Davies Graig Electric Water Pump and Thermostat, Anybody used one?

[PRIMRK]

Looking at how to go about the coolant plumbing on my track car thats rocking a 7a with a 20v silvertop, ive looked at the 'normal' ways of do things, remote thermostats, shaving coolant fins ect...

Now ive found this davies craig water pump that has a vairiable flow rate alowing for it to act as a thermostat aswell, now on paper these sound good but id like to know if anyone had experianced these things first hand or know how well they do their job as both pump and thermostat.

Cheers

[CELICASUPRA7M]

mates got one on his V8 combi and raves about it, loves it lol.

[cooter]

I've got one of the earlier ones that's just a pump on my 20v. Just use the computer to turn it on at a set temp just like a thermostat. I don't run a conventional thermostat setup. Just straight pipework in and out of the motor. Had to crimp the Outlet pipe From the head to make a bit Of Preasure. It's a great little bit of gear. You will get a few people that hate them saying they leak but I've had mine on the daily for 3 years without a prob. Good in my books

[mullett]

Had mine in an MR2 for a couple of years, reliable as anything. I ran a remote thermostat block, IMHO that's the best way to do it.

-RM

[hemi twofifteen turbo]

A good friend of mine had one, took it back 3 times due to leaking and then being the person who he is pulled it down and put in a carbon seal. Then told the supplier he fixed the problem himself and now they all have carbon seals. Then the pump split in half along the plastic seam and cooked his engine. Anyway probably a lot better now but I think the mixed opinions come from a product that was a bit inferior quality when first released and is slowly getting better.

[Sam_Q]

I've got one of the earlier ones that's just a pump on my 20v. Just use the computer to turn it on at a set temp just like a thermostat. I don't run a conventional thermostat setup. Just straight pipework in and out of the motor. Had to crimp the Outlet pipe From the head to make a bit Of Preasure. It's a great little bit of gear. You will get a few people that hate them saying they leak but I've had mine on the daily for 3 years without a prob. Good in my books

if it was a great bit of gear then you wouldnt have to crimp that pipe, again isn't the whole point of the controller.

[Ben Wilson]

The controller manages the temperature nicely, but without a crimp or a thermostat there won't be any water pressure in the top of the engine and the heater won't work.

[cooter]

Sam q: dunno weather u realized but I stated I'm not running a thermostat hence the reason for crimping the pipe. I would have to do the same if I ran the oem water pump because of no thermostat for water pressure buildup

[JZA70 R]

The controller manages the temperature nicely, but without a crimp or a thermostat there won't be any water pressure in the top of the engine and the heater won't work.

Is that because you need water pressure for the coolant to take the alternate route through the heater core when the valve opens?

Does crimping the outlet effect temperature or coolant flow?

[PRIMRK]

so if im not running a heater i wont need to crimp the hose?

How long dose it take to heat up from cold start? Will it take longer as the water will alwase be cooled?

[cooter]

I'm not sure on the heater because I don't run it, in the te71 the 20v cas fowls the heater lines.

The reason I had to crimp the outlet is because my pump is the older single speed unit. If left the water would cycle too fast through the motor and cools it too much. Squirting the outlet pipe just allows a little less water to pass through creating pressure in the system and slowing flow for better cooling. I've run it with and without. Runs very well now crimped and has done for the past few years.

However, the unit u are looking at getting obviously says it acts as a thermostat so it may actually have a variable speed depending on temp. Which may negate the need for what I did. Run it without, if it runs too cool crimp it a little and check if it changes it.

[PRIMRK]

Yeh...I'd like to believe it will work how they say it will buuuutttt.... im also going to be running a larger/more efficiant radiator and some others have said that they run too cool so im not realy sure. I mean if i hook it up and it runs too cool/ dosnt work how they said it would i guess i can return it...maybe...

[mullett]

Still use a thermostat, much cheaper and more reliable, and you can always run a simple variable speed controller if you're worried about current draw

[Dangerous Beans]

Had mine in an MR2 for a couple of years, reliable as anything. I ran a remote thermostat block, IMHO that's the best way to do it.

-RM

How did you have it set up?

I was thinking of running one, mainly so that I don't need to drop the engine next time i need to replace the water pump (bloody A-dubs ).

[CrUZida]

Still use a thermostat, much cheaper and more reliable, and you can always run a simple variable speed controller if you're worried about current draw

But you can't use a thermostat in most circumstances otherwise you don't get any flow when its closed.