Water Pump Noise
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 992
Likes: 56
From: Baldwinsville, NY
Water Pump Noise
I am getting a noise from the water pump, no leaks. There is a belt sqeaking or churpping noise when accelerating. When the engine is shut off, I can hear a rattling in the water system for a few seconds??
I can also feel a little play in the water pump pulley, maybe .005” play side to side, is this normal.
Should I replace the pump and is there an advantage to an aluminum pump like Edleborck ?
I can also feel a little play in the water pump pulley, maybe .005” play side to side, is this normal.
Should I replace the pump and is there an advantage to an aluminum pump like Edleborck ?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,086
Likes: 22
From: Crystal Lake IL
St. Jude Donor '12-'13
Does the rattle start after the engine is idling for a few minutes? Like mine, I thought I needed a new water pump too. Turned out to be a spun crank bearing. Engine was rebuilt, but a least the water pump was ok. Got replaced anyways.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 716
Likes: 1
From: Albuquerque New Mexico
Aluminum pumps sure are over-rated when it comes to actually providing any better coolign than a stock pump can achieve. I still buy them cause they look better and hopefully are built a little better than your typical auto zone remanuf. version. They claime all this mumbo jumbo but have never actually seen any improvement and actually purchased a weiand alum pump that couldn't even cool as good as the autozone reman. pump that it replaced.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
There are a number of things you should check:
1. do you have the correct belt type? Drive belts come with different angles on the side faces and with different construction. Make certain that the belt you have is compatible with Chevrolet accessories.
2. the side faces of the belt are 'glazed'. When a belt slips for a period of time, it polishes the face and that causes loss of friction between belt and pulley. You can try to rough-up the side faces with sandpaper, but a damaged belt may crack and break, regardless.
3. bad/binding bearing/bushing in the water pump. Remove the belt and see how much resistance there is to turning the pump shaft/fan by hand. There should be very little effort required.
4. wrong pulley installed. If a PO or a mechanic has changed a pulley, it is possible that it was selected improperly (see item #1)
5. too little tension on the belt. No explanation required for this one.
6. too much tension on the belt. Works OK for a while; then the belt gets stretched/worn and loses its 'grip'. Or the extra load damages the bearing/bushing in the pump.
1. do you have the correct belt type? Drive belts come with different angles on the side faces and with different construction. Make certain that the belt you have is compatible with Chevrolet accessories.
2. the side faces of the belt are 'glazed'. When a belt slips for a period of time, it polishes the face and that causes loss of friction between belt and pulley. You can try to rough-up the side faces with sandpaper, but a damaged belt may crack and break, regardless.
3. bad/binding bearing/bushing in the water pump. Remove the belt and see how much resistance there is to turning the pump shaft/fan by hand. There should be very little effort required.
4. wrong pulley installed. If a PO or a mechanic has changed a pulley, it is possible that it was selected improperly (see item #1)
5. too little tension on the belt. No explanation required for this one.
6. too much tension on the belt. Works OK for a while; then the belt gets stretched/worn and loses its 'grip'. Or the extra load damages the bearing/bushing in the pump.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 6,647
Likes: 1
From: East Aurora N.Y.
St. Jude Donor '10
Aluminum pumps sure are over-rated when it comes to actually providing any better coolign than a stock pump can achieve. I still buy them cause they look better and hopefully are built a little better than your typical auto zone remanuf. version. They claime all this mumbo jumbo but have never actually seen any improvement and actually purchased a weiand alum pump that couldn't even cool as good as the autozone reman. pump that it replaced.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,004
Likes: 7
From: Adelaide South Australia
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Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,232
Likes: 6
From: Tucson AZ
St. Jude Donor '12
IMHO, a water pump is a pretty easy and inexpensive item to replace on an SBC (assuming based on the OP's avatar pic).
Consider eliminating the pump & belt off your list of possibilities altogether by just replacing them if its been a while.
Consider eliminating the pump & belt off your list of possibilities altogether by just replacing them if its been a while.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 6,647
Likes: 1
From: East Aurora N.Y.
St. Jude Donor '10
No offense taken...I was under the impression that a high flow WP didn't cause cooler temps due to the fact that the faster the coolant traveled through the radiator, the less time it had to cool. The combination of the radiator, and the efficiency of the air flow is what ultimately keep the engine cool.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,232
Likes: 6
From: Tucson AZ
St. Jude Donor '12
No offense taken...I was under the impression that a high flow WP didn't cause cooler temps due to the fact that the faster the coolant traveled through the radiator, the less time it had to cool. The combination of the radiator, and the efficiency of the air flow is what ultimately keep the engine cool.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 6,647
Likes: 1
From: East Aurora N.Y.
St. Jude Donor '10
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 992
Likes: 56
From: Baldwinsville, NY
The pulleys and water pump are original at 79K.
The pulleys look like they turn true with no marks or dents.
The water pump has play with the alt & AC belts off.
PO had the water pump off to change the timing chain from plastic type to steel.
Have replaced the belts when I did a Top End Change last summer, 6K ago.
Changed the belts again when I went to electric fan and 100 amp alt.
The belts look correct and are riding on the edges with no bad ware marks?
I plan on getting a new standard water pump on Friday and paint it blue of installation on Saturday.
The pulleys look like they turn true with no marks or dents.
The water pump has play with the alt & AC belts off.
PO had the water pump off to change the timing chain from plastic type to steel.
Have replaced the belts when I did a Top End Change last summer, 6K ago.
Changed the belts again when I went to electric fan and 100 amp alt.
The belts look correct and are riding on the edges with no bad ware marks?
I plan on getting a new standard water pump on Friday and paint it blue of installation on Saturday.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 6,647
Likes: 1
From: East Aurora N.Y.
St. Jude Donor '10
If there is any play in the WP shaft, you need to change it out.It sounds like that's your situation.The bearings are starting to sing to you, signaling that it's time for a new w/p....Your car will love you for it.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 876
Likes: 0
From: Canastota Ny
yes the rattlle you hear is the pump shaft. i just went through this. be prepared to change the fan clutch next as they take each other out at the same time. once you have the pump off you will be able to wiggle the shaft more and hear that noise.
