Product Review

NAPA Tru Flow Water Pump

Introduction

The NAPA Tru Flow Water Pump is a service replacement for the OEM water pump on the Turbo Regal LC2 engine. The water pump is available at any NAPA retailer and features a limited lifetime warranty. The water pump is a product of the NAPA Heating/Cooling Group and TRSource.com purchased it from our local NAPA retailer. As of this writing, the water pump retails for $41.99.

Description

The water pump is of cast aluminum construction and is intended as a form, fit, and function replacement for the original equipment water pump. Figure 1 shows the water pump. Figure 2 shows a front view of the water pump. Figure 3 shows a rear view of the water pump.

Figure 1 – NAPA Tru Flow Water Pump

Installation

Installation of the NAPA Tru Flow Water Pump does not require significant disassembly of the Turbo Regal engine (consult the appropriate service manual for details). Generic instructions are provided. We use a very small bead of oxygen sensor‑safe silicone sealant on all gasket surfaces to ensure a leak proof seal. Reassembly is the reverse of disassembly.

Findings

The NAPA Tru Flow Water Pump is a well-made component with exceptional fit and finish. Although manufactured in China, the water pump shows none of the usual flaws that can be expected from Chinese castings. Installation was straight forward and no modifications, special procedures or specialty tools were required. The water pump can be installed by anyone with average mechanical ability and basic SAE and metric hand tools. A new gasket is included.

Additional Findings

Installing the water pump does not require significant disassembly but the following maintenance or performance upgrades can be addressed with little additional effort:

Results

NAPA claims the water pump is OEM-equivalent and features a unitized seal to protect the bearings and provide leak-free, long-life performance. NAPA also claims the factory-sealed one-piece bearing assembly is computer-matched for low friction. TRSource.com will monitor the performance of the Power Plate while in service on our development vehicle and report any issues on our web site.

Conclusions

The NAPA Tru Flow Water Pump is well constructed and can be installed on the Turbo Regal with no issues.

Sources

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