How long can I drive with a leaking water pump?

Water pumps don’t “break” and start leaking; they have things called “weep holes”, so that when the bearings are starting to wear down, it will slowly start to drip, that way you know its time to replace it. If that is all that is happening, you’re fine to drive it for a week or so.

Can you still drive if water pump is leaking?

Yes, you can still drive your car for some short distances, keep filling up the reservoir with coolant to the FULL line mark. Take your car to a repair shop to get it fixed as soon as possible to avoid further damages to the engine, because the leakage will get worse if the repair is delayed.

What happens if you drive with bad water pump?

When a water pump fails it can be a catastrophe. The coolant is no longer circulating properly through the car. Heating and cooling may be affected by the vehicle. The car may begin to overheat as well.

Is a car drivable with a bad water pump?

While your car will still be drivable if you have a bad water pump, it is never recommended to drive your vehicle when your water pump fails. This is because the engine will start overheating, and it could get to a level of self-destruction.

Can you stop a water pump from leaking?

Pour a liquid radiator/water pump stop-leak product, such as Bar’s Liquid Radiator Stop Leak, into your vehicle’s radiator. The radiator is usually located in the front of the engine. The liquid stop-leak product poured into the radiator will flow to the water pump seal and possibly seal or slow the leak.

What would cause a water pump to leak?

The water pump contains several seals and gaskets that keep coolant enclosed and secure as it flows throughout the engine. As these seals and gaskets age, they will become worn, cracked, and dried out. Once this occurs, the coolant can leak from the water pump.

How do you stop a water pump from leaking?

Can a water pump go bad without leaking?

The water pump CAN go bad without leaking. It uses a sealed-bearing design, so once that goes bad you get a strange “grinding” sound. It is probably NOT the tensioner. In fact, you can have an internal leak with no evidence of one if the hot water evaporates before making it all the way out.

Is there a quick fix to slow leaking water pump?

Set the vehicle in park and activate the emergency brake. Make sure the engine is not running.

then shut it off.

Open the petcock valve on the bottom of the radiator and drain the coolant into a pan.

What happens if my water pump is leaking?

You should not drive with a leaking or damaged water pump. When the water pump is leaking, the vehicle will start to overheat. A leaking water pump could very well could cause major engine damage and leave you stuck on the side of the road with an overheating vehicle.