Coolant leak, wondering if it's my water pump

[NyteEscape]

I just did my rear coolant flange, thermostat and j-plug since I had noticed a pretty significant coolant leak. Finished all that, then noticed I still had a leak. Then I noticed the below pic. I just did an oil change 2 weeks ago and there was no coolant residue, so I'm trying to figure out what it is. It's not coming from the radiator, just something on the front of the block. This leads me to believe it's my water pump. I replaced it with a pump with a metal impeller when i did my timing belt at 65k miles, now I'm at 110k miles. Are there any other coolant hoses other than the two on top of the motor in the front? Also, any one have any tips to check the water pump without taking everything on the front end apart?

pic as mentioned:

[Charles.waite]

Definitely looks like a water pump to me. Like the seal/oring is leaking pretty steadily. I would just do a whole timing belt service to be on the safe side.

[AudiNFS]

Water pump. Had the same leak on mine and that's what it was

[NyteEscape]

yea, that's what I was thinking, but hoping otherwise. surprised that the new metal impeller version only lasted 45k miles though.

[victimdumper]

(may be stupid suggestion) did you clean out the area where the water pump sits before installing the new one?
i think when i was reading through ecs's timing belt install guide they mentioned rust type stuff can build up where the o-ring sits, and if you don't clear it away before installing the new pump it can cause a leak over a shortened period of time.

[fitMINT]

giving you another water pump vote, mine also leaked from the same spot. water pump was pissing it everywhere, haha

[NyteEscape]

(may be stupid suggestion) did you clean out the area where the water pump sits before installing the new one?
i think when i was reading through ecs's timing belt install guide they mentioned rust type stuff can build up where the o-ring sits, and if you don't clear it away before installing the new pump it can cause a leak over a shortened period of time.

yea, i'm pretty sure i cleaned out the entire area. i guess it's just bad luck. oh well.

[immbelgique]

Yep That looks like your water pump. Had the same think happening last year on new years eve... Had it also replaced with a water pump with metal impeller @75,000 and 35,000 miles later it failed. Mine was not the O-ring but the seal around the shaft. It seems that quite some of those pumps with metal impeller are failing. Mostly the bearing and shaft seal. One thing though flush the coolant well because deposits can cause the seals to fail.

[NyteEscape]

well, looks like i have stuff to do tomorrow. i'll let you all know how it turns out.

[NyteEscape]

water pump and timing belt done. no more leak. thanks again for the confirmation.

[dan5171]

My pump failed today, same way. 75k on it, had planned on doing it next weekend ( t belt service and pump).....now I know what I'm doing tomorrow.

[Bigdog7373]

If you clean it out and lube up the o ring with some oil you shouldnt have a problem. I use the plastic impeller pump though. I figure if the pump is supposed to last 90k but the belt only lasts 70k then theres no worries

[Bigdog7373]

On another thought, did it go a lot faster doing the belt the second (or thrid) time? First time is a bitch, i felt like a tard! Lol

[NyteEscape]

i got it done this time around. the first time took me 9 hours and i'm pretty sure i forgot to put some screws back in. it's way too hot outside for me to even think about that. between all the other things i've been working on, i just didn't have the time or mindset to tackle the job.

as a plug, thanks again R.A.I.

[NyteEscape]

My pump failed today, same way. 75k on it, had planned on doing it next weekend ( t belt service and pump).....now I know what I'm doing tomorrow.

sorry to hear about the fail. it's just going to make me ever more paranoid about mine failing.

[04 audi a4 boi]

My pump failed today, same way. 75k on it, had planned on doing it next weekend ( t belt service and pump).....now I know what I'm doing tomorrow.

yea my pump did the same thing today, sad day for us all

[walky_talky20]

Does anybody care to share the manufacturer of their failed metal-impeller'd pump?

There are like a half-dozen or more different manufacturers of these things. It would be REALLY nice to know which ones are failing. Some of the companies have gone from a steel impeller to a brass impeller (likely to address the shaft bearing/seal failure issues). It would be good to mention what type of impeller was on your failed pump.

[Charles.waite]

^^ this, very much so. I'm going to be spin a full tb/wp service on my car soon. I will not be happy if over one of the pumps that fails. Want to make sure I'm making a smart purchasing decision!

[CHARLES A4]

Where would this leak be to assume its the water pump?

[gmx]

Hmm I had the same coolant residue on my oilpan, so that's where it came from. (I already replaced my pump, it's bearing f'd up then eventually literally poured water out.

Does anybody care to share the manufacturer of their failed metal-impeller'd pump?

There are like a half-dozen or more different manufacturers of these things. It would be REALLY nice to know which ones are failing. Some of the companies have gone from a steel impeller to a brass impeller (likely to address the shaft bearing/seal failure issues). It would be good to mention what type of impeller was on your failed pump.

Mine was Graf, although that is 058 block..

[B72011]

The whole metal impeller deal is overblown. Do a search on the net about plastic vs metal waterpumps--I thin it might be on the blauparts site. Anyways they explain that the NEWEST plastic is MUCH tougher and heat resistant than the old stuff and that plastic is just fine for the pump application. No need to get metal--just get a quality one from an OEM supplier and you'll be fine.

[imnuts]

The whole metal impeller deal is overblown. Do a search on the net about plastic vs metal waterpumps--I thin it might be on the blauparts site. Anyways they explain that the NEWEST plastic is MUCH tougher and heat resistant than the old stuff and that plastic is just fine for the pump application. No need to get metal--just get a quality one from an OEM supplier and you'll be fine.

You can get plastics that don't soften or degrade until well over 300F, and if your coolant gets up to that temp, you're probably going to have more issues than just a water pump impeller. I agree though, if a manufacturer does a bad job of putting the pump together, it doesn't matter if it is plastic, metal, or something else.

[walky_talky20]

The only time I used a plastic impeller pump - it failed at 80 or 90-ish thousand miles. It was an "updated composite" impeller (it was White) on a pump that was included with a 1.8T 06A Continental Pro Series Timing Belt kit. This was maybe 2 years ago. Customer was very on top of services and stacked miles on quickly. He was quite upset that the part we installed caused a overheat/break-down/tow situation just prior to the next scheduled t-belt service. So, we don't install the plastic stuff anymore.

[04 audi a4 boi]

#19----- on the front of the block, you would see it on the oil pan.

[CHARLES A4]

#19----- on the front of the block, you would see it on the oil pan.

I have a leak similar to that but mine is coming from the front driver side corner of the oil pan I would say below the thermostat and j plug but when I look at them with a flashlight it looks clean

[04 audi a4 boi]

I have a leak similar to that but mine is coming from the front driver side corner of the oil pan I would say below the thermostat and j plug but when I look at them with a flashlight it looks clean

dont know to much about this car yet, just what has happened to me, i would just check the water pump. if that's not it i would ask the one of the more senior guys up here....

[JoeR6]

My newish water pump failed after 16 months/14k miles. I had the water pump changed while doing the timing belt when the car had 47k miles on it (timing belt was 10yrs old and lightly cracking.)
Car now has 61k miles on it - I noticed one day on a cold start up that a moderate squeal was being emitted from the timing belt area. Squeal went away after about 15 seconds. Drove fine for a couple days (no more squealing) and then kind of noticed a knocking/clacking noise from the same area while the car was running. No codes popped up. Planned to take it to my indy that week but on the way to work yesterday the clacking noise got worse and then the coolant warning light went off / temperature gauge swung over to HOT and I immediately pulled over.

Open up the hood and there was coolant sprayed everywhere - more so towards the front of the engine.

Got her towed to my indy (same one that did the timing belt/WP at 47k miles) where he confirmed that it was indeed the WP (over the phone he thought it might have been the coolant flange but that is located behind the engine.)

So in goes a new water pump (OEM), timing belt, and tensioners. Just kinda sucks that I changed out the WP as preventive maintenance and it only lasted 14k miles. Part only had a 1yr 12k mile warranty, but my indy gave me an hour off labor due to the WP's short life.

Here are some pics of the failed part - not sure if this one is OEM or not. Wouldn't freely turn - kind of notchy. Could see some of the seals had degraded/broken up.

For reference 2004 A4 1.8T Quattro w/ APR stage 1. 61k miles

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-joe

[A4SoftWalker]

Good info here.
Thanks for adding it to a relevant thread and contributing.

[SilverTQ]

When I did my timing belt and water pump at 66k I opted for the "improved" version with the metal impeller. Now 22k miles later the water pump failed and was leaking badly. Did the whole timing belt, water pump all over again at 88k...