Electric Waterpump

ts_spider · #1 (**permalink**) 05-05-2007, 11:09 PM

Has anyone out there found any benifit in using an elctric water pump. I know the v-8 crowd claimsto get modest horspower gains form them ( 8-20 hp). Some pumps only draw 8 amps, less then your heater. Anyone tried it??

just currious,

Noel

genericwood · #2 (**permalink**) 05-06-2007, 07:41 AM

I do not have any experience with the electric pumps, but I would be VERY surprised if our water pumps draw anywhere near 8 horsepower. I'm assuming you already use an electric fan. One interesting advantage to the electric pumps is that you can set them up to run for a while after shutdown.

Erik

Damo105 · #3 (**permalink**) 05-07-2007, 01:41 AM

My mechanic has been talking of the virtues of an electric water pump for my engine rebuild. The main benefit according to him is the ability to set it to run after the engine is off, to reduce heat soak in the engine bay.

**italiansedanman** · #4 (**permalink**) 10-29-2007, 04:47 AM

A lot of the ads for electric water pumps in magazines seem to tout them as a solution to overheating, but this seems like a false economy to me.

I'd like to know the virtues, so I am bumping this one!!

**ronsbackyard** · #5 (**permalink**) 10-29-2007, 09:17 AM

I've been thinking about this for a long time...... just for the heat soak thing.What could you do? Gut the pump and splice the electric pump in the water hose? Hmmmmmm

**ronsbackyard** · #6 (**permalink**) 10-29-2007, 09:22 AM

Top hose?.just a thought

**Tifosi** · #7 (**permalink**) 10-29-2007, 11:25 AM

The more common types are an actual waterpump housing with a drive motor on them where the pulley would normally be. (direct impeller drive)

You change it like you would a regular pump, but instead of hooking up a belt, you hook up wires. (then go off searching for a proper belt to run what's left and an electric fan if you had a pulley type)

Never seen an in hose type, though they likely exist.

My big tweak with them has always been the 'what if' factor: as in what if the motor or wiring fails? You'll never know it until it's too late and then it's time for the towtruck and crossed fingers that nothing got damaged. (a mechanical pump will still move water even if 7/8's or more on it's way to total failure, and will make noise to let you know there's an issue. An electric one either works, or it doesn't and is quiet all the time, barring a bushing failure of course, which is really unlikely as there's no side tension against it as found in a pulley system)

I'm not totally adverse to the technology, and you might even find one on a track car or strictly weekend driver if I had such things, but you'd never find one on my daily drivers.

**ghnl** · #8 (**permalink**) 10-29-2007, 12:57 PM

Hmm, the "Electric Water Pump" . I thought that was '70's Disco Dance...

**italiansedanman** · #9 (**permalink**) 10-29-2007, 01:10 PM

Tifosi,

What you say seems very well-thought, I was only thinking of using one as a supplementary unit to the mechanical pump as I live in a hot climate...

The point about the working/not working nature of an electrical pump worries me though!

**Tifosi** · #10 (**permalink**) 10-29-2007, 02:36 PM

Just out of curiosity, and it may help a bit:

Do you have a Euro spec or US spec fan?

The blade width difference makes a pretty significant change in the way the air moves through the radiator. (a really good condition shroud helps too, especially if you don't have one at all....)

Euro

US

5yearplan · #11 (**permalink**) 10-29-2007, 03:19 PM

Some water pumps can be used in conjunction to mechanical ones, also you would know when it failed because the needle for water temp would rise above it's normal state, and you would pull over and check. Unless you only look at that gauge when there is smoke coming out of the hood. I look at mine about every five minutes, along with oil pressure.

Racer Rog · #12 (**permalink**) 10-29-2007, 08:26 PM

Make the pumps, and a very good unit indeed, and you can get a electronic controler unit as well that even further enhances the operation, and they are used a lot in racing, where they are allowed. the pump unit fits in the radiator lines and you can take out the normal pump and fit a manifold in its place. They do give you HP, plus the added bonus of a tailer made cooling system, when fitted with the controler, it does not suck HP at high rev's and works when needed.
Roger

**Tifosi** · #13 (**permalink**) 10-29-2007, 09:02 PM

gottalink, I are curmious.

**italiansedanman** · #14 (**permalink**) 10-30-2007, 03:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tifosi

Just out of curiosity, and it may help a bit:

Do you have a Euro spec or US spec fan?

The blade width difference makes a pretty significant change in the way the air moves through the radiator. (a really good condition shroud helps too, especially if you don't have one at all....)

Euro

US

**Tifosi** · #15 (**permalink**) 10-30-2007, 07:35 AM

Yup, both factory.

Mayhaps due to location yours came with the US spec fan by default, or a PO put it on to help with the cooling a bit.