One problem with electric water pumps...


[Follow Ups] [Post Followup] [Dodge Power Wagon Forum]


Posted by Brian in Oregon on Monday, June 18, 2001 at 11:39AM :

In Reply to: Re: Performance Mods-= where's the gain posted by W. Mahuson on Monday, June 18, 2001 at 11:12AM :

Electric water pumps are usually TOO consistent on speed to work on the street.

They work fine on the race track where you idle a bit in the pits and while staging, and during the run, and return to the pit, where the car is shut off and waits for the next round.

Electric fans have the ability to be shut off at highway speeds (via a thermostatic switch), thus allowing cooling by natural airflow. However, you have to be very careful to pick the right aftermarket fan for idling and around town conditions.

Flex fans work quite well, flattening out at higher RPM's. However, some makes have such large blades that when they flatten they nearly close off the opening in a fan shroud. They tend to work best with an unshrouded radiator.

Clutch fans work quite well, declutching when the air charge gets cooler. Even though they eventually catch up and spin at higher RPM's, it's at less of a load setting than if they did not slip. Clutch fans, and hydraulic fans (though with a fluid clutch) work quite well with a fan shroud.

As for running these accessories with an electric motor, there is no such thing as a free lunch. Eventually the electricity is going to have to be replaced in the battery, and the alternator will cause drag while it is doing so. However, it can do it over a longer period of time and at a steady rate rather and less friction loss due to fewer belts and pulleys.

Smokey Yunick at one time put the alternator in front of the radiator on a race car, driven by a propellor. Wasn't illegal under the racing rules, but he failed tech inspection anyway.





Follow Ups:



Post a Followup

Name:
E-Mail:
Subject:
Message:
Optional Link
URL:
Title:
Optional Image Link
URL:


This board is powered by the Mr. Fong Device from Cyberarmy.com