I am thinking this is probably the gasket itself, but I do not have any experience from the water pumps on these motors. I know they are metal gaskets?

Any thoughts. It drips about a quarter every other 800 miles, but not too much more than that unless a 3+ hour drive. Considering just doing the pump and stat.

Thanks.

 

If your pump has 50k on it, I'd seriously consider swapping it, the pumps on these cars are considered consumables and you're about at the limit most people push them. If they break plastic debris into your motor havoc can ensue

 

Probably somewhere in a search, any thoughts on a different impeller pump that is not plastic?

 

Don't do it! A metal impeller can "bore" out the block and grenade your entire engine (the enlarged bore from a metal impeller makes it so the water pump doesn't work).

 

I was still curious why a small coolant leak would mean a pump going out. Regardless of mileage. A leak implies there is a gap in the gasket, regardless of impeller or pump condition.

Ha, I was staying away for the reason of breakage being metal.... Plastic does make sense for certain things, like impellers I suppose. I will order today an OEM.

Thanks.

 

I have changed plenty of 996 and 997 water pump and I can say that I have never ever seen that metal gasket leak. It's always the waterpump seal that leaks.

 

Ah, makes sense. This would cause the small leak...