Beer Brewer

Hi All: I have a chance to pick up a water pump from a wrecked but mechanically fine (16k miles) 997.1 Carrera 3.6 for short money. However, I have a 997.1 C2S 3.8 liter. From looking online, it seems likely that they use the same water pump but I want to be sure - can anyone confirm that the engines use the same pump?

Thanks!

Pete

Louis de Funes

I have no clue if this will work but I have to ask why would you install a used Water pump ?

They are really not that expensive and if you do the work why not use a new one.
I think personally this is not a good idea and in my opinion you should reconsider using a used Water pump even with 19k miles on it

Beer Brewer

Well, truth be told, this is a bit of an experiment. I bought my 2006 C2S cabriolet with 75k miles for an insanely low price; let's just say it was far, far below market. Since then I have enjoyed making improvements for the least amount of money possible - sourcing good condition suspension components and interior/exterior pieces at bargain-basement prices (I sourced a set of almost brand-new seats for $500, about 1k less than prevailing rates). My goal is to restore the car to its mechanical and esthetic glory for way less than retail. So, if I can preemptively replace a 75k water pump with a 16k water pump for no money, well, I want to do that. I've examined the pump in question and it is in pristine condition but I don't know if it'll fit - does anyone know?

Thanks!

Pete

Rikky001

Same pump nr for 3.6 and 3.8

997-106-011-06

Beer Brewer

Super, thanks!

BIG smoke

To me a used water pump, is kind of like trading underwear.
Water pump is not that expensive. It's the time to get in there, that is the cost?
Low miles, doesn't really mean much. How long has said pump been submerged in coolant?
Days? Months? years? decades?

stairmasterman911

So say a person bought a brand new pump -- would that be a DIY thing for that person who shall remain nameless who finds an oil change pushing the envelope?

jchapura

Not really DIY, if DIY oil change is really pushing the envelope. It was about a 6 hour job for me with my pretty good cache of tools and a QuickJack. Not a terribly hard job but "thinking on your feet" (or back, as the case may be) and working in tight places is a requirement and "nudging" things out of way - engine carrier, exhaust system. I changed the rubber parts that touched the coolant system in the back and T-stat at the same time. It was also the first time I used the AirLift to vacuum in the coolant.

Beer Brewer

How did you know I also like to trade underwear? Generally I trade underwear with nubile young vixens; maybe I should ask them about water pumps .

Again, this is a project car and one point of the project is to source solid parts at minimal or no expense to maximize the value of the experience. When the likelihood of failure of a free 16k water pump is next to zero, as I imagine it is, is leveraged against the $200-500 necessary to purchase a new off-brand or Porsche-branded pump, then I am going to go for it and see what happens. Anything can fail at anytime, even when brand-new. I could have chosen to pay for new seats, brakes, master cylinder, control arms, etc. but I didn't because I was confident that I could get the car where it needs to be with used items at far less. So if the free 16k water pump fails prematurely, we will have one data point about the failure rate of used water pumps. I am up for that challenge! Thanks all!

semicycler

Please buy a new gasket though, less than $10

Beer Brewer

Lol, yes, will do!

dbv1

I want to replace my perfectly functional pump that's got less than 10K on it for another with a metal impeller. I think ceramic impellers are a bad idea (experience from Audi).

Beer Brewer

From the research I've done, the metal impellers are not a good idea. Apparently the issue is that if the metal impeller grenades (and allegedly they do), the resultant "shrapnel" will destroy the engine. If the plastic/polymer impeller of the OEM pump comes apart, it is less problematic for the engine.

jhbrennan

I thought it's been confirmed that the Porsche replacement pump has a composite impeller, not metal. Is there an aftermarket pump with metal impeller?

dbv1

Hehehe, on the Audi side, the exact opposite is true. Both my Audi mechanics are pro metal. Maybe you're right on the Porsche side.