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YOUR RESEARCHWater Pump Recommendations?
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cheap $39.00 chinese water pump had failed
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Reported cause
Well it turned out that my cheap $39.00 Chinese water pump had failed.
Leading evidence: 'cheap $39.00 chinese water pump had failed' (1 discussions report identifying this cause; no attributable repair resolution). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'cheap $39.00 chinese water pump had failed' (1 discussions; 1 report identifying it and 0 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Check pump pulley' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
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Well my 996 now has just over 6,000 miles since I rebuilt the engine and installed my Chinese water pump and on today�s club drive I heard an ominous rattling scraping noise from the back of my car.
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I removed it immediately and installed the Pierburg that I
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I'd rather have a well used Porsche pump on my car than a $33 eBay water pump.
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Well my 996 now has just over 6,000 miles since I rebuilt the engine and installed my Chinese water pump and on today�s club drive I heard an ominous rattling scraping noise from the back of my car.
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I recently rebuilt my engine and did some elective parts replacing. Alternator and water pump were just some of the parts. I purchased my pump on eBay and the cost was $33.99! Including a new gasket.
My logic is that if the OE water pumps don�t last very long why spend the extra $$$. At this price I can afford to replace the pump at every other oil change if necessary.... The original Porsche water pumps cost between $270.00 and $330.00!
So far so good, I�ve got just over 1,000 miles on the pump and all is well.
I would strongly suggest not using a $33 water pump because basically you're risking your engine whenever it's running. If any blade breaks off and lodges in the heads, it will be difficult to fix.
It is my understanding that the factory pumps use plastic blades and the breaking off of those blades traveling through the cooling system and getting stuck in the cooling passages may have been the cause of some overheating and cracked cylinder heads. This particular pump has metal blades. I intend to check the pump pulley for play at regular intervals and replace the pump as soon as there is any sign of bearing play.
On the other ✋ fiber or plastic blades will erode if they come in contact with the case (in the case of a wobbling/ pre-fail shaft) and not destroy the non-replaceable case. OE are plastic for a reason...
I ordered mine from Rock Auto. It's listed as Hella, but it's a Pierburg. Was a bit over $200.
And of course - the really smart guys are going to call it a junk part.
Unfortunately the plastic blades just don�t erode they also brake off and the broken pieces get lodged in narrow water passages especially in the cylinder heads. That�s where the problems can occur, blocked passages lead to localized overheating and then cracked cylinder heads. You can�t win! Pick your poison...
Pierberg is the Porsche supplier...same pump just not in a Porsche box and no Porsche P/N stamped on it.
Avoid the metal impeller pumps...Porsche made them plastic so if/when the bearing fails the impeller won't dig into the aluminum engine block (the water jacket opposite the impeller is part of the engine block).
I have a used Porsche water pump I'd sell for $33.
I replaced it earlier this year with a new Porsche water pump.
It only has about 5 years / 33K miles on it and the bearings are fine.
I'll throw in a used gasket too.
I'd rather have a well used Porsche pump on my car than a $33 eBay water pump.
Yes, but he also recommends a Porsche water pump, not a $33 special.
I'll stick with installing a new waterpump every 3 years...and I'll sell the old ones for beer money.
I live in a mild climate and don't rack up a lot of annual miles so I won't be replacing it every three years. I would probably be closer to a five year schedule and I'll spend the $190.00 for a Pierburg.
My $33.00 eBay pump still pumping at 1,200 miles. I�ll keep posting updates and let you know when it starts to leak or bearings get loose. Spending the money I saved on craft beer to keep myself lubricated! 🍻
Granted - my experience is a sample size of one...
But I bought one of these and installed it on my car. When I rotated the pulley, I could feel resistance at a point in the circle. I suspect an impeller was contacting the block. It also made a slight squeaking sound. I removed it immediately and installed the Pierburg that I
was
planning to send back. Instead the Gates went back.
Fair statement.......past experience does not predict the future.....I have not installed it yet, will take this advice into account and will closely inspect again before installation.......AND right after installation will inspect again for similar rotation (resistance) of the pulley by hand....thanks again for the heads up, much appreciated...
Question: What time frame was your experience with it?....long ago or recently?
UPDATE: I "mock" installed the Gates water pump with the bolts finger tight.....and tried to turn the pulley.....I could feel the big resistance compared to "off the car" ...It was evident the impeller was grinding/rubbing against the block, and that was just finger tight.....checked pump manufacturing date: October 2018.......Immediately removed and returned....ordered a new one from Pelican...Car will continue to be on jack stands at least until the weekend of October 26-27.....I ordered the Pierburg.
Thank you so much for the heads up....that's one of the reasons I love this forum...
Note: I have installed at least 20 Gates water pumps in different vehicles (mostly Japanese)....Never had a problem, and they lasted over 80K miles.....there is always a first time
Funny that you would say that; about the time I was (online, and) replying to "peso". The little "light" doesn't seem to be (always) based on reality.
Glad you took the extra steps to check it. This is a great place. Just use your head and do the best you can to filter out the noise.
If you're someone that cares if your Pierburg pump comes in the pretty Porsche box, Sonnen has them for $249.00. It says 'sale' price but I'm pretty sure it's the regular everyday price.
Follow up, one year since the last post. Pump now has around 6,500 miles on it and still smooth and not leaking. $33.00 on eBay. This particular pump from Premier Cooling is NLA.
Update...
in my last post I stated �My $33.00 eBay pump still pumping at 1,200 miles. I�ll keep posting updates and let you know when it starts to leak or bearings get loose. Spending the money I saved on craft beer to keep myself lubricated! 🍻�
Well my 996 now has just over 6,000 miles since I rebuilt the engine and installed my Chinese water pump and on today�s club drive I heard an ominous rattling scraping noise from the back of my car. I won�t even mention my worst fears as I was hoping for a loose heat shield. I aborted the drive and headed for home. Upon close inspection I narrowed it down to a bad alternator belt or water pump. Well it turned out that my cheap $39.00 Chinese water pump had failed. Lesson learned! I�ve ordered a Pierburg pump from a vendor on eBay .$175.00
