Subject:
Coolant Pump:
The coolant pump (also known as the water pump) ensures that the coolant is circulated through the engine block. The coolant pump must push a large volume of coolant through small cooling channels, through the radiator, through the heater core, and sometimes also through the water-cooled turbo. Often, the coolant pump is driven by the timing belt or the serpentine belt. The pump in image 1 is powered by the serpentine belt (the pulley is removed) and the pump in image 2 is driven by the timing belt (see the toothed pulley). On the left side of both coolant pumps, the impellers are shown, which are responsible for fluid displacement.


In the image below, the coolant pump is shown as number 4. It is driven by the serpentine belt. This technique is often used when the engine is driven by a timing chain. Some manufacturers choose to use this technique even with a timing belt. The advantage of this is that when the coolant pump leaks or seizes, it will not damage the timing belt.

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