Water Pump longevity?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 1,478
Likes: 3
From: Sacramento, CA Money can't buy happiness - but it's more comfortable to cry in a Corvette than a Yugo.
Water Pump longevity?
My stock 88 L-98 has 87,000+ miles on the original water pump. When would you guys think it is time to change it out? I'd prefer to swap out a well used, but still working pump here in town, rather than have a break-down in LA on I-5, or have to rely on a dealer in a foreign town to do it when it goes. Unfortunately, I don't have time to do the swap now. so if I have to, I'll take the 04 Jeep, but I'd rather take the Vette.
So far it has never given me any cause to worry. I went 5,000 miles out and back across the USA last Sept., but I'm about to take a trip to LA, then to Las Vegas, and back which is over a 1000 miles. How long can I go before I'm living on borrowed time?
I realize this is all "personal preference", so no flames because any replies will be appreciated.
So far it has never given me any cause to worry. I went 5,000 miles out and back across the USA last Sept., but I'm about to take a trip to LA, then to Las Vegas, and back which is over a 1000 miles. How long can I go before I'm living on borrowed time?
I realize this is all "personal preference", so no flames because any replies will be appreciated.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 24,460
Likes: 7
From: sw Ohio
From my experience on 350's, they generally last between 100K and 150K miles. All cars are different though and past maitanence matters. They usually give out along with the timing chain, but you'll probably have to replace it if that gives out anyway.
CF JASOC Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 8,040
Likes: 34
From: Downtown Annapolis, MD. The Future is where we all have to live. Let's not screw it up.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
My '88 Z52 waterpump started a slow leak from the weephole @ 105k (6 months ago).
Whenever I turn the engine off after a ride I always open the hood to have a look see, and keep a pad under the engine compartment to help find leaks early on.
I first noticed it when the serpentine belt was slinging a very minute amount of coolant onto the underside of the clamshell.
Whenever I turn the engine off after a ride I always open the hood to have a look see, and keep a pad under the engine compartment to help find leaks early on.
I first noticed it when the serpentine belt was slinging a very minute amount of coolant onto the underside of the clamshell.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
Likes: 25
From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
If it doesn't go by 100K, replace it. If for nothing else, to get to the timing chain too. The stock one, at least in 85, has plastic teeth that get brittle with age.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 1,478
Likes: 3
From: Sacramento, CA Money can't buy happiness - but it's more comfortable to cry in a Corvette than a Yugo.
Thank you all. I'll try to get another 10k, or about 100k total out of it. If it is still going good at that time, I'll swap in a new water pump and timing chain at the same time.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 14,924
Likes: 9
From: Merritt Ils Fl
Originally Posted by Mike_88Z51
Thank you all. I'll try to get another 10k, or about 100k total out of it. If it is still going good at that time, I'll swap in a new water pump and timing chain at the same time.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 3,524
Likes: 4
From: Hinckley Ohio
Originally Posted by Mike_88Z51
My stock 88 L-98 has 87,000+ miles on the original water pump. When would you guys think it is time to change it out? I'd prefer to swap out a well used, but still working pump here in town, rather than have a break-down in LA on I-5, or have to rely on a dealer in a foreign town to do it when it goes. Unfortunately, I don't have time to do the swap now. so if I have to, I'll take the 04 Jeep, but I'd rather take the Vette.
So far it has never given me any cause to worry. I went 5,000 miles out and back across the USA last Sept., but I'm about to take a trip to LA, then to Las Vegas, and back which is over a 1000 miles. How long can I go before I'm living on borrowed time?
I realize this is all "personal preference", so no flames because any replies will be appreciated.
So far it has never given me any cause to worry. I went 5,000 miles out and back across the USA last Sept., but I'm about to take a trip to LA, then to Las Vegas, and back which is over a 1000 miles. How long can I go before I'm living on borrowed time?
I realize this is all "personal preference", so no flames because any replies will be appreciated.
Water pumps IMHO ought to last the life of the car.....I have run several vehicles 170k, 230k miles on their original water pumps. On my LT4, I changed to an electric water pump at about 30k as a preventative, based on the bad reputation of LT pumps and the fact the motor was apart for other mods..
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Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 13,957
Likes: 706
From: WI
Mine let me know for a year that it was ready. It made a soft scraping sound that got pretty loud after a year. Mine went almost 100K, and would have went longer I think had the previous owner taken better care of the coolant system. The coolant was gross when I got the car.
Also when it was scraping I could wiggle the pulley on the pump and feel the play.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
We're talking about a simple item which, I think, only has bearings and gasket. Either one usually (usually stressed) goes out slowly, not catastrophically. Thus the bearing noise, or water seepage. Therefore, it should give you warning.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,698
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From: Just the Tip... Just to see how it feels...
These are all good recommendations, 100k is a great time to do it, unless your like me and decide to take the Vette to Vegas and have the water pump break on the way there, forcing you to take it to some "specialty" shop and end up having to replace the pump 2 weeks later cause the weephole is leaking again. Lemme tell ya, i put an Edlebrock on, called the shop in Vegas and let them have an earfull!
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 1,478
Likes: 3
From: Sacramento, CA Money can't buy happiness - but it's more comfortable to cry in a Corvette than a Yugo.
zo1boy, I'm heading to Vegas to visit family after business in LA. What was the name of the shop that I should avoid if I do have a problem there?