electric waterpump ???
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 336
Likes: 0
From: Bruce WI
electric waterpump ???
Stupid question.....Is this just a drag racing option, I saw a show this weekend that was doing dyno runs of different bolt on items for the small block 350. They changed from a regular water pump to an electric and went from 296 HP to 334 HP !!!! If a street car can operate okay with this (and its a honest gain) why is this the first time I've ever seen anything about it. Seems like I'm missing something
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,871
Likes: 15
From: Detroit's West Side MI
I've heard that on an LT1 the electric pump is 7 hp. However, I don't believe it, not have I seen dyno graphs to prove it.
You're reducing drag on the motor but adding drag on the alternator, which then increases drag on the motor...zero net gain.
There are other reasons to get an electric pump, I have one on my car, but HP is not one of them.
You're reducing drag on the motor but adding drag on the alternator, which then increases drag on the motor...zero net gain.
There are other reasons to get an electric pump, I have one on my car, but HP is not one of them.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,604
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix, Arizona
Curious, what reasons?
I'm one of the guys that went with the Meziere HD coolant pump. Here's why:
1) You eliminate the water leak when the OEM pump goes bad.
2) You eliminate the possible oil leak from the coolant pump shaft seal in the timing chain cover.
3) It provides a constant flow of coolant whether at idle or WOT.
4) If you want to cool down your motor without the engine running, just turn your key on and the coolant keeps flowing. Couple that with a manual switch to run your fans and you'l cool down your motor between runs at the track.
5) If horsepower numbers are your thing, the electric pump frees up a few ponies.
6) If you ever have to replace it, it only takes 30 minutes or so.
7) It is so easy to get the air out of the system when changing your coolant. Just turn the key on and the air will show up at the refill inlet.
8) Your Opti will not get soaked when the OEM fails.
9) In traffic, it keeps a better flow for cooling in the summer.
The guys that are affraid of the electric pump worry about it failing and you're stuck. The pump is designed to last for 2500 hours. Do the math, that's longer than the average OEM pump.
It must be uncomfortable on that fence.
1) You eliminate the water leak when the OEM pump goes bad.
2) You eliminate the possible oil leak from the coolant pump shaft seal in the timing chain cover.
3) It provides a constant flow of coolant whether at idle or WOT.
4) If you want to cool down your motor without the engine running, just turn your key on and the coolant keeps flowing. Couple that with a manual switch to run your fans and you'l cool down your motor between runs at the track.
5) If horsepower numbers are your thing, the electric pump frees up a few ponies.
6) If you ever have to replace it, it only takes 30 minutes or so.
7) It is so easy to get the air out of the system when changing your coolant. Just turn the key on and the air will show up at the refill inlet.
8) Your Opti will not get soaked when the OEM fails.
9) In traffic, it keeps a better flow for cooling in the summer.
The guys that are affraid of the electric pump worry about it failing and you're stuck. The pump is designed to last for 2500 hours. Do the math, that's longer than the average OEM pump.
It must be uncomfortable on that fence.
Last edited by JEFNLSA; Apr 28, 2008 at 05:08 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 5,141
Likes: 7
From: Metairie Louisiana
Maybe this will help somone on the install.
http://www.projecttransam.com/projects9.asp
Here's another dyno.
http://www.ws6.com/mod-14.htm
http://www.projecttransam.com/projects9.asp
Here's another dyno.
http://www.ws6.com/mod-14.htm
Last edited by rickneworleansla; Apr 28, 2008 at 06:24 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Lake Wylie SC
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Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,871
Likes: 15
From: Detroit's West Side MI
Most of them were listed by Strick (via Jeff) above, I would add one more - coolant flush or removal. I just did another optispark replacement and instead of dumping coolant all over my garage floor for the 10th time all I have to do is unplug an outlet hose, stick it in a bucket, and run the pump. Once it's just sucking air I usually pour in some water to continue the flush. When I pull the pump off and what's left dumps out, it's just water instead of coolant.
More than you'd think. I've had this discussion on here before and it tends to get quite heated, so I'm not going to get into it again. However, it's a common misconception that in this comparison the drag on your alternator is less than on the motor. I'm not going to dig up the data so feel free to discount my post, but electricity is absolutely not free. Keep in mind that an alternator is, in fact, a mechanical system with brushes running across a copper winding. There is mechanical drag there, too.
More than you'd think. I've had this discussion on here before and it tends to get quite heated, so I'm not going to get into it again. However, it's a common misconception that in this comparison the drag on your alternator is less than on the motor. I'm not going to dig up the data so feel free to discount my post, but electricity is absolutely not free. Keep in mind that an alternator is, in fact, a mechanical system with brushes running across a copper winding. There is mechanical drag there, too.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,604
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix, Arizona
Maybe this will help somone on the install.
http://www.projecttransam.com/projects9.asp
Here's another dyno.
http://www.ws6.com/mod-14.htm
http://www.projecttransam.com/projects9.asp
Here's another dyno.
http://www.ws6.com/mod-14.htm
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,171
Likes: 1
From: Warwick RI
Most of them were listed by Strick (via Jeff) above, I would add one more - coolant flush or removal. I just did another optispark replacement and instead of dumping coolant all over my garage floor for the 10th time all I have to do is unplug an outlet hose, stick it in a bucket, and run the pump. Once it's just sucking air I usually pour in some water to continue the flush. When I pull the pump off and what's left dumps out, it's just water instead of coolant.
More than you'd think. I've had this discussion on here before and it tends to get quite heated, so I'm not going to get into it again. However, it's a common misconception that in this comparison the drag on your alternator is less than on the motor. I'm not going to dig up the data so feel free to discount my post, but electricity is absolutely not free. Keep in mind that an alternator is, in fact, a mechanical system with brushes running across a copper winding. There is mechanical drag there, too.
More than you'd think. I've had this discussion on here before and it tends to get quite heated, so I'm not going to get into it again. However, it's a common misconception that in this comparison the drag on your alternator is less than on the motor. I'm not going to dig up the data so feel free to discount my post, but electricity is absolutely not free. Keep in mind that an alternator is, in fact, a mechanical system with brushes running across a copper winding. There is mechanical drag there, too.
I have to chime in here. I have no scientific data but my alternater will pull the idle down on my 461 when the fans kick in so an alternator will definately put some serious drag on a motor.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 10,956
Likes: 680
From: Marlboro country MA
Here's the reason why an ewp adds HP at high RPM: an engine-driven water pump spins faster as the engine spins up, so the load on the engine is proportional to RPM. OTOH, an ewp puts a constant load on the engine, independent of RPM. Look at the two HP curves on the dyno graphs - at low RPM they are nearly identical, but as RPM increases, the difference between them increases. Very good graphical evidence, indeed.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 2,816
Likes: 2
From: Austin, TX
Here's the reason why an ewp adds HP at high RPM: an engine-driven water pump spins faster as the engine spins up, so the load on the engine is proportional to RPM. OTOH, an ewp puts a constant load on the engine, independent of RPM. Look at the two HP curves on the dyno graphs - at low RPM they are nearly identical, but as RPM increases, the difference between them increases. Very good graphical evidence, indeed.
