My 06 Coupe needed a new water pump at 25,000 miles. Replaced under warranty. I was getting a few drops of coolant on the garage floor.
Water Pump
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 103
Likes: 0
From: Shelbyville Indiana
Water Pump
I have an 05 with 42,000 miles on it and am having to have a water pump put on. I just finished a 3300 mile journey from Indiana to Homestead Florida and back. It told me to check coolant level on the way home. Isn't that a little early in it's life for a pump?
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,023
Likes: 266
From: San Jose California
My wife's 07 C6 had the water pump replaced at 22k miles (approx 6 months ago.)
My Z06 had the water pump replaced at approx 36K miles, again at 36k miles + 1 day (seriously), and it's now leaking again at 47k miles.
I like the cars. Not so impressed with the water pumps.
Z//
My Z06 had the water pump replaced at approx 36K miles, again at 36k miles + 1 day (seriously), and it's now leaking again at 47k miles.
I like the cars. Not so impressed with the water pumps.
Z//
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,340
Likes: 176
From: Kernersville NC
My '05' had a water pump replaced at 13,000 miles. It only leaked after it was parked and cooled down. No other problems since then and now I'm at 22,000. Might start looking at it again.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 595
Likes: 5
From: Pittsburgh Pennsylvania
My 05 C6 hads 117,850 miles as of today. I have been keeping an eye on my pump but so far OK. I know it will not last forever but I will not change it until I have to. My 02 ETC Cadillac water pump went 144,000
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Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 18,396
Likes: 169
On a similar note, I run the Meziere electric water pump on my 2005 C6. I was curious to know if anyone else might be using this pump and could shed some light on what kind of service life I might expect from it. I think the manufacturer states 3000 hours of use. According to my DIC, I've averaged 33 mph since the car was new, and the water pump has approx 30k miles on it. I guess that equates to approx 1000 hours of use, so a guesstimate might be 100k miles? Has anyone had a Meziere failure?
It's a great pump. Does 55 ghp constant, vs. stock pump of 22 gph @5000rpm. Combined with my Ron Davis radiator, it has always cooled my ProCharged car without a hiccup. Saves the 12 hp it takes to turn the belt driven pump, too.
It's a great pump. Does 55 ghp constant, vs. stock pump of 22 gph @5000rpm. Combined with my Ron Davis radiator, it has always cooled my ProCharged car without a hiccup. Saves the 12 hp it takes to turn the belt driven pump, too.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 8,514
Likes: 235
From: Currently somewhere in IL,IN,KY,TN,MO,AR,MS,AL, or FL
Yes, as long as you disconnect the alternator so you are running it off the battery alone and not trying to keep the battery charged and also run an electric pump. If you leave the alternator connected then, due to electric losses in the alternator and motor, you are adding more than the 12hp to the alternator load. 
A water pump should last more than 42K miles. Most due. But I've replace 2 in the past 40 years and I never figured out why either one failed. My best guess is incorrect belt tension but I'm also thinking they are just an inexpensive pump and some fail and some don't.
A water pump should last more than 42K miles. Most due. But I've replace 2 in the past 40 years and I never figured out why either one failed. My best guess is incorrect belt tension but I'm also thinking they are just an inexpensive pump and some fail and some don't.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 18,396
Likes: 169
Yes, as long as you disconnect the alternator so you are running it off the battery alone and not trying to keep the battery charged and also run an electric pump. If you leave the alternator connected then, due to electric losses in the alternator and motor, you are adding more than the 12hp to the alternator load.
A water pump should last more than 42K miles. Most due. But I've replace 2 in the past 40 years and I never figured out why either one failed. My best guess is incorrect belt tension but I'm also thinking they are just an inexpensive pump and some fail and some don't.
A water pump should last more than 42K miles. Most due. But I've replace 2 in the past 40 years and I never figured out why either one failed. My best guess is incorrect belt tension but I'm also thinking they are just an inexpensive pump and some fail and some don't.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 4,681
Likes: 2
From: Mooresville (Race City USA) NC
The life of the water pump is primarily determined by the mechanical face seal assembly used. Old fashioned mechanical face seals using a constuction that dates back to the mid nineteen forties and using inferior materials typically fail in forty thousand miles or so. New and improved designs using upgraded materials have been shown to last well beyond 100,000 miles, and to never fail within the warrenty period. Chevrolet elects to use an inferior slightly less expensive mechanical face seal design and that is why their pumps regularly fail prematurely by todays standards. I know a little about this subject as I wrote The Mechanical Face Seal Handbook by Chilton, numerous other technical articles, and hold thirteen U.S. patents on the subject, with other patents pending. Oh yea, I also designed and developed the only waterpump mechanical face seal that never had a single failure within the warrenty period.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 449
Likes: 0
From: Bloomingdale (Chicago Area) IL.
St. Jude Donor '08
The life of the water pump is primarily determined by the mechanical face seal assembly used. Old fashioned mechanical face seals using a constuction that dates back to the mid nineteen forties and using inferior materials typically fail in forty thousand miles or so. New and improved designs using upgraded materials have been shown to last well beyond 100,000 miles, and to never fail within the warrenty period. Chevrolet elects to use an inferior slightly less expensive mechanical face seal design and that is why their pumps regularly fail prematurely by todays standards. I know a little about this subject as I wrote The Mechanical Face Seal Handbook by Chilton, numerous other technical articles, and hold thirteen U.S. patents on the subject, with other patents pending. Oh yea, I also designed and developed the only waterpump mechanical face seal that never had a single failure within the warrenty period.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 4,681
Likes: 2
From: Mooresville (Race City USA) NC
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 103
Likes: 0
From: Shelbyville Indiana
Well The original estimate at my local Chevrolet dealer was 750$. The service manager made a couple of calls and an email and and GM paid for al the parts and I covered the labor of 285$. Alot more than putting on the old style water pump on a small block Chevy.