car myth busters
 

None of it was news to me.

The one about flushing coolant with oil changes? Seriously? Never heard that myth. I can count on 2 fingers how many times I've flushed coolant in a vehicle, and both times were due to a water pump being changed out.

Guess what! If you had changed the coolant, chances are high that you would not have had to change the water pump.

water pump seals go out after time. that's why they have a "weeping seal" so you know when it's time to replace them. same as power steering pumps.

(this is all general information, not necessarily Z info. most of my experience on cars was on 70's chevys and other misc cars i've had, esp my 95 dodge spirit :barf:)

Coolant has water pump lubricants that decay over time; stale coolant also eats water pump seals.

My worst experience with water pumps was 70's GM products. Awful, just awful. :shakes head:

95 Dodge Spirit, yes that was a puker :barf:

I never replaced a water pump on any of the Subarus I've owned, total mileage about .75 million miles (lol) and they had coolant replaced every 2 years. Come to think of it, I've never replaced a water pump on any Japanese car I've owned in over 30 years.

key words: GM and Dodge.

:iagree:

1st water pump was on a 78 T-Bird, original water pump, more than 200K miles on it done in 1997. It was pissing out coolant through the weep-hole one day.

2nd water pump was changed since the mechanic had to remove it to change the timing belt, which was preventative maintenance on a 120K 97 ranger, this past winter. One of those, since you're doing this, you mind putting on a new one? I did the same with the thermostat and hoses. Did it need it - no...

OK, I just remembered that i had the coolant flushed in my 97 ranger when I bought it, 50K miles, in 2001.

I've changed water pumps on GM products at least 5 times, no other brand.

sometimes the less you read, the smarter you are.

my damn camry needed a new h20 pump at 45k miles, it was still covered under warranty and stealer replaced.

That would be true for older cars, especially domestic ones. However, a water pump will not last for ever.