Would replacing gasket on 2 year old water pump...

[xHeart]

Seriously...if the pump is not making noise and don't have a play in the shaft,with that minor leak...i would leave it in there for next timing belt replacement IF leaking is not getting worse.

Nature prevails over everything man-made..., putting on preventive hat, just in 10 days, it feels drips are frequent.

This morning, after reading few posts on TB, I now have a better grasp of my hesitation, NOVICE, rephrased..., i.e. Replacing water pump without a timing belt job.

I am in the 20k of 70k miles TB maintenance, another 4+ years to go. The weather in this land is severe, you want to be prepared. The water pump function is a vital one, there are critical systems depending on it. Is it unusual to replace a water pump 2 years into the TB service?

I could keep the maintenance schedule as is, yet replace this pump before this coming Fall. Would timing belt coming off for this replacement throw the ECU/ENGINE into a tailspin, disrupt the cam/crank tango, or syncro of something?

IPD list Aisin (OE) for $78.

Many thanks!

[cn90]

...A clearer view of drop forming. Would the seal become so weak that the hot antifreeze would start to gushing out at some point?

Hi xHeart,

I just bought a HEPU WP (the gasket and 7 bolts are included). I have not installed the HEPU WP yet.

Your picture seemed to indicate the leak at the "freeze plug" of the 2-year-old HEPU pump. Any opnions?

For those of you who installed HEPU over the years, which gasket do you use (HEPU vs Volvo gasket)?

Thanks!

[rspi]

I usually use the gasket that come with the pump, with a little blue silicone. Also, I don't replace water pumps that are NOT leaking.

[Ozark Lee]

I've always just used the gasket that they send with the pump and I haven't had any trouble. I do put a very thin coat of blue RTV on both sides of the gasket but that is more to hold the gasket in place than it is to seal things.

I question whether or not the pump in the picture is a legitimate HEPU pump. I have never seen a genuine HEPU pump for a Volvo that had a plastic pulley. Counterfeit auto parts are everywhere, even from some of the suppliers you trust.

...Lee

[misha]

...Counterfeit auto parts are everywhere, even from some of the suppliers you trust.

Sad but very true.

[precopster]

I have a new Hepu pump here in my hand. The pulley colour is the same as yours. I doubt that is a plastic pulley.

Try scratching it with a small flatblade driver. If you can't scratch it easily there's no way it's plastic.

[xHeart]

Hi xHeart,

I just bought a HEPU WP (the gasket and 7 bolts are included). I have not installed the HEPU WP yet.

Your picture seemed to indicate the leak at the "freeze plug" of the 2-year-old HEPU pump. Any opnions?

For those of you who installed HEPU over the years, which gasket do you use (HEPU vs Volvo gasket)?

Thanks!

I replaced it with AISIN, volvo's blue gasket and Lee's procedure.
I replaced all timing belt components with a 5-7 years outlook. Taking full ownership of the workings of heating and cooling system running on Zerex G05.
My wife paid $860 for all this in October 2010, for which the receipt says all Volvo parts. I laughed and moved on. Past is not present.

[cn90]

I am just curious when you removed the 2-yr-old HEPU WP, what was the cause of the leak, is it leaking through the freeze plug area?

[xHeart]

I am just curious when you removed the 2-yr-old HEPU WP, what was the cause of the leak, is it leaking through the freeze plug area?

There wasn't any visible sign of sorts that would point to the leaking. No movement at shaft, or wear.
The dripping would increase when poked the freeze plug area with my finger.
I couldn't sort if it was dripping when the water pump was running.
I still have it, do you want me to look at something closely, I would?

What is freeze plug's purpose?

[cn90]

I am just curious when you removed the 2-yr-old HEPU WP, what was the cause of the leak, is it leaking through the freeze plug area?

There wasn't any visible sign of sorts that would point to the leaking. No movement at shaft, or wear.
The dripping would increase when poked the freeze plug area with my finger.
I couldn't sort if it was dripping when the water pump was running.
I still have it, do you want me to look at something closely, I would?

What is freeze plug's purpose?

The freeze plug purpose is similar to engine freeze plug, if the antifreeze does not have the correct ratio, and if you are in in very COLD climate such as North Dakota in January (-40F with winds etc.), the freeze plugs pop out to prevent damage to the engine block.

My guess is: The freeze plug in your HEPU WP pump was not installed properly at factory (the freeze plugs are usually press-fit, i.e., pressed in with force with some Loctite compound at factory).

Cold you post some pics of the HEPU WP?

Another test is to:
- dry it well
- place the Hepu WP flat on a piece of cardboard with the impeller facing up.
Support with some wood to keep it flat.
- now pour small amount of water (or coolant), maybe 1/2-1" deep, making sure it does not overflow and mess up the experiment!
- periodically check underneath to see if it leaks.