Balance Shafts / Electric Water Pump

Joebob

Goblin Guru
Don't forget that any HP gained from going electric will be lost by the alternator working that much harder to power it. If it stops, kiss the engine goodbye and bring an umbrella for the scalding water behind your neck.
 

mike_sno

Goblin Guru
The Davies Craig electric water pump controller has its own thermocouple sensor, and when the engine is cold, it only runs the pump in occasional short bursts. As the temperature increases, it increases the duty cycle of the water pump. So the warm up time shouldn't be much different than a stock thermostat with some small holes drilled in it.

Some builders just leave the stock coolant pump, with the chain removed. Others have cut the fins off the aluminum impeller, again removing the chain drive.

According to my search engine:
"A conventional water pump can consume approximately 15 horsepower between 6000 and 7000 RPM. In contrast, an electric water pump typically draws a maximum of 15 amps, which equates to about 1/3 horsepower."
Interesting. I didn't expect it to be so much HP using a mechanical pump. But it will also create a strong flow in correlation to the engine rpm. I read a little bit about the Davies Craig EWP 150 pump. Seems like its a variable speed pump or did I get that wrong?

@Joebob yeah, that's true. Hard to say what the real gains are. I am certain electric will have less flow. Mechanical is probably more reliable. However, being able to cool the engine off without the motor running and getting rid of the complete balance shaft and waterpump chain is somewhat attracting.
 

Ross

Goblin Guru
I'm not sure if the electric water pump is variable speed, or if it is just controlled with on/off cycles. My Davies Craig controller controls both the water pump and the radiator fan, and has alarms if there are problems or overheating, so you should be able to save the engine if there are issues.

A stock water pump is designed to flow enough water to keep the car from overheating when idling the engine on a hot summer day, with the AC on.
When the engine is revving near redline, there is way more water flowing than necessary, and power is wasted.
An electric water pump is also good for turbo cars, as it can cool down the turbo after the engine is turned off, rather than cooking the oil in the turbo.
 

mike_sno

Goblin Guru
I found out that my BMW has an electric water pump as well. Seems BMW also had a recall in some earlier years when they went electric. I think I will buy the BMW pump. Seems they have figured it out. https://amzn.to/4hhrTPu The pump seems to be a variable speed pump. Paird with this controller or an Arduino should to it's job. https://amzn.to/3CouPed

Since I have a temperature sensor at the LSJ head and the LAP thermostat housing, I think I can repurpose the unused one at the thermostat housing and have a complete independent 2nd read out. Just have to get the cable and plug and find out what type temperature sensor it is.

https://www.tecomotive.com/download/manual_tinyCWA.pdf another controller
 
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