Water pump failure.

[kinder]

Hi guys and gals.

Just letting everyone know that at 87000km my water pump has shown to be leaking.

Not on the ground as it seems to have been a slow process over time. Oil always looked good. Car never had issues heating up.

Only reason I found out was the other day it took longer to drive into work (record snowfall) and I noticed a lack of heat in the car.

Brought it in and that's what it turned out to be.

Did a bit of research and it seems more common than I thought.

Also as it's timing chain driven it's a PITA to change.

So I'm going to be about $2200 CND lighter this week.

Sad days.

 

[luigisho]

No warranty? That's about 54k miles for us US non metrics.

I think an extended Ford powertrain warranty is highly recommended looking at the cost of repairs and recurring weakness of PTU, waterpump and timing chain issues. Sorry for the big repair bill.

 

[krewat]

Thanks for the report - have you changed the coolant in all that time?

 

[kinder]

Have not changed it (it is getting changed as part of this) but it was checked last service (I bring them my oil to put in for changes.) Happy that it happened this way though. Had it occurred over the summer I would have risked blowing engine.

I bought the car Dec 2012 so it's outside of warranty time. I asked them for a discount and they are doing 10% but still will be over 2g.

I'll update total cost once I get final bill.

 

[SHOdded]

Sucks this happened to you. Way too early ...

 

[kinder]

Sucks this happened to you. Way too early ...

Tell me about it.

 

[MHW100]

Is there anything preventative one can do or is the water pump just a weak link in these engines?

 

[SHOdded]

Keep the coolant changed, on an old school schedule. Ignore the initial change recommendation of 100+K miles. 3/36 might seem extreme, but a small price to pay.

Using OEM coolant only MIGHT help, might not. Do not mix OEM and aftermarket coolants tho.

 

[rubydist]

Depending on where the water pump on these motors leaks from, there is a leak path to the outside of the motor and onto the ground, or inside the motor into the oil. Doing the oil analysis at least once a year is a good idea, to know if you have traces of coolant getting into the oil.

 

[krewat]

Doing the oil analysis at least once a year is a good idea, to know if you have traces of coolant getting into the oil.

That's an excellent idea...

 

[SHOdded]

Coolant is usually tracked by sokpdium levels, so you should know how much sodium the engine oil contains to begin with. Yes, some oils come with a LOT of sodium formulated into them.

 

[Jeff2017]

This is why they are losing $1B. They can blame tariffs but if they really engineered their cars, they would sell a lot more of them.

 

[krewat]

Gotta wonder if any additives would help the seal live longer.

 

[SHOdded]

None that I know of. It is possible that HD/millionmile coolants will work even better than OEM or aftermarket "extended life" products, but this would be a car-by-car test. No data from Ford as a quick answer.

 

[luigisho]

I agree with the engineering. I have had a Ford in the stable (and have 2 currently) for 25yrs. I am tempted by the price vs hp on several newer models but I have had reservations about engineering quality for many years now. A water pump seal between it and the internals screams- what did you expect to happen. I guess as long as it makes it to warranty tough luck. That with an initial non service ptu and other things...

No wonder the local city PD bought and went away quickly from this platform. Those things were new and then nowhere to be seen in service quickly here.

 

[MHW100]

Definitely thinking about buying a 7 year extended warranty.

 

[krewat]

No wonder the local city PD bought and went away quickly from this platform. Those things were new and then nowhere to be seen in service quickly here.

PD here is running them since 2013, and still doing so. They are the Lincoln 3.7's though, so I don't know where the water pump is on those things.

If you think the Euro-cars are any better, I know a few people with BMWs that did all sorts of weird things. One regularly needs more coolant every Fall. Hmm... wonder where it goes?

And BTW: https://www.explorerforum.com/forum...ds-to-dead-engine.424482/page-20#post-3687102

 

[luigisho]

If you think the Euro-cars are any better, I know a few people with BMWs that did all sorts of weird things. One regularly needs more coolant every Fall. Hmm... wonder where it goes?

Yes, I've been tracking the quality of those as well. Trying to resist a 3rd vehicle

 

[Jeff2017]

PD here is running them since 2013, and still doing so. They are the Lincoln 3.7's though, so I don't know where the water pump is on those things.

If you think the Euro-cars are any better, I know a few people with BMWs that did all sorts of weird things. One regularly needs more coolant every Fall. Hmm... wonder where it goes?

And BTW: https://www.explorerforum.com/forum...ds-to-dead-engine.424482/page-20#post-3687102

BMW's are notorious maintenance pig's.

 

[SHOdded]

bpd can speak to police vehicles far better than I but usually cost is the mitigating factor. If they need high speed pursuit vehicles they have other options - mustang, camaro, etc type options. Fleet vehicles tend to be better maintained, and Ford requires REGULAR maintenance, such as at least every 30K for PTU fluid changes. The most successful change every 10k!

Yes, even Lincolns suffer from water pump and turbo failures. Especially in commercial use duty where the least possible quality of fluids with the maximum possible change interval is applied.