How to Inspect a Car Water Pump for Leaks

The car water pump serves to keep your car's engine from running hot. It circulates a mixture of water and coolant through the engine. If the water pump leaks, it is important to act quickly. Neglecting to fix a leak can cause severe damage to your engine.

Instructions

1

Locate the car's water pump. The water pump is on the front of the engine. It will be behind the car's fan blade, if your car has a fan.

2

Crank the engine when you want to inspect the car water pump for leaks. It's important to allow the engine to heat up. This allows the thermostat to open on your engine so that your water pump can circulate the fluids.

3

Look for water pump leaks after your engine has been running for several minutes. The water pump has a shaft that is attached to the fan on the outside. The shaft goes through the water pump housing. This has a seal and bearing. The seal is what keeps the water from leaking out of the shaft. Inside the shaft of the water pump, there is an impeller which circulates water through the engine.

4

Inspect the gasket around the water pump that mounts to the engine housing. The gasket is another part that could be leaking. Make sure all bolts are tight. Make sure the gasket is not blown out. If there are no leaks, the gasket (along with all parts mentioned in Step 3) should be dry.

5

Check all hoses near your car's water pump for leaks. Many times, hoses leaking will look as if your water pump is leaking. If you discover a leaky hose, it will save you a lot of time and money. Hoses are cheaper to replace than water pumps.