electric water pump ??
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 32,782
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From: Former NCM Drag Racing coordinator, National director Corvette Challenge Spring Hill, Tennessee: Whiting, New Jersey
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Re: electric water pump ?? (YellowC4)
My first one about 500 miles. As for HP gain ??????? I don't know. :confused:
Drifting
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 1,801
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From: St. Paul MN
Re: electric water pump ?? (mackeyred96)
My good friend is a top notch ASE mechanic, and races a car a lot like mine (he has a 6 speed, a bigger cam, and Hoosiers, and he is a much better driver than I and he kicks my butt every time) and he said don't put in an electric water pump. His main concern is that the mechanical pump we now have is very reliable and he doesn't think the electrics can match that. You may also be aware that the alternators on a C4 are not the most reliable either, so why tax them with more amperage draw?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 810
Likes: 4
From: Austria
Re: electric water pump ?? (Bob86ZZ4)
i don´t think an electric waterpump helps much to performance..
it needs amperage from the alternator, and the alternator takes more power from the engine..
so-im summary the same energy amount..
it needs amperage from the alternator, and the alternator takes more power from the engine..
so-im summary the same energy amount..
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 3,602
Likes: 170
From: Toronto, Canada
Re: electric water pump ?? (YellowC4)
Some dyno results have showed an increase of 8-11hp in the upper rpm range. The real benefit of the electric pump is you can use a standard chevy double roller chain instead of the more expensive unit from GM. :cheers:
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 4,847
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From: Bartlett, IL
Cruise-In XI Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12
Re: electric water pump ?? (95vettski)
Just about every dyno test I have seen has resulted in about 10rwhp, it is also handy for cooling your car in the staging lanes or pits at the track. I will most likely be installing one over the winter.
Mike
Mike
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,255
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From: Clayton, NC north carolina
Re: electric water pump ?? (Bob86ZZ4)
My good friend is a top notch ASE mechanic, and races a car a lot like mine (he has a 6 speed, a bigger cam, and Hoosiers, and he is a much better driver than I and he kicks my butt every time) and he said don't put in an electric water pump. His main concern is that the mechanical pump we now have is very reliable and he doesn't think the electrics can match that. You may also be aware that the alternators on a C4 are not the most reliable either, so why tax them with more amperage draw?
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 1999
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From: Sachse Texas
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Re: electric water pump ?? (Bob86ZZ4)
I put one on for my latest buildup. I did my homework and expect a 5-10 rwhp gain across the board. I will know more once it is up and running. They should last fine as long as you get a good one in the first place (unlike John M). As with any mass produced item, they have a certain percentage of units that will fail early. They are rated to last 2000 hours I believe.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 14,673
Likes: 750
From: NEwhere Ohio
Re: electric water pump ?? (YellowC4)
The power gain of about 10 HP, and most importantly torque is proven...
but...I decided not to get it, following the advice of my mechanic, about how if you blow a fuse, hook it up wrong, or have electrical problems, you'll end up overheating your engine, and damaging it.
I think you might be able to find in the archives, some people's experience (lcvette I believe, correct me if I'm wrong please) with what happens when the fuse blows on an electric water pump.....
I wanted to be able to drive my car on long trips without having to worry about the water pump fuse blowing, or how I'd get it fixed if it did.
Although I would have loved the extra power increase on top of everything else I did
but...I decided not to get it, following the advice of my mechanic, about how if you blow a fuse, hook it up wrong, or have electrical problems, you'll end up overheating your engine, and damaging it.
I think you might be able to find in the archives, some people's experience (lcvette I believe, correct me if I'm wrong please) with what happens when the fuse blows on an electric water pump.....
I wanted to be able to drive my car on long trips without having to worry about the water pump fuse blowing, or how I'd get it fixed if it did.
Although I would have loved the extra power increase on top of everything else I did
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
Re: electric water pump ?? (95vettski)
Seems to me that IF you get 10 hp gain at clutch, then the water pump is taking 7500 watts.....at 14 volts figger on...that computes to...536 amps draw....uhhhh guess what???? that's more than the starter motor....
so IF you want to figger on 12.6 volts....the amps is.....595 amps...can't win the math discussion.....somehow somwhere a claim is WAY THE HELL OFF BASE HERE.....that load would fry most any alternator, even one from a fire truck.....
GENE
so IF you want to figger on 12.6 volts....the amps is.....595 amps...can't win the math discussion.....somehow somwhere a claim is WAY THE HELL OFF BASE HERE.....that load would fry most any alternator, even one from a fire truck.....
GENE
Drifting
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 1,892
Likes: 0
From: St. Petersburg FL
Re: electric water pump ?? (YellowC4)
Ya got the same problems with electric fans and fuses/relays!!! So whats the worry, it doesn't keep you from using them!!
Everyone can try to gigure this one out mathmatically with the amp/alternator formulas,,but the bottom line is:
Race teams use them BECAUSE THEY MAKE HORSEPOWER.
The Mezier pump will LAST A LONG TIME on a street car. Read the articles where they were TESTED in most of the MAJOR magazines (Hot Rod, Car Craft, and Chevy High Performance). They have always been a recommended item because of their power potential, and longevity. Don't believe what you here from people here or you mechanic, research the articles where they were tested and form your own opinion,,,go to a drag strip and talk to the racers in the money and see what they're using...talk to John M or any other EXPERIENCED racer and ask why they use them,,just my 2 cents. There are past LONG threads on this subject and people keep throwing all those alternator/amp/watts or whatever formulas out there, but however you see it,,the dyno don't lie!
Everyone can try to gigure this one out mathmatically with the amp/alternator formulas,,but the bottom line is:
Race teams use them BECAUSE THEY MAKE HORSEPOWER.
The Mezier pump will LAST A LONG TIME on a street car. Read the articles where they were TESTED in most of the MAJOR magazines (Hot Rod, Car Craft, and Chevy High Performance). They have always been a recommended item because of their power potential, and longevity. Don't believe what you here from people here or you mechanic, research the articles where they were tested and form your own opinion,,,go to a drag strip and talk to the racers in the money and see what they're using...talk to John M or any other EXPERIENCED racer and ask why they use them,,just my 2 cents. There are past LONG threads on this subject and people keep throwing all those alternator/amp/watts or whatever formulas out there, but however you see it,,the dyno don't lie!
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
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From: The Top of Utah
Re: electric water pump ?? (mrvette)
Nunbers don't lie, but they CAN be misapplied. A mechanical water pump absorbs more power as the speed (rpms) increase. An electric water pump runs at a constant speed. It is my belief that the water pump speed at 5 or 6 grand, or wherever your horsepower peaks, is far in excess of what is needed to do the job. The electrical (Watts) horsepower equivalent of what the mechanical pump absorbs is by far in excess of what is need by the electric water pump to do the job.
On the other side of the coin. Most of the guys at the track that are "in the money" aren't driving their car TO the track or on cross country trips.
Just $0.02 more to add fuel to the flame.
On the other side of the coin. Most of the guys at the track that are "in the money" aren't driving their car TO the track or on cross country trips.
Just $0.02 more to add fuel to the flame.
Drifting
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 1,297
Likes: 0
From: Edmond Oklahoma
Re: electric water pump ?? (dizwiz24)
My neighbor and I both use the electrics, both drive the cars every day (sun/rain/snow) and haven't had any issues except the car running cooler, making more power and getting better mileage. My neighbors pump has been on the car for two years, mine only ~ 6 months.
Something to keep in mind on the pro/con game is that changing a fuse really isn't the end of the world (and you do have two temperature gauges and a warning light if it fails). The Mezere will not puke coolant all over the OptiSpark - I'd rather change a fuse than a pump and Opti.
Mark
Something to keep in mind on the pro/con game is that changing a fuse really isn't the end of the world (and you do have two temperature gauges and a warning light if it fails). The Mezere will not puke coolant all over the OptiSpark - I'd rather change a fuse than a pump and Opti.
Mark
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
Re: electric water pump ?? (autoxer)
Drag race teams use them for HP gains, true enough,...BUT, in a street driven car cruising on the highway at 80 mph in 100f temps with a/c on...guess what??? now a more decent comparison would be NASCAR....500 miles flat out in sometimes 90f days....do they use electric pumps???
GENE
GENE
Drifting
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 1,297
Likes: 0
From: Edmond Oklahoma
Re: electric water pump ?? (mrvette)
Take a look at the impeller on a stock pump. Not exactly high tech. Add to that the pump has an operational range of ~700 to 6500 rpm. Seems a lot to ask of any pump to be cheap (why is the impeller stamped sheet metal) and also operate optimally over such a wide range. An electric pump has a machined aluminum impeller and is optimized for a single speed.
I don't have a Winston Cup rule book handy, but electric pumps are banned in most forms of NASCAR.
Much like antifreeze, turbochargers, superchargers, nitrous oxide and fuel injection.
Mark
I don't have a Winston Cup rule book handy, but electric pumps are banned in most forms of NASCAR.
Much like antifreeze, turbochargers, superchargers, nitrous oxide and fuel injection.
Mark
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,040
Likes: 2
From: BowlingGreen KY
Re: electric water pump ?? (vanduker)
I don't think it would be a huge crisis if your electric water pump were to go out, mechanical ones go out all the time. I wouldn't be afraid of a little fuse blowing either. How often do your fuses blow anyway. I think the electric pumps are a very good idea, especially for racing. This is just my opinion. :D
Racer
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 320
Likes: 0
From: TX
Re: electric water pump ?? (KYVette90)
I have been told to expect about 10 rwhp. The biggest gain you get from an electric water pump is better cooling. The electric is constant speed, regardless of engine RPM. This means that the impeller was designed to operate at peak efficiency at that speed. A mechanical pump does not match the effiency since it must work over such a wide RPM range. Even at peak effiency, it flows less than the electric unit. The only reason I do not have one is that it is illegal for my class.
On the downside, I have heard of more than one person with wiring issues. I don't know the specifics, but I would warn you to make sure the wiring is done properly.
On the downside, I have heard of more than one person with wiring issues. I don't know the specifics, but I would warn you to make sure the wiring is done properly.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,255
Likes: 50
From: Clayton, NC north carolina
Re: electric water pump ?? (vanduker)
Something to keep in mind on the pro/con game is that changing a fuse really isn't the end of the world (and you do have two temperature gauges and a warning light if it fails). The Mezere will not puke coolant all over the OptiSpark - I'd rather change a fuse than a pump and Opti.
Mark
