So this is going to be the third time this year i have to replace the water pump in my dads thunderbird. I have no idea why they keep going out. Its a 4.6 mod motor. The first time last year when i took it out half the blades had broken out. It looked pretty rusty it but it looked like the original pump so i wasnt surprised. Also i made sure to remove every broken blade so they wouldnt eat the new one. Well the one after that lasted a month. Then when i took it out the same thing happened. Broken blades. So i get another one from another parts store. This one lasted 3 months. But then it failed. When i removed it the thing in the back that has the blades on it had warped also it looked very discolored. So i replaced it. It lasted four months until now. I got a call from my dad and he said it went bad again. Thats 3 times this year. And once last year. I tried looking on google to see if its an issue with the mod motors but i didnt find anything. Anyone have any idea why they keep going out?
thats what i did. I started with two autozone pumps but they both failed. So i tried an orielys one and it lasted longer but it just failed. Im trying to find an OE Ford pump. The original one lasted 15 years.
I assume its electric fan, no mechanical on the pump.(not familair with the 4.6) Our Hemi trucks grenade water pumps which we found to be clutch fans going way out of balance for some reason.
Yup electric. Well i have the car here now. Im going to check everything on it. There might be something else thats triggering it.
Well it was rusted as hell. I think the problem is that hes been running straight water. So i refilled it with fifty fifty. Hopefully itll work out. The dealer didnt have any pumps but they can get me one later in the day. For now the oreilly one will have to do. But im still buying the Ford one for the next time.
wow that's dirty/rusted i would flush that block and radiator out it looks to be prety nasty does edelbrock make any for it
I flushed it out with the hose. I think they do, but the OE one is fairly priced. So im going with that one. After the first drive it hasnt overheated. And its like 98 outside. So it looks good for now....
Antifreeze has rust inhibitors and also lubricates the pump shaft on certain models, not sure about your car. Straight water is usually a no-no. Hopefully you solved it!
You can also paint the impellers to prevent the rust for a longer period of time - but NEVER run straight water in any engine. Always use a 50/50 mix with ethylene Glycol. Straight water is very bad for an aluminum engine and for any cast or steel parts.
Check the engine to body ground.usually right(pass) rear engine compartment off right side head. You could be forcing ground through the cooling system, effectively electro-plating the radiator with water pump/engine block. Remove engine drain plugs and see what kinda trash is in there(that stuff doesn't flush out usually). You could be sandblasting(metal blasting) the impeller. Take the radiator to a specialist and have it cleaned or replace it also if you got a lot of trash at the bottom of the engine block.
