So now a Water pump Issue

[Fatboy 18]

Have to say the last year has been a frustrating year of ownership, Im hanging on in there but car depression is beginning to get to me :(

A while ago I purchased a new water pump from the Classifieds to keep on the shelve for that time when my original one started to fail.

Last Fall I noticed that coolant was leaking from the weep hole under the pump so recently changed it out, the new pump came with a gasket and the install went well. upon starting up the engine the pump did squeal a bit but then the noise stopped, I have only driven the car twice since the install and now have found I have the exact same problem that I swapped out the original pump for.
Coolant leaking from the weep hole.
Have to say Im pretty pissed at the moment, I was supposed to be going to the south of france in two weeks, then the following month to Germany. All trips paid for and now it looks like I will have no car. I have just had the Diff rebuilt, I have a driveline noise which is either Diff or Gearbox related, the AC line is leaking and have Zero people to help me here in the UK.

Here's some pics old pump removed 07April 19
38240

38241

So here we are 10 May 19
38242

38243

Great way to start off a Season :(

[Fatboy 18]

If you are wondering about the colour of the coolant, its (Evans Waterless coolant).

[Counting Beans]

Man that sucks. I feel for you. Sometimes it’s just one thing after another (in life, as well as Vipers). Hang in there, you’ll get it worked out.

[99RT10]

Do you think that the Evans stuff might be the culprit in getting thru the seals to the weep hole?

[Fatboy 18]

Do you think that the Evans stuff might be the culprit in getting thru the seals to the weep hole?

i don't think so Mike, the Evans coolant is supposed to be kind on seals as there is reduced pressure build up compared to conventional coolant, (at least that's what they advertise).

"Power Cool 180° generates 75% less vapour pressure than water based coolants, significantly reducing strain on hoses, seals and gaskets."

[daveg]

Mark, was that a new OEM pump?

[SilverACR]

i don't think so Mike, the Evans coolant is supposed to be kind on seals as there is reduced pressure build up compared to conventional coolant, (at least that's what they advertise).

"Power Cool 180° generates 75% less vapour pressure than water based coolants, significantly reducing strain on hoses, seals and gaskets."
All pumps are designed for specific flow rates and head feet (pressure) a pump can be damaged any time it’s ran out of its curve best efficiency point. Not saying that’s the root cause, but keep this in mind.

[thetalonguy]

Mark, was that a new OEM pump?

This, plus was it a random gasket?

I changed out my OEM WP when I pretty much replaced most cooling system parts at once. My 02 was a late 01 build so I thought it would be prudent to replace it too. But I used non-OEM but with a Dan Lesser gasket. Well new, non OEM WP kicked the bucket during an AutoX championship :-/. Put back OEM and reused the Lesser gasket and she’s all good now.

[My98RT10]

Mark, that really sucks!! I hope you get it all sorted out and eventually gain back the confidence in your car to fully injoy it again.

I don't know why, but when I am driving my Viper I am always very attentive (I guess I should say paranoid?) to every little noise, chatter, clunk and what not, hoping nothing will break. With my daily, I basically don't care... Maybe I should stop reading here...:confused:

Anyway, I press both thumbs and hope you can get it fixed and do the trips you have planned for!!

[Fatboy 18]

Mark, was that a new OEM pump?

Honest answer, I don't know, I purchased it on the VOA Classifieds from a forum member who was selling off stuff. It may be a refurbished pump but everything was shiney new. but no official MOPAR Box or purchase invoice, so I don't know where it was purchased.

[Fatboy 18]

This, plus was it a random gasket?

I changed out my OEM WP when I pretty much replaced most cooling system parts at once. My 02 was a late 01 build so I thought it would be prudent to replace it too. But I used non-OEM but with a Dan Lesser gasket. Well new, non OEM WP kicked the bucket during an AutoX championship :-/. Put back OEM and reused the Lesser gasket and she’s all good now.
When ever I replace a gasket I always use an additional light smear of rtv on both sides. The gasket is not leaking, the leak is from the small bearing weep hole. + I religiously use a torque wrench to factory manual settings whenever I work on the car.

[dave6666]

Funny to see Dan's name mentioned many times throughout this thread, but at the same time not mention how he blame crap like Evan's Coolant on so many of these problems like the one being discussed here.

[daveg]

Mark, do yourself a favor and order a new OEM pump.

[Fatboy 18]

Yes, I am ordering a new OEM pump.

[ViperSRT]

Don't understand how the type of coolant can reduce the pressure given that when the coolant expands due to temperature increase it will pass by the pressure cap into the overflow bottle. The amount may vary, but the fact it escapes means the pressure attained is the pressure rating of the cap (thus the resulting pressure has nothing to do with vapor pressure, but rather volumetric expansion and pressure relief valve set point). Lower vapor pressure may affect the forces and damage resulting from cavitation or incipient boiling. As for weeping from the seal that indicates leakage by both the static and the dynamic seals. The dynamic seal (ceramic seal) is very susceptible to coolant types. Part of why I would never recommend Dexcool related coolants for older engines as back in the day they were demonstrated to cause water pump seal and bearing issues. The static seal should not be affected by coolant type so much based on history. So when does it weep? During engine running or after shutdown?

[The Stig]

https://www.flowkoolerwaterpumps.com/products/numbers-matching-water-pump-rebuild