WATER PUMP

Can a water pump be bad if nothing leaks out of the water pump weep hole? Engine is overheating. Will the engine overheat if I remove the thermostat?

Maybe the Thermostat is stuck shut and won't open causing the overheating.

Water pumps can go bad without leaking, yes. The impeller can break loose from the shaft, or I've even seen impellers physically wear out.

Start with the basics and check your Thermostat, coolant level, etc.

As Scott said, yes.  The usual scenario though is, the pump shaft bearing goes and the shaft wobbles taking out the seal.  By then, they usually make noise also.  Grab a hold of the pulley and see if you can wobble the shaft.

What car is this?

I would take out the thermostat, reconnect the housing and run the engine. It shouldn't even warm up to the half way mark. If that's the case, replace t-stat and problem solved. Look for one that's fail-safe (sticks open when it wears out).

If it still overheats, your problem is elsewhere. How's the coolant look? If not rusty, I'd suspect the water pump. Good luck.

To: Scott, thermostat was shut tight
To: Larry, the shaft does not wobble
To: Aaron, replaced t-stat, solved the over heating, retrn the first new t-stat wouldn't open until 212 instead 195, second new t-stat opened at 195 was the premium quality but worth the money. good to go.
Thanks all for helping me on this.

Larry, I'm pretty sure we are talking about an early 80's riv with the 307.

Randall, it would be really helpful to others if you enable the signature line in your Profile settings and include the year, model and engine (at minimum) in your signature.

randall wrote:

retrn the first new t-stat wouldn't open until 212 instead 195, second new t-stat opened at 195 was the premium quality but worth the money. good to go.

Funny, almost the same thing just happened to me. The Mr.Gasket 195 was opening at 180. The new JEGS 195 unit works fine so far (this was for LS2, not L67).

NAPA acted like I didn't know what I was talking about. I got a blank stare when I said to NAPA that I didn't think an engine antifreeze solution should be at boiling point to open up the 195 t-stat. I asked the NAPA person, "Yes? No? Do you agree?" No answer, but refunded my money and got me the premium t-stat, like I was giving them a problem for no reason. I thought NAPA would hire more knowledgeable employees at the counters. This has happened to me before with the cheap grade t-stats. Just because a part is new doesn't always mean it will work as new. there are defective new parts.