The water pump, or simply pump, is not the most complex component of a car and fails extremely rarely. Its main task is to increase the efficiency of the engine cooling system. Water cooling is an order of magnitude better than air cooling, but its operation requires the installation of additional equipment. And such equipment includes a pump that pumps coolant through the system. Let's look at the most popular types and which pump is best installed on a car, depending on the model.
Metelli
This Italian manufacturer produces pumps not only for domestic cars, but also for well-known foreign cars. Many car factories cooperate with him. The products are subject to strict quality control and are practically not counterfeited.
Useful: Do-it-yourself pump replacement on a VAZ 2114 (step-by-step instructions)
Pros:
- High quality;
- Few fakes;
- Reliability;
- Durability;
- Rubber gasket included;
- Affordable price.
Minuses:
- Almost none found.
The cost is about 1300 rubles.
Self-replacement of the pump on a VAZ 2110 (8 valves)
- Place the car on a viewing hole or overpass.
- Open the hood, turn off the power by removing the wire from the negative terminal of the battery.
- Open the expansion tank cap.
- Go down into the pit, place a wide-necked container (at least 5 liters) under the cylinder block.
- Unscrew the coolant drain plug (key 13) and drain it. Screw the drain plug back.
- Unscrew the 3 bolts securing the timing case (10mm wrench).
- Remove the cover.
- Set the crankshaft to the top dead center position of the first cylinder. To do this, turn off the gear and turn the bolt securing the generator pulley with a 19mm wrench until the mark on the camshaft gear matches the mark on the rear timing case.
- Check the alignment of the marks on the flywheel and clutch housing. To do this, remove the rubber plug on the crankcase to the right of the cylinder block.
- Secure the crankshaft in this position by inserting a large slotted screwdriver into the flywheel teeth.
- Loosen the nut securing the tension roller (17 wrench) and turn it counterclockwise with a special wrench, loosening the tension of the timing belt.
- Remove the belt and tension roller.
- Unscrew the 5 bolts securing the lower timing case, incl. and 3 bolts securing the pump (head or end cap 10). Remove the cover.
- Using a screwdriver, pry the pump housing and pull it out. Clean the surface of the seat from fragments of the old gasket.
- Lubricate the gasket on both sides with automotive sealant and place it on the new pump housing.
- Install the new pump into place.
- Carry out assembly work in reverse order. It will be better if you replace both the belt and the tension roller along with the pump. This way you will know exactly the resource of all these parts.
- When installing the timing belt, check its tension by turning one of its fields horizontally. The correct tension is one at which the belt can be rotated by finger force no more than 90 degrees.
Dolz
The company has existed since 1934. It produces water pumps for both cars and trucks. 95% of pumps on European cars are of this brand. Pros:
- Durability;
- Reliability;
- Prevalence;
- Protection against counterfeiting.
Minuses:
- High price.
The cost is about 1000 rubles.
Breakdown and signs
There are several characteristic signs based on which you can recognize the failure of the coolant pump:
- A hum or a rustling sound appears near the timing drive;
- There are traces of coolant leakage from the pump seat;
- Mechanical damage occurred to the belt - cracked, delaminated, teeth broke;
- The engine began to overheat excessively;
- The coolant level drops below normal, even when topping up;
- Liquid does not circulate well through the system.
Skf
Swedish manufacturer, known in many countries around the world. Its production workshops are also located on the territory of the former CIS countries. The product is very durable. It usually lasts at least 130,000 kilometers, which is considered an excellent indicator for water pumps. All products at the factory undergo strict quality control. Therefore, the defect rate is negligible. Spare parts of famous brands are often counterfeited. Therefore, when purchasing, you need to be extremely careful. Original pumps have the workshop mark, and there is always a marking on the box. Even the absence of one of these signs indicates a fake. Pros:
- Excellent quality;
- Durability;
- Availability;
- Acceptable price.
Minuses:
- Lots of fakes.
The cost is about 2800 rubles.
How to check for a malfunction
Having talked about which pump is better for the VAZ 2114 8 valves (and therefore which one will need to be purchased in the event of a malfunction), let’s also talk about what signs can be used to understand that the liquid pump has failed. The most likely factors indicating a malfunction are:
- rapid drop in fluid levels in the tank. It may indicate the presence of leaks in the system, which can form in a variety of places - joints, pipes and even the radiator itself;
- presence of liquid at the ventilation hole. It indicates that there are leaks in the pump seal area;
- humming sound when the liquid pump is running. Most often it speaks of partial wear or even complete destruction of the bearings;
- destruction of the pump impeller (the most obvious factor, although its presence can only be established after dismantling and disassembling the old pump);
- presence of deposits on the oil seal. Plaque itself does not indicate wear or breakdown, but is one of the indirect factors pointing to it.
Old and new VAZ 2114 pump If you notice that at least one of the above signs has appeared in the car (except for the last one), then you should not wait until the pump completely breaks down - it is better to replace it as soon as possible.
It is worth noting that you can detect a malfunction of the cooling system right on the go - to do this, you need to turn on the heated air blowing into the cabin and wait a little. If the air starts to flow warm, then everything is fine, if it is cold, then there is no fluid circulation in the system.
Hepu
The Hepu water pump is often chosen by owners of the VAZ 2114 and other Zhiguli models. The manufacturer has its own research center. It studies the properties of metals. Therefore, our own developments are used to produce products. The parts of this brand are known for their good quality. They are designed more for moderate loads than active ones. Products often last at least 90,000 kilometers. But sometimes there are defective spare parts on sale. Pros:
- Reliability;
- Own developments;
- Prevalence;
- Affordable price.
Minuses:
- Marriage occurs.
The cost is about 1700 rubles.
Types of water pumps
The main tasks performed by a car water pump:
- constant maintenance of a stable temperature in the engine cooling system;
- equalizing sudden temperature changes in the system;
- ensuring continuous movement of antifreeze.
Regardless of car models and engines, all pumps are similar in design, and may differ only in size, mounting method, performance, and impeller type. However, based on the impeller, pumps are divided into two categories: plastic and metal. All of them have both their disadvantages and advantages.
How to choose a pump by impeller type
The vast majority of modern pumps have impellers made of plastic. The main advantage of a plastic element is its significantly lower weight compared to metal ones, and, accordingly, lower inertia. This means the motor spends less time spinning the impeller. More often, plastic impellers are installed on so-called turbo pumps and have a closed design.
But plastic impellers are not without their drawbacks. And the main one is deformation under the influence of high temperatures of antifreeze. Over time, during their operation, they change shape, and the efficiency of the entire pump is lost. In addition, they can simply be torn off the rod and the impeller will begin to scroll. Most often concerns budget pump options.
Regarding metal impellers, their main drawback is their high rate of inertia. But unlike plastic ones, it does not change shape and does not wear out over time. Budget pumps sometimes show signs of corrosion, especially when using low-quality antifreeze or ordinary water in the cooling system.
Consequently, the decision about which impeller to choose for the pump remains with the car owners. It is worth noting that most manufacturers install pumps with plastic impellers on modern cars. However, only high-quality materials are used for them, so there are no signs of abrasion or deformation over time.
Valeo
World famous manufacturer. Its water pumps are installed on the assembly line on new cars of many brands. Pumps of this brand often last more than 150,000-180,000 kilometers. This is an excellent indicator. The cost of spare parts of this brand is quite high. In addition, fakes are often found on sale. Pros:
- Durability;
- High quality materials;
- Withstand significant loads.
Minuses:
- High price;
- Lots of fake stuff.
Cost – approximately 3000 rubles.
AT
Manufacturer from China. This brand produces not only pumps, but also other spare parts for VAZ and many foreign cars. The products are sold in many auto stores in Russia. Products of this brand are inexpensive. But their quality is appropriate. Water pumps are not recommended for heavy use. Their purchase is justified only with moderate, careful use and a desire to save money. Opinions about the brand among car enthusiasts are contradictory. Pros:
- Low price;
- Availability.
Minuses:
- Small resource;
- Suitable for moderate loads only;
- Marriage occurs;
- Low quality.
Cost – 850 rubles.
When to change your pump
The following signs will indicate the need to replace the water pump:
- During warm periods of the year, engine overheating often occurs, although the antifreeze level is normal.
- There is a leak at the pump connection points or the drain hole.
- While the motor is running, extraneous noise is heard from the pump (knocking, rustling, crackling, etc.).
- In winter, the heater does not heat up even with a well-warmed engine.
Also consider the service life of the part of a specific model. For most cars, this is a mileage of 60–90 thousand km. In rare cases it reaches 120 thousand. It is recommended to replace the pump after its service life has expired.
Luzar
Russian manufacturer operating on the basis of the Ukrainian Lugansk Automobile Radiator Plant. It produces pumps and other spare parts for the VAZ 2114 and other car models. The products are distinguished by acceptable quality and low prices. It is sold in many physical and online stores. Available in all regions of the country.
The manufacturer claims a guarantee of 125,000 kilometers. But products do not always serve as expected. The percentage of defects is high. Pumps may not be designed for heavy use.
Pros:
- Acceptable quality;
- Prevalence;
- Large declared resource;
- Low prices.
Minuses:
- Not suitable for active use;
- Marriage occurs.
The cost is about 1700 rubles.
What to look for when purchasing
The pump in a car is a very important element; its malfunction can lead to the engine boiling. To avoid this, you should take a responsible approach to choosing the unit. Below is a brief summary of the main selection criteria:
Impeller material
Refers to actuators, pumps antifreeze through the cooling system. An important point is the material from which it is made.
- Impeller made of plastic. Let us remind you that most modern cars are equipped with pumps with a plastic impeller. This design is lightweight, with low inertia, and the thin blades do their job perfectly. Their disadvantage is the fragility of the material, and they can also deform under the influence of high temperatures.
- Iron impeller. They have a huge resource and are very durable, but they have great inertia. In addition, if you use low-quality antifreeze or ordinary water in the cooling system, it can rust.
- Cast iron impeller. Such pumps are inexpensive; their production does not require the use of special technologies. Corrosion resistant. But due to the heterogeneity of the surface, the efficiency of the entire system decreases. In addition, thick blades increase the weight of the unit, which leads to even greater inertia of the pump.
- Aluminum impeller. An excellent option – the blades are thin and uniform. The unit has low weight and low inertia. The downside is their cost.
- Made from sheet steel. Such pumps have the thinnest blades, high-quality material is resistant to corrosion. But they have a flat shape, which reduces efficiency.
Impeller parameters
A very important parameter is the height of the impeller blades. Low ones have low productivity, high ones may not be suitable for design.
Another criterion is the reach of the impeller; the proximity of the blade to the response part of the pump increases the efficiency of coolant pumping. When choosing, you should pay attention to the quality of its pressing onto the shaft. If there is an imbalance, play will quickly appear, which will shorten the service life and also lead to a strong hum.
It is better to immediately refuse to purchase the cheapest pumps, since it will not be possible to control all these points on them.
Oil seals
The tightness of the pump depends on the seals. To increase the sealing properties, coolant with added lubricant is used. Most modern pumps have ceramic seals; they consist of two elements similar to a flat spool.
Bearing
The most common designs are double-row closed ball bearings or roller bearings. Must be lubricated with high temperature grease.
Pulley
The diameter of the pulley determines how fast the pump shaft will rotate. Manufacturers select optimal sizes for specific models.
In total, three types of pulleys are used on pumps:
- toothed - it is driven by a timing belt;
- belt - rotates with a regular belt;
- electromagnetic - a clutch that regulates the speed of rotation of the pump using a magnet.
The latter does not need to be sealed with oil seals; it never leaks. The pulley is rigidly fixed to the axle with bolts or a corkscrew connection.
Pump body
Passenger cars are often made of aluminum. It is easy to process, so you can make any, even the most complex, shape from it. Thanks to aluminum casting, precise dimensions can be achieved.
For trucks, cast iron ones are more common. They have more strength and are designed for fewer revolutions. Have longer service life.
