Upgraded water pumps are one of many components that engine OEMs are putting to work to improve fuel economy. The water pump is one of the major components in the cooling systems, and the cooling system can impact fuel economy and the longevity of the engine if it’s not cooling correctly.

“The cooling system is designed to eliminate damaging heat that is produced from the engine and keep the engine temperature within a set range in which the engine was designed to run for optimal performance and efficiency,” said Tim Shaw, national sales and product manager of remanufacturing for Haldex. “An engine running at a lower operating temperature will not combust efficiently, which could cause an increase of emissions, lack in performance and a decrease in fuel economy. An engine running at a higher operating temperature will reduce the life of the engine due to lack of proper lubrication and can cause premature failure.”

Shaw pointed to contaminated coolant, corrosion and rust as the most common reasons for water pump failures. “Contaminated coolant will have abrasive particles that will damage the water pump seal and cause them to fail prematurely,” he said. “ The other common failure we see is from the pH balance being incorrect, which can cause rust and corrosion on the internal parts.”
Shaw recommended a thorough flush of the cooling systems before installing a water pump and refilling the coolant with the vehicle manufacturer’s recommend coolant mixture to help prevent water pump failures.