My truck just turned 100k last week, and wouldn't you know it, a few days later I found a puddle of coolant underneath. I think my water pump is starting to go out. The leak is only when the truck sits overnight. The puddle is directly under the front center of the engine in the morning (directly below the water pump area, not the radiator). It doesn't leak at all when it is running, and gets up to normal operating temps just fine with no leaks, no smell of coolant, no coolant loss. It just leaks a little when it is cold. From what I have read, there are really on two places this can happen. 1) A bad hose connection/clamp on the hoses at the water pump or on the bypass hose. When it is cold, the connection is loose enough that a little coolant can get by and drip down. When it heats up from running the truck, the connection expands from the heat causing the leak to stop again. 2) Coolant is leaking past a seal in the water pump and then drips out the weap hole when the truck is cold. This is the most likely cause from what I have read, and usually indicates that the water pump is on its last days.

So I figure i'll tear into it and see if i can pinpoint the leak for sure. I'm hoping it is something like from category 1, but my guess is it is something to do with the water pump. So IF I have to change the water pump, I figure while I have the pump off, it is probably a good time for a timing chain too since i'm still using the original with 100k on it.

Any recommendations for where to get a good quality water pump and timing chain. I usually buy from Napa, but not sure if going with a Mopar part would be better in this case. Any recommendations would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

its the seal around the water pump shaft.....it is every time. no questions asked with how you describe it. start it when its cold and stare that weep hole down. should tell you for sure. im not sure how hard it is to find it but should be visible. summit racing has a little selection for you to look at. http://www.summitracing.com/search/m...?Ns=Rank%7cAsc
and for the timing chain
http://www.summitracing.com/search/M...?Ns=Rank%7cAsc

 

timing set
http://www.jegs.com/i/Milodon/697/15011/10002/-1

waterpump
http://www.jegs.com/i/Mopar-Performa...49558/10002/-1

 

I went with a hi flow pump and double roller timing from summit

 

Aww poor boy. Time to take her out in the felid and put her down. Jk man. Let guys know which one you go with, my truck sat for quite a while and I have been thinking about doing it do to the time it sat. Which was a little over 1 year. Can you put a high out put water pump on a stock motor and not have any issues?

 

yes, on the highflow pump...however, a 6 blade is more than enough.

i installed the milodon premium roller timing set i posted...i love it...and easy to install.

 

i did mine just units from napa.... took me like 4 hrs or so.. course i was sick and it was winter so it was more like 6 to warm up too.

 

Thanks Alabama, those are looking like some good choices to me.
What else do I need for this job? I figure a new t-stat is probably a good idea, as well as a new bypass hose. My serp belt and my other hoses are new from when I did my intake manifold. Any other parts I need though?

Maybe I should do a cam too while i'm in there. Hmmmmmmmmm..........

 

If your going to do it do it up right!

 

might wanna get a new heater hose tube that sticks in the side of the pump.....