What Happens If Water Pump Pulley Goes Bad?
The engine of construction machinery is an important power source for various construction and engineering projects. Among them, the water pump is in charge of giving the engine coolant so that the engine temperature stays within a manageable range. Nevertheless, during operation, issues with the water pump and the water pump pulley could arise, seriously harming the construction equipment and forcing it to stop. This post from MyMROmarts will go into great detail about what happens when the water pump runs dry and when the pulley fails.
What Happens If The Water Pump Pulley Goes Bad?
Among the parts that guarantee the water pump will operate normally is the pulley. A damaged water pump pulley will negatively impact the engine and other diesel engine parts, interfering with the engine's regular operation. Below we will learn more about the symptoms of a bad water pump pulley.
The Cooling Efficiency Of The Water Pump Decreases
A bad water pump pulley will cause the water pump to be unable to rotate normally, thereby reducing the flow rate of the coolant. The cooling efficiency of the water pump decreases, causing the engine temperature to rise. If the engine temperature is too high, it can cause serious damage to engine components.
Engine Overheating
An overheated engine might result from improper coolant flow, which is caused by a fully destroyed or non-rotating water pump pulley. Engine cylinder heads may sustain damage as a result, along with gasket cracking and eventual internal engine damage. A shut-down engine that necessitates costly maintenance might also result from an engine overheating.
Increased Maintenance Costs
The cost of fixing your engine water pump may go up if you have to replace the damaged element to repair a broken water pump pulley. The cost of fixing the mechanical components will also increase if the engine is harmed by overheating. The water pump pulley must thus be routinely inspected and maintained.
Downtime
The only option available to heavy equipment, when there is a significant issue with the water pump pulley, is to stop operations and wait for maintenance staff to fix the heavy equipment. This may cause delays in the manufacturing of large machinery, costing money and time.
What Happens If The Water Pump Runs Dry?
In addition to a bad water pump pulley, a dry water pump is also a common problem. A dry-water pump will also affect the cooling effect of the water pump on the engine after the starter motor starts the engine.
Decreased Cooling Efficiency
To maintain the cooling system's proper performance, the water pump must run in the coolant. Water pumps lose some of their cooling effectiveness if they dry out since coolant won't be pushed to the engine.
Engine Overheating
A dry-water pump can also cause the engine to overheat. Engine overheating can cause the same problems, such as damage to the engine's cylinder heads and gaskets, resulting in costly repairs.
Mechanical Wear
Coolant is used to continuously lubricate the internal components of the water pump when it is operating. The internal components of the water pump will wear out through friction with one another if there is insufficient coolant lubrication, shortening the water pump's service life.
Corrosion And Oxidation
Coolant also protects metal parts from corrosion and oxidation. A dry pump will leave the metal parts in an unprotected state, potentially causing the metal parts of the pump to become oxidized and corroded.