Coolant leak - probably pump gaskets

chris_kucia · July 17, 2006

Looks like I developed the typical water pump gasket leak.

I hate to spend money I don't have to. On the other hand, it could be money well spent to replace the pump while I have the old one out.

Looks like a new Delco is about $90, and a Bosch is $140.

Truck has 132k on the clock.

What do you guys think - should I spend the extra $100/$150 to put in a new pump? Any reason I should fork out another $50 for the Bosch over the Delco?

Thanks in advance for your comments/opinions.

Draenor · July 17, 2006

I would, and I did. I put in the AC Delco in, probably around the same time you are in. At 176K now, no problem. Save the extra 50 and put it to some beers for when your done.

chris_kucia · July 17, 2006

Thanks for the advice.

saltwater_addict · July 17, 2006

Just for grins how long did it take yall to replace your pumps im right at 170k now and im going to be doing alot of cooling system replacement soon (if the new fan clutch doesnt pan out) i was just wondering what pains you ran into thanks

Draenor · July 17, 2006

Bout an 1hr to 1 1/2. I think the worse part was the fan. I dont have the correct tool to take em off, used the biggest wrench I had.

squeakysounds · July 17, 2006

It depends...about an 1-1.5 hours if you do it right, 3 hours if you screw up. The fan is the hardest part (other than screwing up and starting over) especially if the nut has a bunch of grease and crap keeping it on.

Make sure you put the gaskets on and make sure they stay on....puncturing a gasket when putting in the screws and then re-assembling everything, dumping in some anti-freeze and watching it all flow out of where you supposedly just fixed is a sad sight to see....

rdnkcpa · July 18, 2006

132k on the clock... You are living on borrowed time with your water pump. The water pump on my 99 Astro with a 4.3 made it until 115k before it went south. I found a AC-Delco online for about 80 bucks.

RyanZ71 · July 18, 2006

Bosch, AC/Delco, it doesn't really matter, they'll both last the same amount of time. Mine is leaking as well, at 104,000 miles, not quite bad enough yet but going to have it done before 110,000.

saltwater_addict · July 18, 2006

Man im really gonna regret this but besides a battery, belt, and a front bearing/hub oh and a thermostat(which was replaced and didnt fix problem) the trucks been original parts i think thats it if theres been anything else, it musta been small cuz i cant remember i remember all the gm guys at work told me that my fuel pump would be gone at 110k, fuel regulator at 100k maybe all my luck comes in the form of my truck oh yah knock sensors went out sorry for the long post

chris_kucia · July 18, 2006

Well, I ordered an ACDelco pump yesterday from RockAuto. Also ordered the felpro gaskets since they were reasonably inexpensive.

I put a couple of coolant system supplement tabs in last night just for grins. They're the ones that GM puts in the aluminum block engines for nuisance leaks. Can't hurt and they may buy me a couple extra days.

My other car was down with a bad fuel pump and I hadn't really felt like dropping the tank to fix, but since I needed the insurance in case I can't get the truck fixed, I did that last night. Now I have some breathing room until the pump comes.

Really, the worst part about the truck is getting into the engine compartment. With the higher chassis of the Z71, and me being 5'6", I can barely reach the engine while standing on the ground. I'm going to have to do the pump replacement standing on a step stool and leaning into the engine bay.