2003 Explorer, Continuous Water Pump Problems

[WoodCJ7]

I am looking for advice on continuous water pump problems, 2003 Explorer, 4L, V6. We are the 3rd owner. Here's some history:

Original Owner Records:
Nov 2004 - Coolant Recovery Tank, Tstat, and Oring Replaced
Nov 2006 - Owner complained of leaking coolant. Pressure tested and found water pump leaking. Recommend replacement of water pump and owner refused.
Jan 2007 - Water Pump Replaced
Apr 2008 - Cooling system flushed, chemically cleaned, pressure tested

2nd Owners Records (Relative):
Apr 2009 - Water Pump, Tstat Replaced
Mar 2011 - Water Pump Replaced

Our Records (We purchased in Nov 2012):
Dec 2014 - Water Pump Replaced
Oct 2015 - Water Pump Leaking - AGAIN!

As you can see there is a history of continuous problems with the water pump. Prior to replacing again, does anyone have any suggestions? Is there something else that has been overlooked?

Thanks for your help!

 

[Number4]

Need to know how it's failing. Is it leaking via a weep hole?
Is it leaking at the oring (mounting surface)?

 

[rwt101]

This is really going out on a limb, but I wonder if the thermostat housing is leaking and maybe running down. towards the water pump and people are getting the wrong diagnoses.
I know that is a little crazy.
Bob T

 

[Joe in NY]

Also, chemical cleaning? What coolant? Could be destroying seals..

Also, doesn't exhaust gases in coolant make the coolant acidic?

 

[WoodCJ7]

It looks as if it's leaking at the seal.

 

[WoodCJ7]

As far as the chemical cleaning, I'm reading that from the records of the original owner. I don't have any other details.

 

[Number4]

It looks as if it's leaking at the seal.

Where it seals against the block?

If it's at the block, remove a bolt, put some blue loctite on it and put it back in. Then move to the next bolt.

First though, hit them all with a torque wrench and see if they've come loose.
It's possible that there's a gouge in the mating surface too.

If it's coming out of the weep hole, it could be that the belt is too taught.

Can you post some pictures of the area where the leak is?

 

[AidansCars]

I am looking for advice on continuous water pump problems, 2003 Explorer, 4L, V6. We are the 3rd owner. Here's some history:

Original Owner Records:
Nov 2004 - Coolant Recovery Tank, Tstat, and Oring Replaced
Nov 2006 - Owner complained of leaking coolant. Pressure tested and found water pump leaking. Recommend replacement of water pump and owner refused.
Jan 2007 - Water Pump Replaced
Apr 2008 - Cooling system flushed, chemically cleaned, pressure tested

2nd Owners Records (Relative):
Apr 2009 - Water Pump, Tstat Replaced
Mar 2011 - Water Pump Replaced

Our Records (We purchased in Nov 2012):
Dec 2014 - Water Pump Replaced
Oct 2015 - Water Pump Leaking - AGAIN!

As you can see there is a history of continuous problems with the water pump. Prior to replacing again, does anyone have any suggestions? Is there something else that has been overlooked?

Thanks for your help!

Dead post, but maybe it's your harmonic balancer. I've heard they can shred the WP apart. Try that and check the timing chain. Could be a bad fan clutch you don't hear turn on in stop and go traffic causing overheating and burning out the WP.