5

I sprang a leak in my radiator about a month ago... and I simply did not have time to replace the radiator myself, so I took it to a mechanic. The mechanic replaced the radiator but he reused my old cap.

Two weeks later my water pump broke (basically the bearing broke and the pully was flopping around). Upon replacing the pump (what an ordeal) I saw/read in the instructions that I should also replace my radiator cap along with the new pump!

Now I'm wondering if re-using my radiator cap precipitated the failure of my water pump. Also, how common is this problem? Should I expect a mechanic to replace the cap with the new radiator (I know that should have checked it myself)? I didn't even think about it until I read the water pump instructions, at which point I looked and found my old radiator cap was still in use.

Ben Welborn
  • 219
  • 1
  • 7

1 Answers1

3

No. Reusing the radiator cap (almost certainly) didn't cause the water pump failure. The advice to replace the cap is probably based on the logic that the cap is a relatively inexpensive part and renewing it helps to ensure the integrity of the pressurized cooling system. An independent mechanic will often try to use her/his judgment to balance cost and likely benefit. If the cap tested good a reasonable mechanic might decide against replacement.

If the water pump was original you got a good run out of it.

dlu
  • 14,506
  • 8
  • 52
  • 85