JG928S4

Had a Water pump failure, read many a nightmares here about poor waterpumps, what is the best one to purchase for the TB / Water pump and gear / pulley project coming up once I have a garage to call home?

blown 87

There are dangers with all of them.
I had a new (old style) lasso get into my block.
So for me, nothing but new Porsche water pumps on my cars.

I really think that the water pump is one of the weak links in the 928 engine.

You can plan for timing belt replacement and almost every other wear item on a 928 engine, but you just never know when a water pump is going to fail.

If my pump makes it to the next timing belt change and the bearings still feel good, all I am going to do is change the bolts out one at a time.

GregBBRD

I'm buying and using Porsche factory pumps. The cost of the pumps is nothing, versus what it can do to the block if a "cheap" one fails. If the plastic impeller fails, at least the block isn't damaged.

I've got stock ones and "updated" Laso pumps in stock. I let my customers make up their minds. So far, no customers have "selected" the Laso pump over the stock pump!

toofast928

I've had my 928 for 16 years. Replaced the WP when first got the car. Then again when the engine was rebuilt 14 years later. The only reason why I replaced the pump was for "insurance" nothing was wrong with it. Purchased the WP from 928 International.
Their is a-lot of attention given to this subject. I agree it is an issue but why do the pumps fail? It's easy to jump on the "WP Wagon" and bash away.

Yes auto rebuilders have a certain failure rate, and since their isn't 50,000 928s left in the world, 1% failure could be construed as a huge problem in our community. But usually a poor rebuild would fail very quickly after the install.

So for the other 99% WP failures I bet it's because of owner maintenance.
Did the WP fail because of: Age?, PO neglect?, Coolant....using coolant or straight water and is that coolant mixed correctly using distiled water? Using Dexcool? Is the coolant flushed and replaced every two years? During that flush was the block plugs removed? When the timing covers are removed is the WP weep hole checked? .........Timing belt!, worn out? Adjusted correctly (adjusted by the Porsche tool or Kemf). Was a torque wrench used when replacing the WP? or did the mechanic use his arm and side load the WP housing.

blown 87

The pumps that Greg and I had fail were new lasso's and both were adjusted with the 9201 and his failed very quickly, mine went about 3000 miles.
I used a Snap-On torque wrench and it was installed correctly with new everything that the belt touched and many things it did not.

toofast928

Our cars are 20 years old. At this point nothing is an "exact science".

ROG100

I only use the new Laso on my cars.
The Porsche pump is also very suspect as well. The only plus to a Porsche pump is the plastic impellar. Everything else is a negative. Cost, old design, no R&D from the company that makes them.
You pays your money and takes your choice.

The only manufacturer to update the design of the pump and take any notice of the pumps we use and there failure cases is Laso.

Porsche pumps are made by a little known company called MGP and have no interest in our issues.

Failure rate on pumps is less than .05%.

You only hear about the "high profile" failures and not the thousands of good pumps.

I tell my customers the choices and leave it up to them.
Most will not pay for a Porsche pump at $830 for the late style. I certainly will not!
I also do not drive a car with a $30k Greg Brown engine - if I did I could afford to do something different and would. It would not be Porsche or any other pump on the market.

I beleive we will see a new pump hit the market soon that may address our issues.

blown 87

Mine runs hotter than it should because of a cast impeller that got into the block.
I would rather have the pump fail and do no damage than if fail and ruin a $$ motor.

I agree that there is no perfect solution, yet.

I bet you would change your mind if you ever have a impeller get into the block on one of yours Roger.
Now if Lasso made a pump with a plastic impeller, I might run one.

ROG100

Laso is making an ABS impeller for there pump.
Available soon - still do not think that answers all the questions.

From what I have read about the damage to the block, in the very rare cases that this has happened, this is also a non issue as most owners replaced the WP and carried on. You included.

I also read that Greg came up with a fix as well.

blown 87

Only because I decided to rebuild the motor, a few more miles and IMHO the block would have been toast and it would have broken the belt.
I got very lucky.

I hope that Greg Browns fix is a solution, and I think it will be.
As far as it being rare, granted, but how many here have had issues?

Bill Ball

So, do we have a consensus?

blown 87

ROG100

Bill,
Absolutly - you pays your $ and take your choice.
It looks like we all spell out the pros and cons and leave the customer to decide.
Roger - sitting in a pile of water pumps 8>)

ROG100

The best bang for the buck - no pun intended - must be a rebuild with a plastic impeller.
Mark sell the impeller and the rebuilds are still available for about $100 plus.

JG928S4

I have time to think, then decide when, after I figure how many sheckels I have left after I get into a home here in Norcal. The car will get towed to new garage then ready for the pump, TB, gears etc.

Bill B. and I did the timing belt tension adjust, belt looked good, gears a little warn (last done 25k miles ago), after adjust pulled car onto lift to check out other stuff and it sprung a leak, the guess is tension had loosened because of pump failing, but no noise or previous leak, but not much adjustment available either, leaked at pressure, but with cap loose no leak.... Was going to drive it home, but as hit traffic temp started to rise so pulled off road and called for a tow.