Sprint water pump issues.

[sprintchris]

Hi,

Around a couple of years ago now I fitted a new old stock 6 vane water pump to my Sprint.

I’ve noticed now that it has developed a leak through the aperture in the block.

Would this most likely be the brass cage o rings that are not sealing? Or maybe another issue? I did clean the area where the o rings sit with fine wet n dry paper, so was really clean and smooth.

Any known good previous discussions on the forum about this?

Also, the pump, for normal road use 6 vane or 12 vane - have either been proved to be best? Has anyone actually ever done a flow test to see which moves the most water?

Thanks in advance,

Chris.

[marshman]

Most likely the seal which sits against the impeller. If the car has been standing for a while then the surface of the impeller the seal runs against can deteriorate and it will take a few miles for the seal to bed in.

Is it a big leak or just a very small trickle? and has the car been standing unused for a while? If only a small leak worth going for a longish run to see if the seal will bed in and reseal.

The debate around 6 or 12 vane pumps never seems to me to have a firm conclusion. There is often the same question on the Stag Forum. In my opinion both work OK if the clearance is properly set up and the rest of the system is up to scratch,

Roger

[sprintchris]

Most likely the seal which sits against the impeller. If the car has been standing for a while then the surface of the impeller the seal runs against can deteriorate and it will take a few miles for the seal to bed in.

Is it a big leak or just a very small trickle? and has the car been standing unused for a while? If only a small leak worth going for a longish run to see if the seal will bed in and reseal.

The debate around 6 or 12 vane pumps never seems to me to have a firm conclusion. There is often the same question on the Stag Forum. In my opinion both work OK if the clearance is properly set up and the rest of the system is up to scratch,

Roger

Hi Roger,

Thanks for the info.

Yes the car has stood for about 2 years with very little use, it does seem to have got worse. I took the car into my workplace for some bodywork and there was a puddle under the car over a 2 week period.

So if I put 100 miles or so on it and it still leaks then I guess I’m rebuilding my water pump

I did shim it up when fitting, fitting the cover with the bolts finger tight and using feeler gauges to check gap etc.

On the subject of the circuit, the block was washed out during rebuild, new updated aluminium radiator fitted. Have noticed the temp gauge sits a bit above half way, I fitted an electric fan this does run for a long time when it cuts in. Not sure which part of the circuit to take a temp reading from.

Chris.

[dursley92]

Just for information, I fitted a NOS 12 vane pump in my Sprint engine and had the dreaded slow weep from the block initially but it seems to have settled down after a few hundred miles and is now dry. Fingers crossed.

[sprintchris]

Just for information, I fitted a NOS 12 vane pump in my Sprint engine and had the dreaded slow weep from the block initially but it seems to have settled down after a few hundred miles and is now dry. Fingers crossed.

Thanks for the info, I’d better get driving it and see what happens!