Electric Water Pump? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

djarno · 07-23-2006, 06:54 PM

I've seen universal electric water pumps selling at summitracing.com and I was wondering if they are better than the conventional pumps(belt-driven) because they do not rob engine power. Would that be true?

mazdaverx7 · 07-23-2006, 08:17 PM

if you were using it for drag racing, yes. every day use, i wouldnt trust the thing. just my opinion.

***toyomoho*** · 07-23-2006, 09:43 PM

The link below provides info on your question.

http://www.superchevy.com/technical/...s/0408sc_pump/

Dave's · 07-24-2006, 01:59 AM

And I would bet that if you had an electric pump as powerful as the belt driven one, the load on the alternator would about equal the load of the stock one.

shofast · 07-24-2006, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave's

And I would bet that if you had an electric pump as powerful as the belt driven one, the load on the alternator would about equal the load of the stock one.

That is not true in real life. Since the waterpump has a fixed pitch on its prop it has an efficiency range (just like a turbocharger). Engine driven pumps turn in relation to RPM, not one speed. An electric pump can turn at the speed best for it at all times, this will free power at high RPM and provide better cooling at the same time. Since there is no benifit in turning the pump faster than it was designed for you actually waste power and reduce cooling when the pump is moving too fast or too slow.

I have not seen a camry with an electric pump, but it is a neat idea. Electric waterpumps will be common on new cars in a few more years.

marc780 · 07-24-2006, 10:20 AM

Quote:

I have not seen a camry with an electric pump, but it is a neat idea. Electric waterpumps will be common on new cars in a few more years.

Electric pumps are not a bad idea but not a great one either - the present type is belt driven and is dead-reliable - who knows what glitches an electric one will have. When they go out it is almost invariably the seal and fitting an electric water pump will not change that fact. If the engineers can create one that draws little power somehow, there would be a boost in mpg though- even though i think it would be slight.