Hey folks, this might be a stupid question. I have a track day coming up and just noticed my water pump leaking. Yikes.

Are the ISF water pumps known to have catastrophic failures, or they will just leak more with time? Must replace before track event or should be ok to just keep an eye on between sessions? Attached are a few pics.

Long story short, not sure I will have time to replace the water pump before event, so either cancel event or roll the dice going with a seeping water pump.

 

get it fixed.

 

Do not roll the dice, replace it.

 

Got it. Thanks

 

I did 3-4 track days with the valley plate leak. Just filled it up.

 

There are two seals in a water pump. When the first one fails, it weeps through a hole specifically provided to let you know the water pump is going bad. It is intended to give you an indication before catastrophic failure occurs. When it fails completely, you lose pressure and the engine overheats very quickly. Less than a minute. If you are looking at your temperature gauge, you're not driving the car. I would pass on a track day to get the coolant system issue fixed. With a properly working cooling system, you have zero concerns about being able to drive home. Knowing it is compromised means you won't be focused on having a good event.

 

Thanks for input folks. Going to dealer first thing tomorrow to get it fixed.

Recommend replacing anything else while at it? I'm thinking to replace serpentine belt. Thermostat? I'm at 39k miles, and the car is 2008, so belt could have some cracks by now?

 

Thermostat is very unlikely at that mileage. I have 140k miles on my original thermostat. Smallest of my worries. Belt might be dry rotted if anything, but not worn in the conventional sense. Belts are pretty quick anyway, but if the pump is getting changed, it wouldn't be a bad idea to replace the belt too. I probably would if it were mine.

 

Ok. I'll ask them to put new belt on as well.

 

yeah my water pump didn't even show signs of leaking but I had it changed when I bought the car cause I knew early ISF had the water pump issue. was just for peace of mind more than anything, and it wasn't in the service history it ever got done so was an easy choice

 

Half those miles from track days and the other half driving to and from Oasis?

 

More like Rick's.