Bad Circulator Pump?

[Irie308]

I have been chasing a coolant leak since last season on our starboard engine (5.7 closed cooling). This weekend I fired up the motors and there it was. I think I've isolated it to the circulator pump as there are drips below the pump and nothing above. There are cast off traces below but the drip seems to pool to a drop at the bottom of the pump housing so I'm guessing it's the problem but am not 100% as it's hard to see much tucked into that area. Am I on the right track? Should I go ahead and replace the pump? How difficult of a job is this? The pump pricing doesn't seem too bad. Also best place to purchase?

 

[hottoddie]

Can't go wrong at 12 years old. Make sure you replace the bypass hoses and other coolant hoses associated with the pump. Also drain and replace the antifreeze at the same time. Make sure you buy a marine pump as it will have a stainless impeller and be bi-directional.

 

[Bt Doctur]

If you mean the circ pump on the front of the engine that has a leaking seal.
4 bolts, some hose clamps. Once you remove the pulley you`ll see a hole on the bottom of the nose . should be evident if its leaking there.
Try and drain the block carefully so the AF dosent contaminate the water

 

[Irie308]

I found a circulator pump on Nuwave Marine's website ($112). I've seem recommendations here and there for their OEM parts. Any feedback on ordering parts from them?

 

[BillK2632]

I've ordered a few things from Nuwave, no issues.

 

[JVM225]

I've bought from them too and never had a problem but as always just check pricing from a few others vendors as long as you're ordering online.
The replacement itself if a relatively easy task as long as you can get to it.

 

[Irie308]

What is the best method to drain the AF in order to replace the pump? Would like to contain as much of the AF as possible.

 

[Mike Blake]

Take one of the lower hoses off into a bucket.