Situation Overview Water pumps
Water pump failure can be quite immediate if your engine has stood unused for a long time. This is because the neoprene shaft seal becomes dry and bonds itself to the shaft, so when the engine is rotated or first started the seal will become torn and fail almost immediately. Otherwise a water pump should be good for ten to fifteen years. If your water pump is this old and you want to rebuild your engine correctly then its always advisable to replace the water pump at the same time as your engine rebuild.
Water pump design criteria
All Rover V8 water pumps are designed uniquely with a small gland on the underside of the shaft casing (between the casing and the pump flange). The reason for this is to allow for early detection of seal failure before the bearing completely fails. This means that the water that escapes the seal which enters the bearing will now also begin to leak in small quantities from the underside of the pump, perhaps giving you a few hundred miles of use to notice it and replace the water pump before complete failure occurs, which will typically be just when you need it least.
Water pumps that are still available
Our Water Pump Identification page shows the variations of the water pumps that we can supply and that are the last that are currently available. If yours is not like the ones you see the we are likely to know what variant yours is but only if you send us a picture. We are always happy to advise on availability as well as other options that may exist.
Failed/leaking water pumps
If your water pump has failed, and it's not because your engine has stood for a prolonged period, then the reason for failure will need to be not only considered but investigated too. Common causes are listed in engine coolant solutions pages for your further guidance.
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