Like Scott - Broken down at rest stop, Water Pump Seal

[bevans6]

I guess I am missing something.  Water weeping out the hole means the water seal in the pump is gone.  That pump looks to me like the same kind as my 8V-71 has, in which case you remove the five bolts holding the cover on, you pop the impeller off the shaft with a simple puller, you replace the water seal around the shaft, and you put it back together again.  You don't have to remove the water pump from the engine, you need to drain the coolant (I use a big rubbermaid bin and put it back in later with a bucket), but otherwise about an hour to buy a puller and a seal, maybe a gasket, and another hour to do the deed...  What am I missing, vs $500 for a new water pump?

Brian

[TedCalvert]

I, too, have had the unfortunate experience of panic almost turning a small, easily-fixed problem into a major ordeal.

Lost a u-joint on the highway at 02:00 on a Sunday last summer; all I could think of was "TOW!!!"  After having my call dropped by road service plan, with no call-back, on hold for the second time, I realized "$#!%!!  This is just a u-joint.  Bigger than on a pickup truck, but I can do this."  So I did, on the side of the road, in a thunderstorm!  Yours truly making like a ground strap from bus to earth,  well-washed on the bottom from all the water across the road!

If coolant is coming out of the weep hole, the shaft seal in the pump is most likely the problem.  Absolutely do not plug the weep hole.  That could force coolant into the oil system, damaging the connecting-rod bearings, possibly requiring an in-frame major rebuild.  As stated in an earlier post, if you're not far, fill it with water and don't cap it; watch the temperature closely (if your dash gauge is reliable) and go for it.  But do not overheat it.  Once you get to a better place, rebuild the pump yourself, at your leisure.  Personally, I would rebuild it right there, but your needs may be different. 

Refill with the proper coolant.

Hope this helps.  Good luck.

Ted.

[TedCalvert]

Agreed, Brian.  You were posting while I was typing!  I like how this automatically cleaned up my profanity!

Big snap ring holding the water pump cover on my 8V92T.  Requires big snap ring pliers or lots of profanity.  But it sure looks like a road-side job, if necessary.  I have a severe aversion to paying someone to do what I can do myself, but no problem whatsoever paying well for what I can't or won't do.  I'll work on my bus all day with a smile, but not a car!

[Beesme]

Fill it up with water and watch temp. You said 2hrs to drain , you can drive 42miles in less than 2 hrs and save tow

[luvrbus]

If your shaft and impeller are good it no biggie to change the seal,start the engine pour water in it to see how bad it leaks running, they usually don't leak bad when running exception if the shaft and impeller are gone they leak terrible   

[B_K]

Call Stewart Steveson in Houston and ask for Jason! Tell him his sister in laws nephew from TN said to take care of ya!
  BK 

[Jim Eh.]

Ditto on the fill and drive. If you can and it is not too old, try to save what coolant mix is in there and just refill with straight water for the short journey. At least fill and check how bad the leak is.

[B_K]

I agree on the fill and drive. BTDT!
I always prefer to do my own repairs in my own shop.
But since you don't have a shop to do it in do the next best thing and limp it to one that can.
  BK 

[thomasinnv]

I had the same problem a few years back, pulled into the El Capitan in Hawthorne NV to dump my tanks and all of a sudden the pump let loose out of the weephole just like yours. Brian is correct in that this is an easy parking lot fix. Fortunately I had the parts on hand. Pull the cover, pull the impeller and the water seal, and replace. Get yourself a seal, impeller with ceramic spacer already baked in place, and a new cover gasget/o-ring (depending on your pump)

I would definitely replace the impeller at the same time, in my experience 9 times out of 10 the ceramic pops loose when you pull it and if that happens the impeller will free wheel. Cheap insurance in my book. About 50 to 60 bucks in parts as close as I can remember. Easy peasy.

Sent from my SM-G920T using Tapatalk

[luvrbus]

Sometime the quick seal install does not solve the problem it's only a temporary fix,if the shaft,oil seal and bearing are bad you pull the water pump and they do cost around 500 bucks for a rebuilt water pump.FWIW most DD dealers will not install just the seal they pull the pump and rebuild or exchange it,the rebuild kit from Detroit will cost you $260.00 after market kits are cheaper   

good luck

[Beachfinn]

We got the tow done ($900) and S&S is installing new pump as we speak. It boiled to few things in my head (pun intended): do I want to overheat downtown Houston on I-10. More importantly, one way or another I have to be in Tampa for early Thursday meeting. So, I could have learned or tried to do the job, if not successful within the time frame, it would have costed the same in air fares etc.
thank you all!!

Sami

[chessie4905]

There shouldn't be a core charge if they are installing a new pump. You can take the old one along for possible rebuild later or if someone needs a core.

[luvrbus]

You are lucky S&S is on the east side @ I-10 and 610 not much Houston traffic to deal when leaving there headed east.FWIW at exit 810 stay on the feeder road there is a good place to eat@ Gators,if you need 40W oil they have it on the shelf there    

[Beachfinn]

Well...the best laid plans...they ordered wrong pump 
I just happened to stop by, looks like they sat on that little piece of information for 2.5 hours. They did find the correct pump in back of one of their service trucks and are installing it now...

[luvrbus]

Maybe they ordered the pump from the serial number from your engine,it sucks sometimes when the pump has been changed from the original serial number