The Best Water Pump For Cooling?

[larrym1961]

When I built my motor I used a Flow Kooler water pump. With the Flex A Lite Extreme Puller E fan and the Be Cool radiator, I have always felt it should cool better in the summer heat than it does. 210 plus on a 90 degree day in stop-n-go traffic. My late Stepdad told me I would have been better off to run a stock water pump such as a Ford Racing one because a high volume water pump speeds up the flow of water, therefore it does not have enough time to soak up some of the engine heat before it goes into the radiator. Allthough I am using underdrive pullies, so I think that would counteract some of the speed of the high volume Flow Kooler water pump.

So in a case such as this would a Ford Racing or even an Edlebrock water pump be a better cooling performer than the Flow Kooler?

 

[Onefine88]

I've always found that the oem water pumps are more than adequate when matched with a good radiator and fans.

 

[S&B]

the FMS polished pump i have always cooled everything

 

[larrym1961]

I am considering s**t canning the Flow Kooler pump in favor of the FR unit. Even with the Flow Kooler on my old stock motor, I don't think it did as well as the old stock pump I replaced it with when it went bad.

I know a fellow who had a bad experience with an Edelbrock water pump comming apart and taking out the front portion of his 331 Vortech supercharged engine in his '98 F150.

 

[90lxcoupe]

Im running a replacement from autozone and it does great even with a front bumper that blocks most of the air to the radiator.

 

[85_SS_302_Coupe]

Good old Autozone reman here, stock '89 radiator, and at the moment running a cheapo Mr. Gasket efan until my Contour setup is finished.

 

[bdep73]

I am actually surprised that the setup you have doesn't keep the car cooler. I have the milodon high volume (but like everybody else said the stock is fine) 3 core mishimoto radiator and the flex a lite twin low profile fan that acually moves less air than your fan and my car stays at 185 -190 no matter how hot the day in stop and go traffic. before i had to switch to the low profile fan because of the 10 rib pulley on the s/c i had the same fan as you and the car never got any hotter than 190. do you have the thermostat switch on the fan turned all the way down because i believe that fan is set up to turn on under 180 at the lowest setting and 3300 cfm should be plenty

 

[95Vert383AOD]

OEM pumps cooled 302 and 351's. I got one from a ford dealer to put on my 302 some 10 years ago. Its now on my 383 stroker with no issues. I would be more skeptical of the cooling fan you are using. I like the fans off the Lincoln Mark 8....Thats one hell of a fan. Also if your thermostat is 190 its really easy to hit 200+ in stop and go traffic.

 

[larrym1961]

I am actually surprised that the setup you have doesn't keep the car cooler. I have the milodon high volume (but like everybody else said the stock is fine) 3 core mishimoto radiator and the flex a lite twin low profile fan that acually moves less air than your fan and my car stays at 185 -190 no matter how hot the day in stop and go traffic. before i had to switch to the low profile fan because of the 10 rib pulley on the s/c i had the same fan as you and the car never got any hotter than 190. do you have the thermostat switch on the fan turned all the way down because i believe that fan is set up to turn on under 180 at the lowest setting and 3300 cfm should be plenty

Fan is set to come on around 195 degrees. I allways thought my combo would keep it cooler than it does also, even with a 180 thermostat.

 

[85_SS_302_Coupe]

Fan is set to come on around 195 degrees. I allways thought my combo would keep it cooler than it does also, even with a 180 thermostat.

I would set the fan to come on sooner. By the time the fan gets moving and starts cooling, you're probably higher than 195 and it takes longer to get the temp back down. Temp will keep rising for a minute or few after the fan starts because coolant has to circulate around the rad and through the engine before it hits the temp sensor, so try setting the fan to come on closer to 180 or so and see if that doesn't help it run cooler.

 

[bdep73]

I agree with 85 ss you should set the fan to come on sooner. I know you are probably worried that by going that the fan will be on all the time but I dont think that will happen. I think by setting the fan to come on at a lower temp it may turn on a little more than it does now but it definitely wont run as long so it should even out.

 

[larrym1961]

I'll install the Ford Racing water pump and set the fan to come on @ about 180 and see where that gets me for Summer time 90+ degree temp. driving.

Still I think now with what the fan is set to come on at (195) and what I have for parts, 210 (but no less than 220) is too hot for the combination I have.

 

[bdep73]

I'll install the Ford Racing water pump and set the fan to come on @ about 180 and see where that gets me for Summer time 90+ degree temp. driving.

Still I think now with what the fan is set to come on at (195) and what I have for parts, 210 (but no less than 220) is too hot for the combination I have.[/quo

I agree 220 is way too hot but I don't think your pump is the problem. The flowkooler water pumps for the 5.0's were designed to move double the water flow rate under 3,500 rpm then the flow rate returns to normal to prevent to much water flow at higher rpm which is really perfect so I don't personally think changing your pump back to stock is going to do anything other than waist your time and money. I would play with the thermostat switch setting first.

 

[ratio411]

Your problem is not your pump.

You either have your fan set too high at start, or the fan controller is not placed in the best spot to get an accurate temp.

If the problem is only under 45 mph/in traffic, the problem is the fan (or shroud in a stock system), because over 45 mph the incoming air trumps the fan.

 

[larrym1961]

I'll set the fan to come on @ 180 and see what that does for me. The 210 temps only occure while driving @ 35 mph or below. Highway or freeway speeds, 190 or less is the norm.

 

[mob]

The ones from your parts store work fine, nothing really complex in the design of a water pump, the bolts line up, there is an impeller and a bearing and that's about it. I wouldn't go with a reman though, for like 10 bucks more you can get a new one with a lifetime warranty. Just keep your receipt and when it starts leaking take it back in a swap it out for a new one.

 

[89stang1]

Im using a high flow polished pump from Tuff Stuff im real happy with...i havent seen anything over 195 degrees in a long time. Im running dual flex a lite fans i have them set to come on at 180 i agree with above you would not want to set them at 195. larrym1961 do you have a airdam installed under rad when i put one on it made a big difference cooling my car also are you sure you dont have any trapped air causing high temps

 

[larrym1961]

Im using a high flow polished pump from Tuff Stuff im real happy with...i havent seen anything over 195 degrees in a long time. Im running dual flex a lite fans i have them set to come on at 180 i agree with above you would not want to set them at 195. larrym1961 do you have a airdam installed under rad when i put one on it made a big difference cooling my car also are you sure you dont have any trapped air causing high temps

Factory air dam underneath radiator is still in place. I don't believe there is much trapped air there, no more a/c condenser in place and a cowl hood to vent some underhood air.

 

[89stang1]

Factory air dam underneath radiator is still in place. I don't believe there is much trapped air there, no more a/c condenser in place and a cowl hood to vent some underhood air.

i meant trapped air somewhere in coolant system like and air bubble i had one after multiple attemps burping i got the air bubble out

 

[larrym1961]

i meant trapped air somewhere in coolant system like and air bubble i had one after multiple attemps burping i got the air bubble out

I believe I got all air out long ago, ran motor w/ radiator cap off and front end elevated, I also have the small "burp" hole in my thermostat.