Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) watr pump

[wrichards]

I have the front of my truck off including the radiator due to a minor MVA. It looks like now would be a great time to swap out the water pump. I just don't want to mess with it since it is original and was wondering how long everybodies was lasting them. Truck is the 1998 with 130,000 in my sig.

 

[ABennin]

I am still running the original water pump and it currently has 176k. I had the belt off a while back and it didn't have play and it turned smoothly. So I fiqure I am not going to fix what isn't broken. Since you have it that far apart, if you haven't tabbed the KDP, it is a good time to do it. Plus if the gear case cover or front crank seal are leaking, it makes it easier to fix them too.

 

[BigPapa]

I'd leave the water pump and address the KDP as ABennin said.

 

[Cosmo]

Might want to inspect the freeze plugs while you're in there. I bought my truck in march of this year with about 130k on it and had two freeze plugs about to puke. I replaced my water pump while I was in there even though the OE one was still in great shape. You never know when they're going to start leaking, and I was a month away from hauling a ~14k pound trailer about 5000 miles across the country, and I didn't want to tempt fate.

 

[Missouri Mule]

I'm on my third water pump, first one lasted about a 100,000 the second one over 100,000 (replaced about 250,000).

 

[wrichards]

thanks, i already did the kdp when i bought the truck with the jig. i left the pump alone!!

 

[Bob4x4]

Might want to inspect the freeze plugs while you're in there. I bought my truck in march of this year with about 130k on it and had two freeze plugs about to puke. I replaced my water pump while I was in there even though the OE one was still in great shape. You never know when they're going to start leaking, and I was a month away from hauling a ~14k pound trailer about 5000 miles across the country, and I didn't want to tempt fate.

lol coast to coast about 3k you must have had a hell of a trip plan

 

[Dieseldemon]

I would change it while you are in there not a big deal 2 bolts and an oring

 

[BDaugherty]

5. 9 water pumps really seem to have a giant spread as to how long they last. Some have 15 years and hundreds of thousands of miles on them with no trouble and I've sent some trucks to the dealer to have them replaced under warranty. I've also had a couple aftermarket pumps fail within a couple years.
If it doesn't show any signs of weeping or have any rough spots to it, the choice is really yours. It's awful easy to change later if you need to, but since you have everything off and the coolant drained, it just seems like a great time to flush everything and install a new water pump, thermostat, radiator and heater hoses. Your peace-of-mind will pick up the tab for the added expense.

 

[Cosmo]

lol coast to coast about 3k you must have had a hell of a trip plan

Sarasota FL to Bellingham, WA via Hilton Head, Salem SC, Phoenix, then to LA and I-5 north, so it was ballpark 4500 miles with driving around the places we stopped.

Our trip from Bellingham to Sarasota went through Yellowstone, Rushmore, down to Pikes Peak, then over to Salem, SC before hitting FL, and was about 4800 miles.

 

[hsmith]

That's what I call taking a trip. Must have been time included to take in all the sites.

 

[Tractorat]

He didnt say what his start and end points are. Fairbanks to Miami is just shy of 5k miles. :-laf