Napa water pumps are garbage. Need an alternative.

[exranger06]

This is the 2nd water pump that took a dump on me in less than 2 months. I will never buy a Napa pump ever again. This is coming from someone who works there. The first pump kept leaking from the gasket surface. I used the gasket the first time, and tried 2 different RTVs after that. Finally returned it as defective and got another one. This one sealed up fine, but now after about 2 months it's leaking from the weep hole!! So this will be the 5th, yes the FIFTH *&%^ing time I'm doing this water pump job. Needless to say, I DON'T want to do it again. So, does anyone have a recommendation on a GOOD water pump?? I stopped by the Ford dealer on my way home. They want over $337 for a pump . I paid only about $40 for the Napa one. I know the Ford one is better, but there's no way it's $300 better. How are Advanced pumps?

Here is what I found to my dismay the other day. Notice the trail of white residue junk coming directly from the weep hole:

Oh, and just throwing this out there: Napa lug nuts also suck. Here's a picture of my wheel. 4 out of 5 lug nuts are factory original (17 years old!) and 1 of them is a Napa that's been on there less than 6 months. Guess which one it is?

 

[Kuato]

NAPA is probably remanufacturing their pumps. I've always had good luck at Advance Auto - and I usually get a new pump rather than remanufactured.

Lug nuts: on our Jeeps we have similar appearing nuts, and the replacements from AA are just as good or better than the original.

 

[exranger06]

Both pumps I bought are brand new, NOT remanufactured.

 

[Greggy_D]

Originally Posted By: exranger06
4 out of 5 lug nuts are factory original (17 years old!) and 1 of them is a Napa that's been on there less than 6 months. Guess which one it is?



The one on the far right?

 

[OVERKILL]

Buy the Ford pump.

And go to the wreckers and get an OEM lug nut

Your truck is an '94 I'm assuming based on your sig? How long did the OEM pump last? Divide that into months. Then factor in the hassle of replacing the NAPA ones that are failing, and how long they last. I'm betting you'll figure out the Ford pump IS $300.00 better than the $40.00 NAPA special.

 

[qdeezie]

It's interesting that you mention this. I always regarded NAPA as having the best quality parts, but last summer I bought a set of spark plug wires from NAPA that were bad and returned them for a refund.

Regarding the water pump, try looking it up on fastpartsnetwork.com. They sell Ford OEM parts at a substantialy lower cost.

Regarding other parts stores, you can try AAP since they have the online discount codes.

 

[EricF]

I'm using dorman lug nuts.. they're rusted, but not that bad (yet).
gonna switch to the McGard lugnuts when payday comes

as for the water pump..spend the money on a motorcraft.. it'll be cheaper.

 

[TTK]

You say you have replaced the pump 5 times, yet 2 of those were NAPA, so you must have purchased 3 at other stores. Is that correct? Can you tell where your pumps are made? Is replacing the pump 5 times worth $300 extra? I would probably give up and buy the Ford pump! LOL

 

[jimvegas]

FWIW my dealer website shows the OEM pump for $180.33 plus shipping, if this is for the 94 Explorer Sport. It retails for $306.16.
Factory lug nuts are $2.93 each.

PM me if you want the link, I don't post the URL as we are not a vendor on here.
Jim

 

[exranger06]

Originally Posted By: TTK
You say you have replaced the pump 5 times, yet 2 of those were NAPA, so you must have purchased 3 at other stores. Is that correct? Can you tell where your pumps are made? Is replacing the pump 5 times worth $300 extra? I would probably give up and buy the Ford pump! LOL


I bought 2 pumps. The first pump I tried getting to seal against the block 3 times before I finally returned it. The 2nd pump sealed up perfectly, but is now leaking from the weep hole. And yes this is for my 94 Explorer.

 

[exranger06]

Originally Posted By: jimvegas
FWIW my dealer website shows the OEM pump for $180.33 plus shipping, if this is for the 94 Explorer Sport. It retails for $306.16.
Factory lug nuts are $2.93 each.

PM me if you want the link, I don't post the URL as we are not a vendor on here.
Jim

Yes, please PM me.

 

[Michael_P]

NAPA quality has plummeted. I totally agree.

 

[Jimmy9190]

I went through my own multiple problems with a Napa water pump for my truck. My post about it is kind of long, but if you care to read it:

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/posts/2163770/

I have had no trouble at all with the Duralast pump I bought from Autozone. It is doing fine, it cost less than AAP and is made in the USA.

 

[Stu_Rock]

RockAuto has a Motorcraft for $183. It's the most expensive one they have. Looking at the pictures, it seems that the Motorcraft pump comes with the fanciest gasket.

 

[caravanmike]

i purchased a new duralast water pump 2 years ago for a 4.3L chevy. still doing good!

 

[moklock]

I put a Master branded water pump from O'Reilly on my GM 3800 2 yrs. ago and so far so good. I was suprised that it was actually made in USA, at least for that application.

The NAPA new pump I bought a few years ago for an Olds Quad4 was a Gates, so a Gates pump for that engine may also be best left alone.

 

[motorguy222]

An OEM part may not be the same thing that comes on a car from the factory.It could come from a different supplier and or be a differently made part.

OEM doesnt always mean the same thing that is on a car from the factory.Champion labs makes,at least did,the oil filters for Ford when they are new from the factory but Motorcraft filters that you buy for replacement are made by Purolator.

I would probably go with Advance if I was doing the work myself.

 

[Axe Man]

Other than the water pump that you said leaked at the mating surface your problem may not be the pumps themselves. I noticed that the pump drives the cooling fan/clutch assembly. That unit may be out of balance and slowly destroying the water pump. I've seen it happen before. And your statement that you've replaced the pump 4 times seems to point to that. I would check it out.

 

[Merkava_4]

If it's a fiber gasket that looks like grey cardboard, go ahead and coat both sides with Permatex 2B. It's a a dark brown gasket sealer that's completely water and oil proof. The only way to remove it is with brake fluid.

 

[exranger06]

Originally Posted By: Axe Man
Other than the water pump that you said leaked at the mating surface your problem may not be the pumps themselves. I noticed that the pump drives the cooling fan/clutch assembly. That unit may be out of balance and slowly destroying the water pump. I've seen it happen before. And your statement that you've replaced the pump 4 times seems to point to that. I would check it out.

Cooling fan and clutch were just replaced about a year ago. The first 3 times I reinstalled the same pump was due to it not sealing right at the gasket. A bad fan/clutch assembly wouldn't cause that.