Water Pump - leaking sludge?

[Strides]

Hi all,

My van (1986 1.9 DG) has suffered a few coolant issues lately - some minor leaks from pipe unions that I couldn''t seem to stop despite refitting replacing pipe clips, and making sure the joints were well fitted. Haven't had to replace much coolant and that I have put in has held in the system until it warms up. It has a new header tank cap (Brickwerks) and I've drained, refilled and bled the system thoroughly. Seemed to be overheating and pressurising then blowing coolant out of wherever a weak spot was found.

Recently I noticed a coolant leak dripping from the oil filter, which I've traced to the water pump housing. At the time I couldn't really see where it was from, but have just had a nose under there - the leak has dried up leaving a trail of brown sludge (pic attached) from the small hole in the underside of the water pump. I've read elsewhere that when the pump fails, it allows coolant to escape from this hole, but I'm concerned that there's a load of brown sludge trailing its way out of there too.

I haven't driven it much for a few weeks, and not at all since noticing the water pump issue. The only times it has been run are while trying to trace and identify leaks.

Should I be worried and investigate this further, or just replace the pump, flush the system, replace coolant, bleed and cross my fingers??

Thanks in advance, Dave.

[Ian Hulley]

That's the leak out from the gland to tell you the pump's knackered AND it appears to have rust crap in the system

Replace pump straight away and flush through. Replace with a good generic blue anti-freeze ... Comma Super Coldmaster for example.

Ian

[Strides]

Thanks for advice, Ian. New pump is on its way from Brickwerks.

Rusty sludge in the coolant can't be a good thing - certainly doesn't bode well for the head studs does it.....

[Evsi]

Might be worth a compression test too mate. Numerous leaks in one go can be a sign of abnormal pressure in the system, not necessarily caused by a faulty pressure cap. That water in the system will not have done your engine any good i'm afraid.

[Ian Hulley]

certainly doesn't bode well for the head studs does it.....

Not really but if you've not wasted a fortune on expensive a/f you can always drop it after a while as a check up.

Ian