Should I Replace My Water Pump?

[TJRick]

I am still running the original water pump and heater hoses on my 1998 Wrangler with 150K miles!

Should I be concerned with running a water pump and heater hoses that old and with that many miles? I replaced the radiator, radiator hoses and heater core five years ago due to leaks, and I replaced the valve cover gasket and the thermostat housing gasket due to leaks two years ago. I purchased a Mopar replacement water pump and tube and both Mopar heater hoses about a year ago with the intention of replacing them for preventive maintenance, but I just can't seem to bring myself to replace something that still works fine.

The water pump and heater hoses all seem to be okay - and my engine temperature is dead on - but are these items on borrowed time? Should I go ahead and replace them as preventative maintenance while the weather is still nice and I have the time, or should I be happy and leave well enough alone?

This Jeep is my daily driver.

 

[Zorba]

I'd at least replace the hoses.

 

[06lj]

I replaced mine as a preventative task. I would replace it, especially if it's a daily driver. I would rather work on my vehicles at my leisure vs having to rush the job because I need it running to get to work the next day.

 

[TheBoogieman]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Replace it when it goes bad. It will let you know. I'm a risk taker though. I only have 4 rolls of toilet paper and 1/2 bottle of hand sanitizer.

 

[JDS123]

I’d probably put it on the to do list for when you have a bit of spare time. Not a total rush though. Always good to have a known good spare sitting in the garage, which you would have with your current pump. Having a water pump go out is a bit more annoying than most things since you can’t typically limp home all that well.

 

[tworley]

I agree. Replace it when it needs replacing. It'll weep when it starts to go.

 

[Rubicon88]

I am still running the original water pump and heater hoses on my 1998 Wrangler with 150K miles!

Should I be concerned with running a water pump and heater hoses that old and with that many miles? I replaced the radiator, radiator hoses and heater core five years ago due to leaks, and I replaced the valve cover gasket and the thermostat housing gasket due to leaks two years ago. I purchased a Mopar replacement water pump and tube and both Mopar heater hoses about a year ago with the intention of replacing them for preventive maintenance, but I just can't seem to bring myself to replace something that still works fine.

The water pump and heater hoses all seem to be okay - and my engine temperature is dead on - but are these items on borrowed time? Should I go ahead and replace them as preventative maintenance while the weather is still nice and I have the time, or should I be happy and leave well enough alone?

This Jeep is my daily driver.

Don't mess with it.

It will let you know. The weep hole is your friend.

It won't go from working to not working. You'll know when it needs attention. Until then pull the lever and hit the trail....


and smile at life

 

[JDS123]

I will say that when my last pump went out, the first sign was overheating. I had been under the Jeep the previous day and saw no evidence of the pump leaking. Next thing I know the Jeep is sitting at 240 and the pump was leaking from the weep hole. Maybe I’m just unlucky.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

The last two water pumps I replaced gave so little warning before they totally crapped out that I'm not of the school of waiting for something that old to fail.

I had one start weeping and making a small amount of noise at mrblaine's house 50 miles from home and 10 miles later it really started making a racket then it started pumping more coolant out instead of through the cooling system. I was pulling into neighborhoods to borrow a hose and into gas stations every 2-5 miles to refill the cooling system.

If you stay close to home then maybe wait. But if you take yours out into the boondocks to wheel or get a long ways from home, I'd replace it with a Mopar at my earliest convenience. Avoid store brand water pumps even when they come with a "lifetime" warranty, they're junk and their only guarantee is that they'll fail sooner than you'd like it to.

 

[cliffish]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Replace it when it goes bad. It will let you know. I'm a risk taker though. I only have 4 rolls of toilet paper and 1/2 bottle of hand sanitizer.

Now that is funny! I just bought another costco TP pack today......but I have been known to hit the bowl 4 times before 10am...I know TMI

 

[TeeJohn]

Mine worked fine and wasn’t leaking at 165,000. Recently after a few cold starts while pulled up close to the garage door the sound of a rough or dry bearing struck me. Removing the belt and spinning everything didn’t narrow it down but the viscous fan coupling is heavy. After removing the fan and coupling it was easy to feel the very rough water pump bearing.
I bought a new Mopar pump. The impeller is plastic now days and is susceptible to damage if rough handled in shipping. My online retailer made good on the first broken replacement pump without issue.

 

[TJRick]

Mine worked fine and wasn’t leaking at 165,000. Recently after a few cold starts while pulled up close to the garage door the sound of a rough or dry bearing struck me. Removing the belt and spinning everything didn’t narrow it down but the viscous fan coupling is heavy. After removing the fan and coupling it was easy to feel the very rough water pump bearing.
I bought a new Mopar pump. The impeller is plastic now days and is susceptible to damage if rough handled in shipping. My online retailer made good on the first broken replacement pump without issue.

Plastic? I just checked my Mopar water pump I bought new last year and the impeller is metal.

 

[TheBoogieman]

Plastic? I just checked my Mopar water pump I bought new last year and the impeller is metal.

They may have changed for 05-06' Jeeps, but mine was metal also. I found it on Ebay for $95.

 

[TheBoogieman]

Now that is funny! I just bought another costco TP pack today......but I have been known to hit the bowl 4 times before 10am...I know TMI

I'm lucky if I go twice a week........To the bowl, not Costco.

 

[mxz800]

When I replaced the timing belt on my 2.4, I changed the water pump, I wouldn't have if I wasn't.

 

[cliffish]

I'm lucky if I go twice a week........To the bowl, not Costco.

yeah as my wife says..I am full of crap..

 

[TheBoogieman]

yeah as my wife says..I am full of crap..

Tell her you're actually empty.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

I'm lucky if I go twice a week........To the bowl, not Costco.

Meet my friend I have breakfast with every morning.

 

[KingCarGuyZ]

I replaced mine as a preventative task. I would replace it, especially if it's a daily driver. I would rather work on my vehicles at my leisure vs having to rush the job because I need it running to get to work the next day.

this 1000 times. you want your DD to be reliable, you don't want to question whether or not shell start this morning or make it home tonight.

I replaced mine not cause it was weeping but because it was running hot. something you might not notice until you overheat it a few times (I didn't) I think the general rule of thumb is to replace it every 100K miles. But if you're strapped for time or cash, just wait until it starts to go and keep an eye on it.