Just got my Boxster back from the shop after a water pump replacement, and I’m scratching my head – could it actually feel faster? They swapped out the water pump and also replaced the accessory belt, which they showed me was in pretty rough shape, all cracked and worn out. The old water pump itself seemed okay internally, but it was leaking where it connects to the belt.
Driving home, I had the chance to open her up a bit, and honestly, it feels like there’s a bit more pep. It seems to rev smoother and maybe even a touch quicker. Is it possible that a failing water pump or a bad accessory belt could actually drag down engine performance? Could a worn water pump create enough resistance, or a cracked belt be stiff enough to steal some horsepower?
I wasn’t expecting any performance boost, just a fix for the leak. I figured it would drive the same, just without losing coolant. But it really does feel like it’s running better, stronger. It’s not a huge difference, but noticeable enough for me to feel it.
Maybe it’s just been a while since I really drove it hard. The car was out of commission for almost a month waiting for the repair, so maybe it’s all in my head. But I can’t help but wonder if the old water pump or belt, or both together, were causing some extra drag on the engine. Replacing them might have freed up a little bit of power that was being wasted, and that’s what I’m feeling now.
Or maybe I am just imagining things!
Whatever the reason, it’s great to have my car back on the road. That engine sound at high RPMs is just fantastic.
