Water pump woes!

[waterman42]

If my nice little article on my then new Fulvia's overheating and coolant loss saga had been accepted for publication in VL last year then for that readership I wouldn't have to elaborate over much on Part 1 of where I am now, which is Part 2!

Part 1, much abbreviated version, I had a leak of coolant from the water pump, coming from one of the holes at the underside of the pump. Failed seal I assume. Bought a new pump from Autobella and fitted it September last year. (Omicron were out of stock, ditto TB at the time.)

Part 2. All good until May this year, and after perhaps just 500miles, a new drip of oil appeared, from the front of the engine. Wasn't sure where from. Didn't do anything about it right away but last month I put the car with my friendly mechanic to fit a new timing chain and tensioner. This involved removal and replacement of the water pump to access the tensioner. On testing the engine with its new bits (a big improvement), attention turned to the drip and sure enough it was coming from a weep hole in the base of the water pump. See pic below of the underside of the pump before I fitted it last year (new and old side by side).

 

I've gone back to Autobella but they say it's been too long since I bought it, their supplier hasn't come across this fault before and anyway "it could be many other causes". I've asked them what these causes might be that resulted in oil escaping from the body of the pump and not be a fault in the pump itself. No reply.

I've also asked them if they can tell me the origin of the pump that they supply but again they decline to tell me. I wouldn't be surprised if it's Hobson's choice in the matter but at least if I buy a replacement from a more reputable supplier I have a chance of some recompense if the item fails in a short time period. The oil and filter in the engine at the time of the initial leak were from a couple of years back in the hands of the previous owner but I had checked it when I bought the car and the oil looked fairly clean. I've since refreshed both oil and filter.

If it is correct that this occurrence is not previously known to their supplier. Have I just been very unlucky?

[dhla40]

I would not be too worried about a drip of oil from that hole as it is not a pressure feed, there are two seals on the pump shaft, one on the coolant side and one on the oil side.  Monitor it and if it becomes annoying or begins to look emulsified then a pump change will be needed.

Sean

[fay66]

I would not be too worried about a drip of oil from that hole as it is not a pressure feed, there are two seals on the pump shaft, one on the coolant side and one on the oil side.  Monitor it and if it becomes annoying or begins to look emulsified then a pump change will be needed.

Sean

I'm surprised that no one seems to know any problems with replacement pumps Fulvia not lasting very long, it might just be one manufacturer but I've heard rumours for years that the seals on some modern replacements are rubbish.
About 20 years ago I bought a water pump overhaul kit, that's been kept in a box 'Just in case'
As suggested, I'd go along with the one you have, until such time as it either fails or you source a good pump from a certain Lancia specialists, rather than suppliers that are only interested in selling you a pump.
Brian
8227

[nistri]

A friend of mine very recently bought a new (?) water pump from a wellknown supplier: the pump started leaking shortly after it had been fitted. The pump had been correctly fitted I add. Too many new (?) spares arrive without any indication of the manufacturer even when they are safety critical components.

[jimbo64]

Can I ask which oil you are using as I had the same problem until I changed from 10-60 to 20-50 and suddenly no leak

[waterman42]

The car engine had Millers Classic Sport 20-50 when I bought it and when the leak appeared not long after fitting the pump. Millers is semi-synthetic and I tend to think it's better to have a 100% mineral oil so I am now running on Valvoline VR1 20-50.