Water pumps

[BenchTest]

I got one at Advanced Auto Parts when I did mine at 77,000 a few weeks ago, along with the special antifreeze etc...

It's fun to go antifreeze/coolant shopping isn't it. This one is OAT, that one is HOAT, that's traditional ethylene glycol, not on Tuesday, before 2018, made in US or Canada or NOT made in US/Canada, is it pink or orange or yellow or green or red or special years purple for Chrysler? Yeah. What a sham.

 

[BenchTest]

I replaced my water pump with a "new" (not rebuilt or re-manufactured) Murray brand pump from O'Reilly's. Replaced it in August of 2023 and have put 23,000 miles on it so far. Lifetime warranty and have no issues with it at all.

As for the warranty, I used O'reillys store brand fuel pumps in my old Ram, replaced it 3 times under warranty and never had a problem getting it replaced. The last time I replaced it, the pump was still good, but I had to replace my fuel tank (due to getting it punctured on the freeway by a piece of pipe that got kicked up by another car) and they just gave me a new one. Some stores are better than others on warranty replacements.

Both of my replacements are spec'd as "NEW", not rebuilt or re-man'd. Hopefully replacement #2 holds up longer than the first one. Aisin has historically been good at the water pump business, so I'm hoping this holds true on this unit.

 

[Jeepwalker]

Could be a fluke...I agree, aftermarket water pumps are hit and miss. A lot of the remans probably use cheaper cost bearings, and lower cost seals... (than OEM)

Still ...I think it would be a good idea to invest a bit of time and rule out other possible issues. Look for 'telletale' signs of potential other things ...like the beginnings of a bad head gasket (HIGH pressure at the hose ...gurggling under the dash first thing in the AM, etc). Do you smell any combustible gases in the coolant at the radiator cap? The nose is a pretty sensitive instrument...

Check the lower radiator hose for integrity... make sure it's not sucking in under high rpm's ....starving the water pump for flow.

I assume the truck doesn't normally overheat ...but if you see the temp climbing for no obvious reasons.. that might be another sign.

Those are pretty easy first-level checks.....

 

[QwikKota]

I can't speak to the 5.7, but on my 3.6 I drain about a gallon and a half off during the process. Having gone through two water pumps and a failed thermostat replacement, I feel like I've replaced all my coolant across those activities. That's my "long road to a coolant system flush" approach, lol.

Doh. I hope my Wife's Wrangler doesn't have those kind of frequent issues. I don't guess changing the fluid early would make much of a difference. Her's is a 2022, hopefully more bugs worked out.

 

[EdGs]

Damn, I feel blessed, 201k miles on the original water pump for me.

As of now, it was working when I removed it for the cam/lifter odyssey I'm currently in the middle of.

If it's still working when I reinstall it, we will see.

 

[QwikKota]

Damn, I feel blessed, 201k miles on the original water pump for me.

As of now, it was working when I removed it for the cam/lifter odyssey I'm currently in the middle of.

If it's still working when I reinstall it, we will see.

I would at least replace the gasket. 68391488AB, I believe.

I wonder if the Gates version of the pump is any good? Under $100

 

[sickman]

I just had my water pump blow at 100,000 miles. Had the pump, upper and lower hoses, serpentine belt and thermostat changed. All were original on my 2016 Ram 1500.
It started as slow leak for about 3-4 days then finally let go.

 

[Wild one]

I just had my water pump blow at 100,000 miles. Had the pump, upper and lower hoses, serpentine belt and thermostat changed. All were original on my 2016 Ram 1500.
It started as slow leak for about 3-4 days then finally let go.

Hopefully you hung onto your old thermostat if it was still working good

 

[sickman]

No, I didn't hang on to it.