What may excessive leaking from a pump indicate after the packing is replaced?

Excessive leaking from a pump after the packing has been replaced often indicates a fault in the system. When packing is properly installed, it should create a seal that minimizes leakage. If there is an excessive amount of leakage, it may reflect an underlying issue, such as misalignment of the pump components, damage to the shaft, or incorrect installation of the packing itself. This leakage can suggest that the pump is not operating as designed, which can lead to premature wear and failure of the equipment if not addressed.

In contrast, options discussing normal operation or other potential issues, like over-tightened packing and insufficient lubrication, may not directly relate to the immediate consequences of excessive leaking. Normal operation would typically result in minimal leakage, so excessive leaking is clearly at odds with this expectation. Over-tightened packing can actually lead to failure by causing increased friction and wear rather than improving the seal. Similarly, insufficient lubrication might lead to other issues but would not directly contribute to excessive leakage after packing replacement. Thus, identifying a fault in the system is the most appropriate conclusion when faced with unusual leakage following maintenance.