Water Pump (6.6L Diesel Engine)
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2004 GMC Sierra, 2004 GMC Cab & Chassis Sierra, 2004 Chevrolet Silverado, and 2004 Chevrolet Cab & Chassis Silverado. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
The water pump is a centrifugal vane impeller type pump. The water pump is gear driven by the crankshaft gear. The pump consists of a housing with coolant inlet and outlet passages and an impeller. The impeller is a flat plate mounted on the pump shaft with a series of flat or curved blades or vanes. When the impeller rotates, the coolant between the vanes is thrown outward by centrifugal force. The impeller shaft is supported by bearings. Splash of the engine oil lubricates the bearings. The bearings and shaft are sealed to prevent engine oil to mix with the coolant. If the seal fails, coolant will leak out the vent hole in the water pump housing.
The purpose of the water pump is to circulate coolant throughout the cooling system.