My Gates Water Pump Is Failing. Suggestions?

[NDL]

I have a 2013 Buick LaCrosse, with the 3.6L engine: 132k miles. I replaced the stock water pump at 100k, as they are known to fail prematurely, and I didn't want for this to happen on a road trip.

Gates offered a pump with bolts, so that's what I went with. 32k miles later, the pump looks like it's leaking. I'm not happy, because doing a pump on this engine isn't a fun job.

The ACDELCO pump that I am looking at, may, or may not, come with bolts - and the manufacturer makes a point not to reuse bolts. Carter makes a pump that comes with bolts, and Carter has always had a good name - (but so did Gates: my pump's leaking, and a buddy of mine with a Ford 351 had his Gates pump recently fail him).

Any opinions on Carter water pumps? Are there any other pump brands that are solid? I am not certain that ACDELCO makes their own pumps, so I am not sold on going with that brand.

 

[Shannonwilkerson]

you should go with a Delco pumped source the bolts if you can…

 

[andrew_j]

you should go with a Delco pumped source the bolts if you can…

Realistically not changed it till it needed it unless it was easily accessible at some other repair or maintenance.

But the GM part. Good luck

 

[ripcord]

If the job truly stinks, then an original manufacturer part has the least risk. But... there is AC Delco and then there is AC Delco. "Gold", "Silver" or "Professional", etc. lines are 3rd party sourced parts of who knows what quality. Factory parts will be labeled as GM Genuine Parts or ACDelco Original Equipment.

 

[D60]

GM Genuine if you can find it.

The AC Delco is likely outsourced junk

 

[Timmastertech]

Whats the part number on the Delco pump? If it starts with 252 its a reboxed gates pump, is Delcos aftermarket line. It would be getting a Delco OE pump in my shop and bolts ordered separately as needed

 

[maduroman]

Pressure test it to make sure it's leaking at the pump

 

[mccandish]

Melling if it's available

 

[Trav]

It appears to be this one, it seems to be back ordered. Carter is trash as is Airtex and Delco gold. etc.

https://g.oempartsonline.com/oem-pa...lJnk9MjAxMyZ0PXByZW1pdW0mZT0zLTZsLXY2LWZsZXg=

ebay has one.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/3651693849...JvhUJXoS9/G5It6+D57o+SR5tA==|tkp:BFBM6MroluFl

 

[NDL]

Thank you all, for your helpful replies ! Any ideas about where I can source the bolts? Rock Auto doesn't have a listing

 

[NDL]

Melling if it's available

Anyone else like Melling? I never heard of the company; the original Delco pump runs $375; the Melling pump is $50

 

[NDL]

Whats the part number on the Delco pump? If it starts with 252 its a reboxed gates pump, is Delcos aftermarket line. It would be getting a Delco OE pump in my shop and bolts ordered separately as needed

Your advice is spot on: I looked, and the Delco pump starts with 252

 

[willbur]

It appears to be this one, it seems to be back ordered. Carter is trash as is Airtex and Delco gold. etc.

https://g.oempartsonline.com/oem-parts/gm-engine-water-pump-with-gasket-12709178?c=Zz1jb29saW5nLXN5c3RlbSZzPXdhdGVyLXB1bXAmbD0xJm49U2VhcmNoIFJlc3VsdHMmYT1idWljayZvPWxhY3Jvc3NlJnk9MjAxMyZ0PXByZW1pdW0mZT0zLTZsLXY2LWZsZXg=

ebay has one.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/365169384992?_skw=GM+-+12709178&itmmeta=01JW4PT4NBKG6WGNNPTWSRN7T2&hash=item5505ca9e20:g:YUAAAOSwkO5nBzmo&itmprp=enc:AQAKAAAA8FkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1d/0Peyn77/wHrdQIuB1v32j2sv2Ttt9glUxhHTVYMGf0Yy2/MiBzSKtitdGtGMKCmuFl16RHXEYb23geK5atUkM1mdcLgqe2Vx5RIiaIoCXSZag0vtfB6EVJGLjpfWxyVtKRqh/TWQLwGuDQIF9jpBXzkaNDoEd3ArbBKDEzmjpTRg06uCiFIiwESHP8kUp+RvFr2yFTyYHx+ln9DYa0N2CrgCxrUuNfnAjXntVaFROjDmOwklCCvIYc5lfjtQGDIdHzW8A0/Xr2tz0j6FJvhUJXoS9/G5It6+D57o+SR5tA==|tkp:BFBM6MroluFl

so what brand(s) do you like?

 

[vwmaniaman]

Melling makes good oil pumps. I would try one.

 

[benjamming]

It appears to be this one, it seems to be back ordered. Carter is trash as is Airtex and Delco gold. etc.

https://g.oempartsonline.com/oem-parts/gm-engine-water-pump-with-gasket-12709178?c=Zz1jb29saW5nLXN5c3RlbSZzPXdhdGVyLXB1bXAmbD0xJm49U2VhcmNoIFJlc3VsdHMmYT1idWljayZvPWxhY3Jvc3NlJnk9MjAxMyZ0PXByZW1pdW0mZT0zLTZsLXY2LWZsZXg=

ebay has one.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/365169384992?_skw=GM+-+12709178&itmmeta=01JW4PT4NBKG6WGNNPTWSRN7T2&hash=item5505ca9e20:g:YUAAAOSwkO5nBzmo&itmprp=enc:AQAKAAAA8FkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1d/0Peyn77/wHrdQIuB1v32j2sv2Ttt9glUxhHTVYMGf0Yy2/MiBzSKtitdGtGMKCmuFl16RHXEYb23geK5atUkM1mdcLgqe2Vx5RIiaIoCXSZag0vtfB6EVJGLjpfWxyVtKRqh/TWQLwGuDQIF9jpBXzkaNDoEd3ArbBKDEzmjpTRg06uCiFIiwESHP8kUp+RvFr2yFTyYHx+ln9DYa0N2CrgCxrUuNfnAjXntVaFROjDmOwklCCvIYc5lfjtQGDIdHzW8A0/Xr2tz0j6FJvhUJXoS9/G5It6+D57o+SR5tA==|tkp:BFBM6MroluFl

Supposedly, this online GM parts dealership has it available to order. Of course, calling would be best bet to ensure website is true as that's not always the case with online dealership parts ordering. $206 + shipping
GM Parts Direct - Flow Auotmotive Center of Winston-Salem, NC

 

[gman2304]

I put a Melling water pump on my old Chevy 5.3 several years ago and was impressed with the machine work, packaging, and 3 year warranty. It came with a new thermostat and housing and was $150 out the door with free shipping from Summit Racing. No problems and was doing its job when I sold the truck last year. If I ever need another water pump it will be another Melling.

 

[Astro14]

Anyone else like Melling? I never heard of the company; the original Delco pump runs $375; the Melling pump is $50

So, you bought a cheap water pump previously, and it’s failed after a short life. And you have complained that replacing it is not an easy job.

Why are you continuing to shop for cheap?

Why not go Genuine GM so that you don’t have to do this again?

I’m not knocking Melling - I am asking about the logic of repeating your experience: buy cheap, fail quickly.

 

[Marcozi]

Thank you all, for your helpful replies ! Any ideas about where I can source the bolts? Rock Auto doesn't have a listing

Try the dealer or, if you can determine the bolts' specs, try McMaster-Carr at www.mcmaster.com,

 

[Trav]

so what brand(s) do you like?

OE. I don't have much faith in aftermarket stuff for domestic vehicles anymore. I bought a cam chain tensioner and guides for a Saab from Melling it was not only made in China but cheaply and very poorly machined, something you would not want in your engine.
Got OE made in Germany with an iwis chain, the quality was night and day.

 

[vssjim]

Hitachi is OE for GM in some applications if that is one of them. What we see at work is if it had a metal gasket originally the paper ones will leak after some miles and this maybe be your problem also we always replace with metal or rubber lined metal gaskets and no problems anymore.