About 15 years ago I had a water pump suddenly spring a monster leak on my EA82. When I tried to add coolant, it ran out almost as fast as I poured it in. Since then, I've always replaced the water pump whenever I replace the timing belts as preventative maintenance. My question is is it normal for Subaru water pumps to die like this or is this an unusual incident? I've replaced many leaking water pumps on other makes of cars and trucks but have never seen one shell out like the EA82. Am I paranoid?

My experience with the 9 subarus I've owned is that they start to leak gradually in most cases, just like others. My last one started leaking around the front seal only when cold, which is pretty typical of a pump that's going out. Any part can occasionally fail catastrophically, which is what it sounds like happened to yours.

My experience with the 9 subarus I've owned is that they start to leak gradually in most cases, just like others. My last one started leaking around the front seal only when cold, which is pretty typical of a pump that's going out. Any part can occasionally fail catastrophically, which is what it sounds like happened to yours.

 

Thanks, that's the answer I was hoping to get.

i agree, most water pumps start to leak slow thorough the weephole, but will quickly dteoriate if let go for weeks. I had a datsun where the waterpump self destructed cause i let it go a few weeks.

 

 

nipper

3rd'ed...

 

I've never had one suddenly go like that....nor have I had a new one go....either way, if it was within the 12month/12k miles from new, SUBARU should have replaced it back then under warrenty.