Please identify from pics: Bad water pump?

Truth0fl1fe · #1 03-23-2013, 10:39 AM

Hello friends, I am wondering if someone could tell me from these pictures if I have a bad water pump. While I had the truck down in florida for 4 months I had mostly water in it since it rarely gets cold down there. However, back here on the eastern shore we had a cold spell where the temperature was down to around 15 degrees, and ever since then I have noticed some whining and the yellow stuff on the block. I have the correct ratio of coolant in it now. It runs and drives well and I have never had a problem with the truck overheating. Any suggestions?

Top view:

Bottom view:

Vogenitz69 · #2 03-23-2013, 10:43 AM

Looks like you have an antifreeze leak

tomboy · #3 03-23-2013, 11:44 AM

Most water pump leaks are on the bottom of the shaft housing, and coolant runs straight down, you could have a thermostat leak thats going forward and down, or the timing cover gasket could be bad. You need to warm it up, let it run and just watch.

JerZDevil81 · #4 03-23-2013, 12:55 PM

just a thought, but you didnt over add coolant/water to the system? how much is in your overflow tank?

IF it was the water pump you'd know... you'd hear whine/squeal and you'd constantly have to add coolant.

You check your heater hoses/upper rad hose?

Truth0fl1fe · #5 03-24-2013, 12:08 PM

Thanks for the replies! I don't ever fill the reservoir over the plastic seam (about half full). I only hear a faint whine when it is cold out now, but if I don't constantly add coolant the reserve is always dry. But as I said, even with it dry the heat gage always registers less than halfway between the hot and cold marks. I believe my hoses are ok. Any other ways to distinguish if it's the water pump or the timing cover gasket (I'm thinking it's the timing cover gasket)?

djfllmn · #6 03-24-2013, 12:10 PM

also...major fail on running water in that truck....

20Ranger06 · #7 03-24-2013, 12:19 PM

If the anti-freeze/coolant was not in the system when the temp went below 32* then the water froze and more than likely cracked a plastic part in the system and that part could be the intake manifold since most V-series engines use the intake manifold to transfer water from one bank to the other to equalize the temperature of the engine.

If you can get a pressure tester you would find your leak or take it to a mechanic to have the radiator pressure tested...

modelageek · #8 03-24-2013, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djfllmn

also...major fail on running water in that truck....

I agree. Coolant has lubricants in it!

SFDROIDBIONICUT2

rangerlocal · #9 03-24-2013, 03:19 PM

Could have really eff'ed up your water pump if the water had frozen in there when it was 15 degrees and you fired it up. Might have popped a freeze plug out slightly enough to leak, but it looks like the gasket to the water pump. It doesn't seem to be coming out of the weep hole or it'd be all over the front of the pump. Check your manifold and see if you see any pooling coolant up there.

RangerFan-Phil · #10 03-24-2013, 03:55 PM

I'm sure you've learned your lesson but never run water in your truck, hot or cold climate. Antifreeze does not just keep it from freezing it up, it raises the boiling point of the liquid to cool your truck better also! Antifreeze is a pretty magical and very important liquid!

doshus · #11 03-24-2013, 04:06 PM

I agree water pump gasket or freeze plug.

Truth0fl1fe · #12 03-24-2013, 08:41 PM

Lol sorry- well it wasn't straight up water. When I replaced the coolant the old stuff still had a noticeable green color to it(maybe mostly water?). Regardless my pop would be the one that put water in it- Being a trained machinist I told him about how "formulated" coolant is better at cooling metal than water but eh.. he's a very stubborn guy

RangerFan-Phil · #13 03-24-2013, 08:46 PM

Haha well I can understand stubborn fathers for sure... Hope it didn't cause too much damage

Truth0fl1fe · #14 03-26-2013, 11:12 AM

Well thanks for all the replies. Now I have a good idea of where to start checking! Ill start by checking the pump..

20Ranger06 · #15 03-26-2013, 10:19 PM

Most Water Pumps are rebuildable and have a cover on the back side and if the fluid left inside it expanded while freezing then it could have defromed the cover in places to cause a leak. You may need to replace the pump or find one in a Recycle yard and play surgeon and transplant the cover from one pump to the other.