Electric Water Pump

Silverback51 · #1 (**permalink**) 03-05-2008, 07:55 AM

Is anyone running an electric water pump? If so, how do you like it?

They seem like a good idea as they will be pumping more water at an idle when you are stuck in traffic.

Wayne Maybury · #2 (**permalink**) 03-05-2008, 08:08 AM

I have had one all along. It works fine but between the electric water pump and the electric fan, they consume quite a bit of power at idle and they will start to run the battery down somewhat if stuck in traffic for more than a half hour. If I get stuck, I usually keep the engine at a fast idle so that the altrenator is putting out more power.

Another advantage of the electric water pump is that ability to cool down the engine by turning the key to "on" for a few minutes after shutting the car down.

Wayne

vettestr · #3 (**permalink**) 03-05-2008, 08:19 AM

It has been a few years and I am sure they have improved reliability from the old days but I still am reluctant to use them. The higher flow mechanical pumps do a great job and failures are few. An electrical system failure puts you on the hook too for many reasons but a thrown belt or coolant leak from the weep hole is easier to get home.

I do not know if electric water pumps have a higher flow than belt driven high flow pumps or if that is a real issue of concern. I think the bigger bang for the buck would be good design and components and a bigger CFM puller fan. I also hate under-driven V-belt pulleys so I am just a Type A psycho

I will watch this and see how others feel about the bang for the buck and how well they work good question

Ron61 · #4 (**permalink**) 03-05-2008, 08:51 AM

All the years that I had my car I used an aluminum Floe Kooler water pump that was belt driven and high volume. No under drive pulleys or anything else and it never did cause me any problems, even when in town on our 118 degree days. And I could just rev the engine up a little and see the temperature gage start back down from the city traffic. But I also had aluminum heads, intake, and everything was ported and all the water flow areas had been cleaned and polished when the engine was built. So that probably helped some.

Ron

undy · #5 (**permalink**) 03-05-2008, 09:16 AM

I heard of several people having overheating problems at idle with electric water pumps.. I would not run one one a street driven vehicle, that's just me though.

wetdog · #6 (**permalink**) 03-05-2008, 09:26 AM

I too thought about it for the cool factor but..you have no ac, no power steering , no air pump , and all you have to drive is the alternator. I dont think you are gaining much power for the lack of simplicity you have with the crank driven pump. Nothing is fool proof but in my opinion I can fix a broken belt on the road and if that electric motor goes you are done.WD

BDR561 · #7 (**permalink**) 03-05-2008, 01:47 PM

I have been running one since day one... Looks different (like) runs cooler than any of my previouse 4 BDR's (love). No issues and the ability to cool while sitting between sessions or after shutdown is very nice.

If needed, you can replace the pump within moments without breaking into the cooling system. Fortunately, haven't had to do that....

Picture attached: