All In The Details: A Look At Melling

All In The Details: A Look At Melling’s LS Water Pumps

If you work on vehicles and have been to a parts store, you know the individual behind the counter is going to offer you a variation of products. In most cases, salespeople are not versed in what makes one part better than another, and for a good reason. They would need to be an expert on thousands of products for all of the makes and models produced. And while we may not be able to tell you the ins and outs of all LS parts, we can tell you why Melling’s water pumps are the right choice when replacing your OEM unit.

Melling’s goal for its replacement water pump is simple. In short, the company wants to produce the most reliable and dependable pump in the aftermarket. For more information on this part, we spoke with Ken Warren, Melling’s product development manager. Warren says, “For water pumps, we believe the heart and lungs are within the bearing and seal, so, to meet our goal, we have made a point to use OEM grade or better components.”

Housing, Impeller, and Miscellaneous Components

Melling sources its housings and impellers from an OEM water pump casting manufacturer. All assemblies are leak tested to OEM standards before being packaged and shipped. Warren explains, “We have the capability to vacuum test all housings before assembly to ensure no casting porosity or leak paths are present at the component level. All components are inspected when received, by the same team that checks OEM components.”

Bearings

Bearings are another vital part of Melling’s water pump assembly. Warren says, “Each OEM bearing used is disassembled and studied to ensure the internal OEM bearing structure is replicated. Additional premium-adds for the Melling aftermarket pump include double-lip bearing seals, premium grease, and premium grease fill. The water pump bearings are also manufactured by OEM bearing manufactures, and have a liquid retainer applied before assembly into a press-fit bore to prevent bearing walk.” These additions not only increase the pumps bearing life, but it also aids in reliability. It is just one of the reasons Melling can offer a 3-year 50,000-mile warranty for this product.

Mechanical Seal

Like each bearing, OEM seals are disassembled and studied to understand the face materials used in each application. Once this process is complete, Melling chooses a Hard Carbon/Silicon Carbide faced material. Warren explains, “This selection is based on the recommendation of our OEM seal manufacturer to provide the longest life and least noise. 100-percent of Melling seals have a sealant and press-fit to prevent leakage into the bearing, ensuring the longest possible life for our water pumps. All assemblies are 100-percent leak tested before final packaging.”

Gaskets

If you’re going to go to the trouble of creating the best water pump on the market, you can’t stop short. That’s why all Melling water pumps include a rubber-coated metal (RCM) gaskets. Melling utilizes Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM) rubber that is the most resistant to water swell and suitable for higher temperatures than standard Nitrile rubber (NBR).

Packaging

To say that Melling thought of everything when developing its water pump would be an understatement. They even took special care when developing the packaging. Partnering with a well-known packaging engineering firm, Melling safeguards its products so that it will not be damaged in shipping.

Applications

MWP-500: 1999-2006 GM 4.8L, 5.3L & 6.0L (Vortec V8)

MWP-501: 2007-2017 GM 4.8L, 5.3L & 6.0L (Vortec V8)

MWP-503: 2004-2009 GM 5.7L, 6.0L & 7.0L

Unless you are trying to flip a vehicle for a quick payday, it only makes sense to invest in a good quality water pump for your project. It could mean less time on the jack stands and allow for more adventures on the road. For more information on Melling water pumps and other engine parts and accessories be sure to check out their website.

Article Sources

About the author

Brian Havins

A gearhead for life, Brian is obsessed with all things fast. Banging gears, turning wrenches, and praying while spraying are just a few of his favorite things.
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