Electric Water Pump...
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,773
Likes: 2
From: San Diego CA
This has been discussed on here before, and I've always paid attention because I thought I might like to do this mod. The discussions were more about cooling effectiveness than HP gains.
Based on what I've read, the main advantage to an electric pump is that it's full flow even at idle. At a certain rpm, the stock mechanical pump outflows the electric pumps.
The consensus was if you do a lot of high rpm running (road race) you're better with a mechanical pump. Evans seems popular for an OEM upgrade. For street use (lower RPM speeds/stop & go), the electric pump should keep you cooler. If you drag race, add a switch, and you can cool down the engine between runs, with the engine off.
I'm no expert but I can't see it needing a tune, or a tune helping, after removing the mechanical pump. You're just removing a small load off the engine. Kinda like having a fat friend get out of the car....
FWIW.......
Last edited by hattitude; Jul 31, 2011 at 07:47 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 9,526
Likes: 12
From: Los Angeles California
I had to have the motor bearings changed after 1200 hours and that cost $200 but at least they didn't fail on the road, they just got louder by the week. There is supposed to be less drag on the engine at high rpms compared to a mechanical pump but any energy the electrc pump uses comes from the alternator which of course is from the crankshaft. Horsepower TV did a dyno comparison between an electric and mechanical pump and showed gains with the electric. However, when they ran the electric pump it was powered by the building electricity since there was no alternator on the engine, hence the power gain!
The great thing about the electric water pump is that the energy it uses is constant. Only a small amount of energy is actually required to power it compared to the amount of energy it gets when running directly off the engine. If the engine is powering while only producing 10hp, very little energy is being lost at idle. But beyond idle, the pump is now receiving more energy than required to function.
In addition, electric motors are efficient where there's little loss of energy through heat. A water pump running off the engine directly is losing efficiency almost directly relative to the engine itself. But running power from the alternator which is regulated will yield a more constant lower power usage for all RPM ranges making it far more efficient.
On the other hand, I drive my car WAY too much to use an electric water pump. LOL
