Thoughts on electric water pumps.......
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,445
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
Well I'm here to argue all the above pro's because I've installed allot of them at work. 98% of the people on this forum don't need high performance cooling systems. But for those of us that do electric pumps provide what no mechanical crank driven pump can.
All pumps are gallon per minuted rated. stock pumps actually have higher low rpm GPM because of their impellar design. High volume and aluminum racing pumps actually have tiny flow amounts untill higher rpm.
So your mech pump at idle might only be putting out a couple of GPM.
In a performance motor it will cause them to over heat if idled too long (stopped in traffic) That is where the electric shines. They run full blast at any rpm.
Ever have the problem of running around on a hot day and shut off your motor and thats when it begins to boil. That is where the electric shines again. I have a thermostat that runs the pump after my motor is off until the water temp goes down to 150 F. No more cranking to start a hot motor with hot fuel in the carb.
Get an electric pump, 4 core 1000 hp aluminum radiator, Twin Stall electric fans and you will have no problem with cooling.
The next contender is the gilmore belt electric motor driven mech pump.
Anything else is for wimps and wussies in the non-performance world.
All pumps are gallon per minuted rated. stock pumps actually have higher low rpm GPM because of their impellar design. High volume and aluminum racing pumps actually have tiny flow amounts untill higher rpm.
So your mech pump at idle might only be putting out a couple of GPM.
In a performance motor it will cause them to over heat if idled too long (stopped in traffic) That is where the electric shines. They run full blast at any rpm.
Ever have the problem of running around on a hot day and shut off your motor and thats when it begins to boil. That is where the electric shines again. I have a thermostat that runs the pump after my motor is off until the water temp goes down to 150 F. No more cranking to start a hot motor with hot fuel in the carb.
Get an electric pump, 4 core 1000 hp aluminum radiator, Twin Stall electric fans and you will have no problem with cooling.
The next contender is the gilmore belt electric motor driven mech pump.
Anything else is for wimps and wussies in the non-performance world.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 613
Likes: 3
From: Fleetwood PA
What about running a standard belt pump with no fan attached, but electric fans on the radiator? Seems like the best of both worlds. You get the dependability of the belt driven pump, but the low speed(or idle) cooling of the high flow electric fans. I would think the fan is what creates the most drag on the pump thus robs the most HP. I'm thinking of going this route. Gets that big fan shroud out of there too.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,445
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
I listed the upside to greater cooling at low speed. I did not get into the nitpicking of hp gains or losses. Even though my previous Stewart racing pump was rated at near 3.8 hp max @4500 - 9000 rpm
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,164
Likes: 1
From: Europe, France
IMO, with the price of a good electric water pump, you can almost buy a dual electric fan cooling system and save more HP...
Some Meziere electric pumps cost more than $600, and that doesn't include adapters, fittings and wiring harness :
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MEZ-WP319S/
Some Meziere electric pumps cost more than $600, and that doesn't include adapters, fittings and wiring harness :
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MEZ-WP319S/
Last edited by 73StreetRace; May 14, 2010 at 03:49 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,458
Likes: 331
From: Indy Indiana
electric is also a point of failure. the OP states that he would replace it every 3-4 years.
i would run my mechanical setup for decades. At worst my fan belt will last 6-8 years.
its the fear of that little electric motor fizzeling out that would keep me running a mechanical setup.
i would run my mechanical setup for decades. At worst my fan belt will last 6-8 years.
its the fear of that little electric motor fizzeling out that would keep me running a mechanical setup.
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Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 28
From: Florida
There is no set power loss for all clutch fans and they never completely disengage.
Depending on the application, the fan pitch and the specific clutch used, they are all different. The same clutch was not used in all C3's.
Not engaged can mean anywhere from 20 to 30% pump rpm and engaged anywhere from 70 to 90% pump rpm and anywhere in between.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,000
Likes: 22
From: Boulder Creek California
Some Meziere electric pumps cost more than $600, and that doesn't include adapters, fittings and wiring harness :
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MEZ-WP319S/
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MEZ-WP319S/
Originally Posted by joewill
electric is also a point of failure. the OP states that he would replace it every 3-4 years.
i would run my mechanical setup for decades. At worst my fan belt will last 6-8 years.
its the fear of that little electric motor fizzeling out that would keep me running a mechanical setup.
i would run my mechanical setup for decades. At worst my fan belt will last 6-8 years.
its the fear of that little electric motor fizzeling out that would keep me running a mechanical setup.
But to repeat, they're not for everyone. The significant benefits don't outweight the cost for most.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,445
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
I looked up this info on the ones I use. 35 gallon units are only good for 650 hp So this 42 gallon is the best for our small blocks the big blocks are rated at 55 gallon.
http://www.meziere.com/ps-632-600-wp101bhd.aspx
http://www.meziere.com/ps-632-600-wp101bhd.aspx
6th Gear
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Riverside California
Electric water pumps
Horsepower TV checked a basic 350 chevy engine with a belt driven aluminum water pump on the engine dyno before and after the base line. Before was 290 hp and 329 torq. then they installed the electric water pump and they got 296 hp and 335 torq. This showed 6 hp gain and 6 ft. lbs. of torq. improvement. It was on 4-26-08 the 232 show. I like the idea also you install the eletric fuel pump and manual rack n' pinon with a electric water pump and I would think you could gain 20 hp at least and the power that you gained is not builing it up just using what is there more efficiently. Like someone said the motor is always spining at the same RPM no matter traffic or not and if wired correctly electric motors last a long time thank God we don't have belt driven windshield wipers or heater fans.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
Horsepower TV checked a basic 350 chevy engine with a belt driven aluminum water pump on the engine dyno before and after the base line. Before was 290 hp and 329 torq. then they installed the electric water pump and they got 296 hp and 335 torq. This showed 6 hp gain and 6 ft. lbs. of torq. improvement. It was on 4-26-08 the 232 show. I like the idea also you install the eletric fuel pump and manual rack n' pinon with a electric water pump and I would think you could gain 20 hp at least and the power that you gained is not builing it up just using what is there more efficiently. Like someone said the motor is always spining at the same RPM no matter traffic or not and if wired correctly electric motors last a long time thank God we don't have belt driven windshield wipers or heater fans.
Essentially, you do have a belt driven windshield wiper and heater fan- they get their power from a very inefficient alternator.
Last edited by Mike Ward; May 14, 2010 at 07:34 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,373
Likes: 6
From: Baltimore MD
Guys,no body is going to win this battle,because your all right,great advantages with electric and mechanical pumps,if you have the money and want to try something different,go electric,but buy a good brand NOT china made.The stock type water pumps work just fine,no reason to change from them unless you have a hp engine or race the car.Electric is more taxing on the electrical system,but you should have a system that will handle it.I personally like electric fans with mechanical water pump.
Both pumps have their place . One thing about a mechanical pump is that most times when one starts to go up on you ,its not immediate failure,lots a time the pump will start to leak coolant or make a noise,but on a electric pump,when it goes,it goes.
Both pumps have their place . One thing about a mechanical pump is that most times when one starts to go up on you ,its not immediate failure,lots a time the pump will start to leak coolant or make a noise,but on a electric pump,when it goes,it goes.
