Removing the water pump... yes? no?

[Matt Timion]

I was reading this article:

http://www.evworld.com/view.cfm?sect...le&storyid=505

And I started thinking about the viability of removing the belt driven water pump and replacing it with an electronic water pump inline with the radiator hose.

How realistic do you guys thing it is? HOw easy would it be to do? How much MPG do you think we could expect to gain?

[SVOboy]

But then what timing belt would you use?

[Matt Timion]

Originally Posted by SVOboy

But then what timing belt would you use?

that wasn't the question.

[SVOboy]

But if you removed the water pump your timing belt would be much to large, would it not? I'm sure you can install and inline pump, but I'd think you'd have to find a timing belt that would be the right about of tightness to work without the water pump in the way.

[Matt Timion]

two options:

1) leave the gear in place for the water pump, but remove the blades. The gear will still spin.
2) Remove the gear all together and get a bigger timing belt tensioner.

[SVOboy]

I understand now, idiot ben.

[XFi]

Know anyone who has done this??? I would be up for it, any leads on an inline pump? Metros do not run the water pump off the timing belt (runs with same drive belt as the alt.)...I already have the alt. disconnected...if I did this, I could remove the belt and shed the weight from the alt.

[Matt Timion]

Originally Posted by XFi

Know anyone who has done this??? I would be up for it, any leads on an inline pump? Metros do not run the water pump off the timing belt (runs with same drive belt as the alt.)...I already have the alt. disconnected...if I did this, I could remove the belt and shed the weight from the alt.

Don't know anyone who has done this except the guy in the article.

All that you need to do is figure out a way for the pump to turn on at a certain temperature and you'll be good to go.

[Silveredwings]

My passat has two water pumps: one driven by a serpentine belt off the crank pulley, and an auxiliary electric pump. I'm not sure why they do this or what the capacity of the electric pump is but it's for a 2.8L V6. It might have the capacity to keep a smaller displacement motor cooled.

[JanGeo]

you will want to keep the water circulating all the time and circulate faster when you start overheating. It is important to be circulating the water in the head and block constantly to prevent hot spots from developing.