oil leak? Please say no!

[jboehm25]

I was checking belts and hoses the other day and noticed more oil than usual on the top of my water pump and radiator hoses. I figure that the oil is pretty dangerous to my timing belt and we all know what that means. How bad can that extra oil be and is it time for new seals or something? Also I noticed a little white plastic hose connector protruding from my water pump near the lower radiator hose without a hose on it. The picture in the Haynes manual didn't show a connector protruding the water pump at all. What's that connector for and do I need to put a hose on it? Thanks!

[Bob's944]

sounds like the part without the hose is the modification needed for late model remanufactured pumps, it's normal, my new water pump I got back today has one. I would find the source of the oil and fix it, it'll tear up your hoses and belts.

[Andre]

My water pump has that connector too, i was wondering about that a while back but forgot to ask.

[jboehm25]

Aren't the water pumps exchangable between 944s and 951s? Maybe the plastic connector is for a Turbo unit?

[Bob's944]

I think that's right, turbo's came out in 86, I believe that's when they started making them this way.

[NickB 951]

There's a good water pump article on the 944 garage website. The text below is from there (any copywright stuff acknowledged).


There are two different styles of water pumps used on the 924S and 944 (including Turbos). The new style coolant pump has a guard rail for the timing belt an a larger idler roller (46.2 mm vs. 32.0 mm). The new style was installed on all cars produced after July 1986. I recommend installing the new style pump when replacing the water pump. For cars which previously did not have the new style pump installed, this requires modifying the rear timing cover and purchasing a belt guard and larger idler roller. Some of the new style pumps will come with the belt guard already installed so ask your parts supplier when ordering. The groove for the thermostat snap ring has also been moved. Previously, it was 4.5 mm from the sealing surface and is now at 7 mm. This requires the use of a new thermostat and spacer.

On Turbocharged cars, there is a nozzle on the water pump which supplies cooling water to the turbocharger bearing housing. On Normally Aspirated cars the nozzle is a block-off plate. The block-off plate / nozzle is sealed to the water pump by an o-ring which should be replaced when the new pump is installed. On some pumps, the block-off plate / nozzle is mounted using a 6 mm stud and nut and a 6 mm x 20 mm bolt. However, most of the new pumps come with two bolt holes. This requires transferring the 6 mm stud from the old pump to the new one or purchasing another 6 mm x 20 mm bolt.



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NickB
'89 951