[Vwdiesel] Waterpumps Who has Cast?

[James Hansen]

Andrew .Libby wrote:
> In the past I have always heard that the cast impeller variety was better
> than the stamped steel or plastic impeller.  I've had one of the stamped
> steel ones lose its fins and I have heard that the plastic variety have a
> habbit of spinning on their shafts.  I have recently been trying to purchase
> a new cast impeller one and lo and behold have been informed that noone is
> making them any longer.  The parts folks have let me know that the cast ones
> were prone to failure (never seen one fail myself) and that they have been
> *upgraded* to the stamped steel version by all of the OE suppliers.  Any
> opinions anyone would like to share?


Oh! Me! Me!  I have an opinion!

steel impellers are crap.  Not that it's made of steel, but the design 
of the part will not pump as much water as the cast one.  Not that this 
is empirical data, but the gauge on my old Jetta went up after 
installing one. Went from running straight up and down, to in the upper 
2/3 under load.  I know it's relative, but the only factor is the 
different water pump impeller.  All other things stayed the same.

Prone to failure my ass.
Cheaper to make maybe, yes.
I wonder if the dealership is getting reman units that don't originate 
from the big V.  It wouldn't be the first time a dealership repackaged 
cheap jobber parts in a house brand box.  I have personal experience 
with motorcraft in that regard and repackaged piston rings.
I can check at a dealership in Regina on the weekend and see if that's 
the story here Andrew.  You want one if I can get a cast unit from the 
dealer?
-James