Why would you think the re-packaged, (Bosch is now a re-seller of many
parts), maybe Graf pump will outlast a German pump? How long should a pump
last? How was it used?

I am among the few on the list that has owned the FUN BUS since new. The
first water pump failed at three years and 49,000 miles. A leaker! It was
replaced by a dealer in Florida under warranty. The next one got a squeaky
bearing on the way to Alaska at 96,000 miles. I changed that one in a
campground in Michigan.

Anyway, I have seen water pumps go from the low 50K's to well over 100K. No
obvious consistency by brand. Usage, speeds, seem to have an impact. The
higher speed and long distance drivers tend to eat up seals and bearings.
Also, engines that sit frequently loose pumps also. A loose belt can be as
bad for the bearings as an overly tight one due to all that bouncing and
whipping.

So how many miles were on it in 5 years. 60K, got your use. No mileage,
shaft probably corroded from sitting and seal assembly could no longer slide
to compensate for wear or thermal expansion and died that way.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
gary hradek
Sent: Tuesday, October 31, 2006 11:53 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: yet another waterpump

After five years the waterpump(german made) from
busdepot began to leak out of the weep hole.
I had taken care not to over tighten the belt as I
could just barely hear a belt squeal when I first
started the van.   I had changed the coolant using
dexcol.   The up side was I had replaced the hoses
when I replaced the waterpump so this time around I
only needed to change the pump.   I bought a bosch
made in Italy from my flaps for about 20 dollars more
than the from busdepot.   I had removed the pushrod
cover and the other sheetmetal on the left side.
This time I remove one clamp on the oil cooler and
detached the oil cooler from the waterpump and engine
sliding the oil cooler off with the metal pipe to the
waterpump still attached.   When you get the oil
cooler gasket make sure you get the one that attached
to the cooler and not just the oil ring that busdepot
sells.
Thepartsbin has a good picture of this difference.
Having the oil cooler out gives a bit more space and
seems to make the job go easier.
It will be interesting to see how long this pump
lasts.   I am happy to pay more for a pump that would
last a bit longer.  Gary

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