I'm doing some work on my 1999 Nissan Frontier this weekend. It's a 2.4L, 2wd model. It has 144k miles and runs great. I'm replacing the front crank seal and oil pan seal, as they're just starting to leak.
When I went to replace the front seal, I noticed the water pump was starting to leak a little out of the weep hole. When I pulled the old pump off, I was surprised to find rust on the impeller. There's also a line of rust inside the timing cover, as if there was a water line sitting there at some point.
This appears to be the OE pump. It's marked "Atsugi" and "hecho en Mexico." A Mexican water pump is not a surprise, as this engine was made in Mexico.
The stained line in the block almost makes me think that the motor sat at some point partially drained of coolant. It seems like a line that would form at the surface when the block was only half full. The first thing I thought was that perhaps this isn't the original engine. The staining seems like the type that would form if the engine sat somewhere with the cooling system only partially filled, like in a junkyard.
I've owned this truck since 2007, when it had 60k miles. The coolant has always looked bright green and clean, and the coolant I drained looked fine. I replaced the coolant a few years ago. I'm the 3rd owner of this vehicle. The previous owner didn't mention anything about the engine being replaced, but who knows. I haven't tried to find a casting number or serial number on the block to see if it's original.
This vehicle has been basically problem free since I bought it. Before the work this weekend, all I've done is normal maintenance, replace one radiator hose and the valve cover gasket.
Thoughts or ideas from anyone?
When I went to replace the front seal, I noticed the water pump was starting to leak a little out of the weep hole. When I pulled the old pump off, I was surprised to find rust on the impeller. There's also a line of rust inside the timing cover, as if there was a water line sitting there at some point.
This appears to be the OE pump. It's marked "Atsugi" and "hecho en Mexico." A Mexican water pump is not a surprise, as this engine was made in Mexico.
The stained line in the block almost makes me think that the motor sat at some point partially drained of coolant. It seems like a line that would form at the surface when the block was only half full. The first thing I thought was that perhaps this isn't the original engine. The staining seems like the type that would form if the engine sat somewhere with the cooling system only partially filled, like in a junkyard.
I've owned this truck since 2007, when it had 60k miles. The coolant has always looked bright green and clean, and the coolant I drained looked fine. I replaced the coolant a few years ago. I'm the 3rd owner of this vehicle. The previous owner didn't mention anything about the engine being replaced, but who knows. I haven't tried to find a casting number or serial number on the block to see if it's original.
This vehicle has been basically problem free since I bought it. Before the work this weekend, all I've done is normal maintenance, replace one radiator hose and the valve cover gasket.
Thoughts or ideas from anyone?
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