Let’s talk about the water pump in your car, truck, or utility vehicle. Trinity Auto Care advises that you can expect to get about 100,000 miles out of the factory water pump. You run a much higher risk of the water pump going bad after this mileage milestone. One of the first things that will happen if you have a faulty water pump is your engine will overheat every time you drive your automobile. The reason why the engine is overheating can be attributed to one or more of the problems we are going to list below.
Minor Leak
A minor coolant leak is something you will not be aware of and less you visually inspect your water pump. A minor coolant leak does not leave spots on the garage floor. Rather, coolant puddles around the water pump and corrodes it. In severe cases, the corrosion will eat through the water pump and create tiny holes or pits. As the coolant seeps out of the cooling system via the water pump, the coolant levels are reduced and your engine will run hotter.
Major Leak
You might also end up with a major water pump leak that leaves spots on your garage floor. The spots will be located toward the front of the engine and the color of your engine coolant. Engine coolant comes in many different colors including red, yellow, green, and orange. When your engine is cool, check the coolant color by looking at the color of the fluid in the overflow reservoir. If the spots on the garage floor are the same color, your water pump could be leaking.
Poor Circulation
Another thing that will cause your engine to overheat is poor coolant circulation. This happens when the water pump malfunctions and can no longer do its job. As you have guessed, the water pump’s job is to move the coolant throughout the engine so that it draws heat away from every nook and cranny. If the water pump is not circulating the coolant through the engine, it will overheat.
Whining Sounds
Finally, the water pump is attached to the accessory belt to receive power from it. If the accessory belt is too loose, you will hear whining or squealing sounds coming from the engine. These sounds are particularly loud when you first start your automobile. If the accessory belt isn’t working, it can directly affect how well your water pump works.
Call Trinity Auto Care in Blaine or White Bear Lake, MN, today if your vehicle is experiencing any of the problems listed above. You might need a new water pump.
