Hey guys water pump is "squeaking" like a wouldn't rabbit. Actually its been like that for awhile and sounds like its getting worse so figured it's time to change it. It appears straight forward, drain coolant, take belt off and take the two bolts out for the water pump. Clean gasket area put new pump in and snug up..............am I missing anything?

Should I also change the thermostat while I have the coollant out? I've had no issues with temps under normal operating conditions.

 

You've got the routine correct for changing the pump out. I'd change the t-stat as well as the upper and lower hoses while you've got it drained. Might as well add some new coolant too.

 

After changing one beside the road in a torrential all-day downpour, I decided that it was good business to order me up some 8MM x 1.25 (I think) studs and put them in place of the water-pump bolts; likewise for the lift-pump.

It is a whole sight easier to slide the pump onto the studs than to line up those two little bolts down in there where one can't get their eyeballs.

 

Yeah it is really easy, the only thing that bugs me is that my new pump was made in china.

 

Well pump bought at NAPA is made in China decided to go to Cummins to buy the thermostat.......and the cost for the thermostat was $60.00 friggen dollars!!!!! I think I paid 85.00 for the water pump!!!!!

 

hey-Hey!!!,
Draining the coolant is one thing...do you need it? probably... In any case you do not need to do anything past removing the belt and pulling the pump out. Refill what you lost and put the belt back on. Took 20 mins when I did mine.

The O-ring groove was nice and clean, and I opted out of taking a wire brush to it. Hasn't leaked a drop so far.
cheers,
Douglas

 

I would be taking that 60 dollar T-stat back to get my money back. If yours wasnt broke before, dont fix it, IMO.

Are you sure the idler pulley isnt the culprit for the squeak?

 

Well, it isn't broke but figured while I had the water pump off that I would change it. After all it must be the original stat from 93 that is in there. Maybe I should go to NAPA and buy a chinese stat.....that way it'll match my new pump.

Yeah checked and re checked and it is the water pump.

 

When I was getting my engine ready to be installed in the truck, it had been sitting on a pallet for years and years.

Just to be safe, I put a shiny new water-pump from Advance in it and put the crusty rusty old made-in-England Cummins pump in the box the new one came in and put it in one of the dog-houses under the sleeper.

A couple winters ago, it set in pouring the cold Kentucky rain, all day and all night and all day and all night, for days and days, just continuously pouring.

During this annual winter monsoon, I noticed a bit of a squeel under the hood when the engine was idling.

I figured it must be the belts and pulleys slipping from being constantly soaking wet and didn't get too excited; yes, my truck/engine has belts --- plural.


The same day that I noticed the squeel, I headed out of town; and, right in a miles-long construction zone, it slung the shaft out of the water-pump.

I put the old crusty rusty made-in-England original Cummins water-pump back in the same hole where it came out of and it has been running that way trouble-free ever since.

I took what few pieces were left of the life-time pump back to Advance and got another shiny new one; it resides in the dog-house awaiting the day when that old original unit fails.

 

Bearkiller..................why did you change your pump? The darn noise put out by mine is driving me crazy. It's so loud it drowns out the Cummins

 

If it is that loud, it ain't long for this earth and it will take the serpentine belt with it when it goes.

 

You paid $60 for a thermostat I got one for mine for 5 bucks and it's a big brand in cooling. Course I was working for the autoparts store but it was only worth like 12 bucks I think.

 

The difference is that, if the Cummins thermostat says 180* on the box, then it opens exactly at 180*.

I have used several seven-dollar 180* STANT thermostats from Advance on several different Cummins engines and, while being consistent in the temperature at which they open, some may open at 160* while others may not open until 195*


The accuracy is what costs.

 

Thats what I've read, hence the reason for changing. Don't want to be doing it on the side of the road in the pouring rain or snow storm!!!

 

Well on the plus side the stat has USA marked on it but the rubber seal says Mexico!!!! SO I guess I can say I'm supporting the North American continent....