With proper care, the water pump may last the life of your diesel engine. If you drive an older diesel truck, however, there may come a time when you need to have the water pump replaced. The water pump lasts, on average, 10 years. If your truck is older than that and you notice any of the following problems, bring your truck to our shop so we can inspect the water pump and replace it if necessary.
Corrosion on the Pump Housing
If you take a look at the water pump and see that it is corroded, this is a sign that the water pump has a small leak. Unfortunately, you may be unaware of this leak if you don’t take the time to inspect the water pump because the leak is not bad enough to leave coolant on the garage floor. If you do see that your water pump is corroded, have it replaced before you end up with…
Leaking Coolant on the Garage Floor
That’s right. Eventually, the leak will get bad enough that you will end up with spots or puddles of engine coolant on the garage floor. This is bad for your diesel truck because it reduces the levels of coolant in the cooling system. Naturally, if you have low coolant levels, your engine will overheat. All of this can be caused by a faulty water pump that needs to be replaced because it has sprung a leak.
Problems With Coolant Circulation
The thermostat releases the coolant and the water pump circulates it. If your water pump is malfunctioning in your diesel truck, you will end up with poor coolant circulation in the engine. In severe cases, there may not be any coolant circulating through the engine because the water pump has died.
Strange Growling or Grinding Sounds
A precursor to the water pump dying is strange growling or grinding sounds coming from the engine. This is the water pump itself making noises. This is an indication that the pump is malfunctioning and that its internal mechanisms have worn out. You may also hear whining noises if the accessory belt to which the water pump is attached is too loose.
An Engine That Overheats Constantly
Finally, if your diesel truck’s engine is overheating constantly, there’s a strong possibility that the water pump is unable to circulate coolant through it. As we mentioned above, the engine will also overheat if the coolant levels are too low.
Call Moose Jaw Truck Shop in Moose Jaw, SK, today if your diesel truck is having any of the problems discussed above. Again, we can replace your water pump if necessary.
