engine and drivetrain Airflow Noise And A Noisy Water Pump

[OriginalOwner]

For the past couple of weeks I've been hearing a new "wind noise" while driving ...... couldn't figure out what it was, but something was definitely there and out of the ordinary.  I would have the wind wing open and hear "something" unusual.  In my own special land of denial I was hoping it was just a fan belt that needed some 'belt dressing' on it, so I put some on it.  It helped, but then "the noise" returned, faint, very faint, yet unrecognizable.  I was thinking/hoping it was just some new wind noise whistle.  I did open the hood with the engine running a few times, but the noise wasn't there.

 

Finally discovered it this morning when I started the engine:  a very noisy water pump.  All of a sudden, there was the familiar squeal of bearings gone bad.  Not bad service though:  88,600 miles (SEP 1999) since I installed the last one.

 

So that's my big project tomorrow:  new water pump.

 

Cheers,

 

Carl

Edited October 30, 2013 by OriginalOwner

[PaulTWinterton]

What mix of water and coolant do you use?  Distilled water? 

 

My water pump squeals occasionally and I think it's on the way out as well.  I didn't get that kind of service out of mine, this time.

[OriginalOwner]

Coolant mix:  I've been running 18% coolant, plus-minus.  Distilled water:  yes.  More water makes my engine run much cooler.

 

Just finished the install on the new water pump.  Proverbial piece of cake, another reason I've never considered selling my '74tii.  When I started the engine this morning I got some decent squealing.  Now the new pump is nice and silent.

 

SCOPE CREEP.  Because it is "easier" to remove the alternator when the radiator is out of the way, I decided to (gasp) join the 21st century and (double gasp) do something not stock:  I installed urethane bushings in the alternator mounting.  The rubber bushings were 4 years old and the alternator was definitely a bit sideways.  And as always, getting a tii alternator out from underneath continues to be a minor hassle.  Good thing I have a big crowbar.

    The alternator bearings seemed a little loose, so I was sweating the load, wondering if the radiator was the actual problem.  But no squealing upon reassembly, so it seems the water pump was the actual problem.

 

Cheers,

 

Carl

Edited October 30, 2013 by OriginalOwner

[PaulTWinterton]

Good to know about the coolant mix.  I've been bad.

 

Replacing the water pump is one of those jobs that is always satisfying and very little hassle.  UNLESS you tear the new paper gasket while installing. Newbies beware. 

 

I'm going to replace my fan with a bright shiny one when I do my pump.

[OriginalOwner]

Here on the flatlands of SoCal it doesn't get cold, so lots of antifreeze/coolant isn't a necessity.  And since I learned that a 50/50 mix will run hotter, I thinned it out to 80% water, with some coolant to keep things from rusting up (which the cast iron block will do quite quickly with 100% water).

 

The biggest headache with the water pump was/is all the water on the garage floor, not all of it gets into the bucket.  I used lots of newspapers to soak up so I wouldn't be "wading" in it while underneath the car.

 

Cheers,

 

Carl

[Mike Self]

To prevent radiator incontinence when draining--next time you have the radiator out, solder a petcock in place of the drain plug--preferably a petcock with a nipple on it so you can connect a short length of hose that drains your coolant into a bucket instead of all over the floor...

 

A good way to tell if your water pump is on the way out:  grab the outer edge of a fan blade (engine off, of course) and see if you can rock the fan axially.  If you can, the water pump bearings are worn and it's new pump time.  You can feel the difference between simply deforming the plastic blades and bearing movement.

 

mike

[OriginalOwner]

Mike,

 

I've considered the drain plug petcock for years ..... but as smart an idea and as easy as that is, and as lazy as I am, well ..... I just didn't think far enough ahead to have it immediately available ......

 

and then there is the major sploosh of coolant when the water pump is popped off from the block ...... 

 

Cheers,

 

Carl

[TobyB]

I'd be a little worried about diluting the antifreeze that much-  do they say it's ok to run that thin for corrosion protection?

 

My version is water wetter/ kool- it/ etc instead, until winter.  And yes, always distilled water!

 

t

[M3M3M3]

Here on the flatlands of SoCal it doesn't get cold, so lots of antifreeze/coolant isn't a necessity. And since I learned that a 50/50 mix will run hotter, I thinned it out to 80% water, with some coolant to keep things from rusting up (which the cast iron block will do quite quickly with 100% water).

The biggest headache with the water pump was/is all the water on the garage floor, not all of it gets into the bucket. I used lots of newspapers to soak up so I wouldn't be "wading" in it while underneath the car.

Cheers,

Carl

Two words......kiddie pool.

Use the three foot diameter cheap plastic kids pool instead of a bucket. Bigger and lower profile. No more mess on floor.

[OriginalOwner]

 kiddie pool ..... once again I'm am red-faced and embarrassed ..... NEVER thought of that in all these years !!  Fantastically Simple Idea !!

 

 antifreeze dilution:  have never researched the topic.  And I do use some wetter water.

 

Cheers,

 

Carl

[M3M3M3]

 kiddie pool ..... once again I'm am red-faced and embarrassed ..... NEVER thought of that in all these years !!  Fantastically Simple Idea !!

 

 antifreeze dilution:  have never researched the topic.  And I do use some wetter water.

 

Cheers,

 

Carl

and I don't even have any kids!   

 

not as elegant as putting a spigot on the block, but i have been using the same blue thing for a dozen years.  spigots don't catch all the mess when you pull hoses off.

[GreenSwede]

Previous to the last time I had to drain I drilled out a M10x1 grease nipple (not entirely sure that is the correct term.. For lubing with a grease gun?). 

With the radiator cap on, it hardly starts running when I remove the plug in the radiator. So I do, and then screw in the grease nipple (lightly by hand, since it´s.. coned (?) (again, not sure what you call it - a thread of increasing size) and press on a nicely fitting hose and stick that in a bucket. Then unscrew the radiator cap. And get all the fluid in one bucket. The nipple and a piece of hose is now in my tool box. 

Edited November 3, 2013 by GreenSwede