1999 OBW: should water pump be replaced along with timing belt?

[KLS]

We've got a good 1999 Legacy OBW with about 87,000 miles that has a
leaking oil pump. We're gonna get this replaced under the extended
warranty, and I want to change out the timing belt while the techs are
in the area. This vehicle has the Phase I engine, though, and I
cannot remember whether I should also pull and replace the water pump
and thermostat while we're doing the oil pump and timing belt.

Please advise; we're scheduling the service this week. Thanks a
bunch!

 

[Michael Pardee]

We've got a good 1999 Legacy OBW with about 87,000 miles that has a
leaking oil pump. We're gonna get this replaced under the extended
warranty, and I want to change out the timing belt while the techs are
in the area. This vehicle has the Phase I engine, though, and I
cannot remember whether I should also pull and replace the water pump
and thermostat while we're doing the oil pump and timing belt.

Please advise; we're scheduling the service this week. Thanks a
bunch!

Definitely change the water pump, for two reasons. The water pump is
relatively little labor once the timing belt is removed - you would say
"D'oh!" if it starts leaking soon and passed up this opportunity. Maybe more
important, old water pumps have been known to seize and destroy the timing
belt, thus destroying the engine. I see posts like that every few years, and
it's just heartbreaking. In fact, there was one here in the last month or
two.

Mike

 

[Mike]

Have it replaced.

 

[Sheldon]

We've got a good 1999 Legacy OBW with about 87,000 miles that has a
leaking oil pump. We're gonna get this replaced under the extended
warranty, and I want to change out the timing belt while the techs are
in the area. This vehicle has the Phase I engine, though, and I
cannot remember whether I should also pull and replace the water pump
and thermostat while we're doing the oil pump and timing belt.

Please advise; we're scheduling the service this week. Thanks a
bunch!

Replacing the timing belt is not cheap, so I would definitely replace any
parts or seals while you are in there. I had the timing belt replaced when
my waterpump starting leaking -- just the opposite, but the same idea. The
mileage was so close to changing the belt it just made sense. For whatever
reason it seems the water pump, seals and timing belt all last about the
same time.

 

[lkreh]

Definitely change out the water pump while the belt is off. It's
expensive, but you should also consider replacing the belt tensioner
while the belt is off - they also have a habit of failing around
100,000 miles.

 

[Mortimer Schnurd]

We've got a good 1999 Legacy OBW with about 87,000 miles that has a
leaking oil pump. We're gonna get this replaced under the extended
warranty, and I want to change out the timing belt while the techs are
in the area. This vehicle has the Phase I engine, though, and I
cannot remember whether I should also pull and replace the water pump
and thermostat while we're doing the oil pump and timing belt.

Please advise; we're scheduling the service this week. Thanks a
bunch!

CHEAP insurance! always replace it with the timing belt...
Applies to most 4/6 Cyl engines, regardless of MFGR.

 

[KLS]

We've got a good 1999 Legacy OBW with about 87,000 miles that has a
leaking oil pump. We're gonna get this replaced under the extended
warranty, and I want to change out the timing belt while the techs are
in the area. This vehicle has the Phase I engine, though, and I
cannot remember whether I should also pull and replace the water pump
and thermostat while we're doing the oil pump and timing belt.

Thanks to all who recommended changing out these parts: For about
$400, we got a new water pump, thermostat, timing belt, tensioner, and
cam seals, and the labor for the work cost about $120 because the
majority of the labor was covered under the extended warranty for the
leaking oil pump.

My question now is the appopriate solution to the leaking oil pump:
the tech resealed it as opposed to replacing it, which I didn't fully
realize until we got home and I read the invoice more carefully. Is
this a satisfactory repair, or should I have put in a new oil pump?
Remember, the work was covered under warranty.

 

[Rick Courtright]

My question now is the appopriate solution to the leaking oil pump:
the tech resealed it as opposed to replacing it, which I didn't fully
realize until we got home and I read the invoice more carefully. Is

Hi,

Assuming the oil pump's not worn beyond the limit, resealing is
appropriate. Just think about it--what's leaking? It's a bad seal!
There's an O-ring on the back of the pump, and regular style seal on the
front--both should be replaced any time you're in that far (t-belt,
water pump, etc.) The front crank main seal and the cam seals should be
changed out, too. Few of the seals on the front of the engine will last
beyond 100k miles or so without getting dry and starting to leak. Some
claim the "hi-mileage" oils can help extend their life but I can't speak
to that.

As for replacing the oil pump itself, assuming one does regular oil
changes, oil pumps normally don't wear out that fast (mine's original at
360k miles) but the seals don't last, especially that chintzy little
O-ring on the back! Heat's probably the biggest enemy.

Rick

 

[KLS]

Assuming the oil pump's not worn beyond the limit, resealing is
appropriate. Just think about it--what's leaking? It's a bad seal!
There's an O-ring on the back of the pump, and regular style seal on the
front--both should be replaced any time you're in that far (t-belt,
water pump, etc.) The front crank main seal and the cam seals should be
changed out, too. Few of the seals on the front of the engine will last
beyond 100k miles or so without getting dry and starting to leak. Some
claim the "hi-mileage" oils can help extend their life but I can't speak
to that.

Rick, thanks for this reassurance. From the invoice for this oil
pump resealing job, the "seal ring cyln" and "slgn-belt cove" and "oil
seal" were replaced along with Fuji bond. And while they were in the
front of the engine, they replaced the water pump gasket, thermostat
gasket, and the 4 timing belt oil seals (cam seals), so I think we are
good to go for a long time with this car. Yes, we change the oil
every 3k miles, religiously.

 

[Rick Courtright]

seal" were replaced along with Fuji bond. And while they were in the
front of the engine, they replaced the water pump gasket, thermostat
gasket, and the 4 timing belt oil seals (cam seals), so I think we are

Hi,

Sounds like they treated you well! Next time you're due for a t-belt,
you'll probably want to have 'em replace the water pump along w/ belt
and all the seals (again--doing seals at each belt change is cheap
insurance!) Water pump replacement interval recommendations vary--some
get less than 100k miles, some over 200k, so it's another "cheap
insurance" item since all the labor's pretty much done to get to the
belt itself. I generally get good water pump mileage: like many others,
I run 50-50 antifreeze and DISTILLED water. While the distilled water
might not help, it certainly doesn't hurt, and it costs so little it's a
good idea in my book.

Best of luck!

Rick

 

[KLS]

Hi,

Sounds like they treated you well! Next time you're due for a t-belt,
you'll probably want to have 'em replace the water pump along w/ belt
and all the seals (again--doing seals at each belt change is cheap
insurance!) Water pump replacement interval recommendations vary--some
get less than 100k miles, some over 200k, so it's another "cheap
insurance" item since all the labor's pretty much done to get to the
belt itself. I generally get good water pump mileage: like many others,
I run 50-50 antifreeze and DISTILLED water. While the distilled water
might not help, it certainly doesn't hurt, and it costs so little it's a
good idea in my book.

All excellent advice that I fully intend to follow. Thank you! My
question now is whether I should worry about the cooling/heating
system: the radiator is original, so is that doomed to fail or might
it last indefinitely? I think this is about the last of the non-wear
items to deal with on this car, and the extended warranty runs out in
December, so I'm trying to plan ahead.