There are several compact electric water pumps that have come on the market. Has anyone used one to recirculate coolant after the engine is shut off as an alternative to the turbo timer? For people who park in a garage, leaving the engine running with the turbo timer is not an option. Granted the oil would not be circulating thru the turbos, but having the engine off with coolant recirculating would seem to be another way to gradually cool off. Two y-pipes to splice into the upper and lower radiator hoses and a timer to activate the pump would do the trick. Any comments?

 

It sounds like a reasonable idea, but to me it really sounds like too much work. Turbo timers have never really been my thing anyway. Just be nice to the car for the last few minutes of your ride, give it 30 seconds once you park, and you're golden.

 

a very good idea
im sure it would help all the components to last longer

its just that cooling down the car seems to be good enough and people are lazy to make something like what you are talking about.

A lot of people argue that leaving the fans on after shutdown doesn't do anything but I always leave mine on and I can tell a huge difference in the time it takes to cooldown. now imagine the coolant moving with fans.....

 

I've seen talk about using the electric pumps here on the forum for years. However, I've never seen anyone actually go to the trouble to install one.

 

I could see it in conjuction with the fan mod, but if you don't have air flowing through the radiator the cooling isn't going to be a huge amount.

Yes, the hottest parts of the engine will be slightly less hot, but the rest of the engine will become hotter than they usually might be.

 

Agree.
Water keeps circulating by convection after car is shut-off. This is why most ppl dont use a turbo-timer with water cooled turbos. Fan mod is all you need.

BTW, sometimes if I do the right combination of AC switches at is shut down, the fan keeps running just like the fan mod. Has anyone documented the exact sequence ?

 

One of the reasons I asked about this is that I am on my third engine in 120K miles. Both previously had bad coolant o rings. While I seem to get more mods every time I get a new engine, it would be nice to keep the thing going longer. I have a 1/2 mile driveway to my house and use it as a cool down, but feel that leaving the coolant running would be even better. It would be easy to tie the fans to the water pump and a timer. Fans would cool radiator, pump would cool engine. Just not sure how much restriction the not-moving stock water pump would make against the coolant flow in a stopped engine. There is usually some leakage around the impellers- maybe enough to allow circulation.

Maybe I'll be the first. Let you know soon.
Ron A.

 

anyone know what tmiked is talking about?
sounds pretty cool to know

 

Ive also had this idea. I think it would be great so while it sits there it the water doesnt get a hot spot and boil. Yet I heard these water pumps sure take the ampage out of a battery so a timer or something for how long it takes sure would be a good idea. I dont see it being to much work either.

 

Wait wait you want to have the stock pump AND an electric one?? Just get an electric to free up horsepower and you can still do your idea.

 

Im not sure if it helps but I like to do it. I also have about a mile of str8 line to my house to cool off, I usually pop the hood to let more cold air in there at around 40 mph. Then slow down.

 

Turbo timers are really not needed unless you have bad
post driving habits. If you allow you car to operate at non boost for a few minutes before shutting it down, and maintane your cooling system and oil properly; then it is not needed.


It is only needed if you want to leave you car immediately after driving very fast.

None of my friends with fast modded cars use them here in Houston. They respect their cars and treat them with care.


Turbo timers are for lazy non-caring drivers, or for the uninformed.

 

Ya but this idea is very good so that hot spots wont boil or what not.

 

You'll eventually still have some as you still won't have free air coming into the engine bay (and it will have to shut off at sometime). I agree that circulating coolant after the car is off isn't a bad idea, however I'm not sure how much it's going to help without the fans going and fresh air coming in....

It would be nice to see someone do the mod and record some temps after shutting the car off with and without the electric pump on.

 

How about with the electric pump AND fans on?? Ehh ehhh?

 

You still have the fans pushing hot air not to mention killing your battery. Eventually, you'll still have to turn everything off and there will be parts of the engine where coolant can and probably will have some localized boiling or hot spots. To what degree? That's the real question.

 

fan-mod is simple and good enough. aft shutdown it cools rad core to near ambient and blows that air across turbos ... can really feel the heat exit at front wheel well. I have measured temps at turbine hsg bolts on a saab, and running fans aft shutdown was very effective.

to do pump right, have to either convert to elec pump, or add a bunch of check valves ... not worth added complexity.

 

Ive noticed that the fans do make a WORLD of difference but its what we went over already. Localized boiling is the killer. If you ALREADY have an electric water pump (which Im considering) I wouldnt mind looking into it for running a bit after shutdown. I see no reason for complicated check valves a stuff just some electrical should do it just fine. About the batteries maybe you can set it to go fan mod first then water pump afterwards?? Either way its an interesting an idea.