The Value of Replacing the Water Pump and Timing Belt Simultaneously

The Value of Replacing the Water Pump and Timing Belt Simultaneously

Sponsored by Carter

Water pumps have long been considered the heart of a vehicle’s cooling system.

Although its sole function – pumping coolant from the radiator through the engine – seems simple, it’s a crucial process to keep engines running at optimal temperatures. Unfortunately, some drivers can overlook this – along with proper care for the part.

On average, water pumps should be expected to last anywhere from 60,000 to 100,000 miles, but when you consider that those same miles rack up on the timing belt (plus millions of actual rotations of the part as it keeps the engine in sync), two key components are suffering virtually the same amount of wear at the same time.

While each part can be replaced individually, it makes sense to talk to vehicle owners about replacing them together. Here’s why.

Minimize the Risk of Future Engine Problems

A malfunctioning or failed water pump cannot properly keep an engine cool. This means that in time, heat – one of the biggest threats to an engine – will increase to dangerous levels and can lead to catastrophic problems for many internal engine parts.

At the same time, a cracked or broken timing belt can risk the engine pistons and valves getting out of sync. Depending on the vehicle and engine, the timing belt drives the water pump, too. If the belt fails, the pump might not be far behind. Because the timing belt has a similar service life expectancy compared to most water pumps, it’s wise to replace them at the same time. This will help to minimize serious engine problems in the future.

Save Time and Money

If a customer only replaces one of these two parts, they will eventually be back to replace the other. This can double their parts and labor costs in addition to having to make an extra trip to the shop.

It’s a good idea for customers to replace both the water pump and the timing belt simultaneously so that both parts are brand new and will wear at the same time.

Bottom line: can vehicle owners replace the water pump separately from the timing belt? Of course. It’s not a requirement to do both. But if the vehicle is torn down enough to replace one or the other, it’s best to just replace both and save time, money and prevent additional damage in the process.

Carter Engineered Quality® water pumps are designed to meet or exceed all OE specifications and are engineered for correct operation in any vehicle. Each Carter® water pump is 100% factory-tested with an application-specific design, and purpose-built to meet the rapidly changing demands of today’s high-temperature engines.

Since 1909, Carter® has been an industry leader and premier manufacturer of fuel pumps, water pumps, assemblies and accessories, with warranties available for additional peace of mind. See the full line of products at carterengineered.com.

Sponsored by Carter®.

You May Also Like

Advanced Filtration Is Key to Vehicle Longevity

Let’s face it, we love our cars – and we drive a lot. According to statistics from the U.S. Department of Transportation, Americans drive more than 13,000 miles per year on average. Although the miles continue to rack up on our cars and trucks, their overall shelf life keeps increasing. Once upon a time, vehicles

Let’s face it, we love our cars – and we drive a lot. According to statistics from the U.S. Department of Transportation, Americans drive more than 13,000 miles per year on average.

Although the miles continue to rack up on our cars and trucks, their overall shelf life keeps increasing.

What Causes Fuel Pumps to Fail?

Like most vehicle components, natural wear and tear is the unavoidable cause for parts replacement. Fuel pumps are often out of sight and out of mind for most shop visitors. That’s because they are an as-needed repair and not typically a part of ongoing maintenance. Nevertheless, if you diagnose fuel pump failure, customers will want

Protecting Your Vehicle in the Winter

Depending on where you live, autumn is an idyllic time of year with bright colors and mild temperatures. If there is one downside though, it means that winter is on its way, which means frigid temperatures, snow, ice and difficult road conditions. The lifespans of cars and trucks are increasing all the time, so protecting

A Closer Look: Standard® Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI)

Gasoline direct injection (GDI) is used on most new vehicles and requires a different approach to diagnosis and service. GDI technology has been an integral part of helping to improve fuel economy while reducing emissions, and can be found on more than half of the U.S. fleet. In fact, the use of GDI engines has

Overcoming Supply Chain Issues in Today’s World

Many legislative and environmental mandates have affected the collision repair industry over the last decade. To comply with such mandates, vehicle manufacturers continue to design vehicles with increasingly advanced electronics, ranging from Advanced Driver Assistance Systems that increase safety, helping people with everything from parking to driving, to the recent push for electric vehicles. They’ve

Other Posts

High Oil Consumption?

A common question an OEM oil supplier like ENEOS sees is how to tell when oil consumption becomes excessive? Since a few factors could be involved, here are some of the potential implications. How much is too much?First, because of wear, vehicles are more likely to consume engine oil as they age. Common culprits that

Fill Your Customers in About Total Vehicle Filtration

If you’ve ever wondered what one of the biggest threats to a vehicle’s engine is, the answer is microscopic particles. If these tiny specs of dirt and dust aren’t filtered properly, they will quickly accumulate inside the engine, which can cause significant damage to many parts. Worse yet, this can lead to complete engine failure.

A Closer Look: Advanced Driver Assist Systems (ADAS)

Advanced Driver Assist Systems (ADAS) Overview: Advanced Driver Assist Systems have been quite the industry buzz over the last several years. We have seen new business opportunities arise, and even a new segment of mobile technicians focusing on ADAS calibrations. While ADAS may seem relatively new, automotive service professionals have been servicing Driver Assist Systems

FRAM® Provides Next-Level Engine Protection for the Summer

For many people, road trips are an enjoyable summertime tradition. Whether you’re taking the family outon vacation, traveling for sporting events, or just hitting the road for some mind-clearing relaxation,summer usually means miles. Since 1934, Pros and DIYers everywhere have relied on FRAM® to get the most complete engineprotection. When it comes to making sure