I'm going to be replacing my radiator soon (want one with the transcooler) and figure it's a good opportunity to pre-emptively replace the waterpump. Rig has 350k on it and who knows when it was last replaced or how much life it has left.

Build date is early 98. From what I've read that means the retaining compound used on the injector cups doesn't play well with ELC, thus I use the old school pre-charged stuff. It's my understanding that a coolant filter is useful with these older style coolants as it helps to filter out precipitates... BUT I've also read that if you're regularly testing and maintaining your coolant chemistry then precipitates shouldn't be an issue(?).

Basically, is there a tangible benefit to having coolant filtering if I'm using non-ELC coolant?

 

You will get some of the debris out with filtration, but if you flush it correctly and remove the engine block coolant plugs it will get most of the crap out, most of the time.
there has been many, many 7.3 owners that don't even know these things take coolant additives, yet you don't hear about cavitation as you would with the pre stroke (IDI's) just buy tbe pre charged stuff and carry on.

 

Yes for sure on the coolant filtration. Not sure on the t444e water pump though. It's a HEAVY pump and I have always been concerned with its weight in regards to the front cover. I have used the riffraff coolant filter setup with success and love it.

 

Both my trucks have the pump with filter. I like them. Even with good flushing and draining via block plugs, the filters still catch junk for a while. Filtering fluids is almost always a good idea in my mind.

 

There a good source for these now? All the current production ones seem to use a China made casting. I guess the Alliant one is assembled in Mexico and is expensive. Autozone sells a Duralast branded one with a lifetime warranty (FWP-HD7315). Looks like there's a NOS International pump on ebay for 220.

 

Have you tried an international dealer?

 

Yeah a local one said they'd have to special order it to the tune of $500.

External filtering has some convenience factor I guess but I wouldn't be keen on adding additional clutter to the engine bay.

IIRC the timing cover on the T444E is aluminum same as the Powerstroke. Casting would have to be pretty poor to not be able to support ~20lb via all those mounting bolts.

 

Ouch! That's stiff

 

Indeed. There's the NOS option on Ebay but no warranty.

Basically, are the International pumps worth the premium or are the offshore units just as good in terms of longevity?

 

search teh school bus suppliers for water pumps for the T444e. i found one on ebay for like 120 bucks.. they are still made but the supply is tight i understand.

 

I installed an IH water pump 8 years ago and it has done well. The integrated filter is nice to have, but I went IH due to quality, reliability and longevity.

I bought the kit through Diesel Site as I was very green. If I were doing it again, I'd follow the guide by FTE'r Nicmike in the 7.3L PSD Tech Folder.

The lower hose from Diesel Site is nice to have though.

 

@Sous you got yours from Diesel Site? How many miles since then you figure? IIRC Diesel Site sells the China-made pumps so if yours has lasted this long that's not a bad deal.

 

If I could not run gold or ELC coolant I would seriously consider the Dieselsite kit. Not cheap but it's plug and play, and gives a simple, convenient way to get filtration. External filter kits include several more connections, each a potential failure point. I don't think the weight of the pump is an issue given the weight of the truck.

You could ask them where they get the pumps. I imagine it is IH. And those are still likely cast in China. Assembled here is good enough in my book.

 

From looking around there seems to be three different castings: IHs, the one Alliant uses, and a generic for the cheaper pumps. Dieselsite seems to be using the latter, and given almost every pump with that casting is imported, I wouldn't be surprised if it was too.

The IH one has "Made in USA" on the packaging. As far as I know it's the only one that was US made. Whether that amounts to a tangible difference in quality and longevity, who knows.

 

I bought it just after buying the truck 8ish years ago as the pump on the truck was leaking out the weep hole.

I have put 60,000ish miles on it with 90% of that towing a travel trailer for 2 years, then a 38 ft 5th wheel and now a 28 ft 5th wheel. The other 10% there is a load of rock, concrete, etc in the bed. I don't drive the truck unless it is performing a task or being used as a tool to accomplish work.

I realize the load on the truck doesn't really effect how efficient the water pump is, but the EOT has never gone above 225°. Not once in all of the years I have data logged and scrutinized the data to look for areas to improve. We travel the country towing heavy and I needed something reliable.

We have been as far west as Seattle, northeast as far as Philadelphia, south as far as Orlando and southwest as far as Phoenix. We have been up to ~11,500 ft and in grades in the teens before and no adverse temperature readings we noted for EOT. On our most recent trip we logged 12.3 MPG over 5,500 of towing the 5th wheel. I am very pleased with that and believe each component and sensor plays a role in the overall efficiency of the truck as a system.

As I understand it though, the pumps offered by Riffraff as OEM replacements are good too. I was new to the 7.3L community back then, but thought an integrated filter sounded nice as well as a cast iron pump.

I would do it again if I could go back.