifreeze from the radiator enters the pump, to the center of the impeller. At the other end of the shaft, a drive pulley is mounted. Through the timing belt and pulley, the rotational energy of the motor is transmitted to the shaft, and the shaft itself drives the impeller mechanism.

The space between the impeller blades is filled with antifreeze and, under the influence of centrifugal force, the impeller throws the coolant to the sides. Through a special hole, it enters the cooling jacket of the power unit. In this way, the coolant is circulated throughout the engine cooling system.

Causes of breakdowns

Since the pump is very simple, it rarely breaks down. If the driver properly monitors the condition of the engine, there should be no problems with the water pump. However, even the most reliable water pump can fail, causing the engine to overheat and fail.

Among the causes of problems with the water pump are the following:

• poor quality pump repair;
• wear of structural components or aging of the stuffing box;
• Initially a bad pump.

In the case when the system is tight, but the pump cannot circulate the liquid, the temperature of the motor will increase and all the sensors on the dashboard will “scream” about it. Even a short and short trip of a car in such a mode can lead to boiling of the radiator and engine jamming.

Another sign of a potential pump failure may be a coolant leak that forms in the area where the pump is located. Fluid leakage itself is not the worst problem, as the fluid in the system continues to cool all the elements in the system. In this case, you just have to periodically add antifreeze. But if such a breakdown has occurred, then we recommend that you stop the potential problem as early as possible, since any leak can intensify with more active use of the machine.

Signs of a broken water pump

• Leakage of antifreeze through the drainage or from under the seating surface;
• Extraneous noise, rattle during pump operation;
• shaft play;
• Premature wear of bearings;
• Shaft jamming during scrolling;
• Traces of rust on the structure.

Seizing of the shaft during scrolling is due to wedging of the bearing. Traces of rust on the pump structure causes contamination of the coolant. Aging of the stuffing box and premature wear of the bearings is most often caused by overtightening of the timing, misalignment of the drive pulleys, or a breakdown in the mechanical seal, in which liquid enters the bearings and washes out the grease from them.

When purchasing a new pump, check the cleanliness of the rotation of the shaft. The rotation should be even and without jamming. If during rotation jamming is felt at one of the points, this indicates a poor quality of the bearings, and it is better to refuse such a part.

To ensure that the water pump is always in good condition and does not cause trouble, it is recommended to periodically diagnose the cooling system. To extend the life of the pump, we also recommend filling in the antifreeze prescribed by the manufacturer and replacing it in a timely manner in accordance with the vehicle maintenance schedule.

In some cases, water pump problems can be fixed on your own. For example, replace the shaft bearings. But in order to repair this structure yourself, you need to have the appropriate qualifications and have the necessary tools at hand. Therefore, it is advisable to purchase a new pump.

When purchasing a new pump, check the cleanliness of the rotation of the shaft. The rotation of the shaft must be even and without jamming. If, during rotation, jamming is felt at one of the points, this indicates a poor quality of the bearings, and it is better to refuse such a pump.

Council

Always replace the water pump along with the belt and other parts of the drive system. It is very important to check the belt drive system that drives the water pump. Problems in the tensioner or belt can cause bearing failure and shorten the life of the water pump. Conversely, antifreeze leakage often affects the condition of the belt. Therefore, it is better to replace the pump at the same time as replacing the belt and other parts of the drive system.