I am having problems with my aquamist install, basically the pump won't prime. it fires up and pumps, but no water is moving.

i was trying to use the stock w/w reservoir as my tank, with the pump mounted on the rebar behind the front bumper. I am wondering if placing the pump higher than the tank is causing me some problems.

any insight would be great, b/c i would really like to run 20 psi on pump gas

 

Not sure Rich, but I have read other Aquamist install threads where the person installing was having problems due to the pump being higher than the reservoir. I think if you get the pump lower your problems will likely go away!

 

i always use those coolant overflow reservoirs as tanks when i do water injection.

one question for anyone who's used the washer tank-- does the pump have a problem with pulling through the motor? maybe you could wire the washer motor to come on with the WI motor--kinda like how some fords have the "pre" fuel pump. something just to get it primed.

 

I have zero problems with using the wiper fluid reservoir. Pump is mounted above the tank, to the side of my intercooler duct.

 

Rich,

are you SURE you don't have a small hole in the system letting air draw in? I ran my last water tank empty by accident. Filled the tank and the system still primed itself without a problem.

I would double check around the hose fittings to the barbed connections.

Bob

 

i use the same thing. . . but i have a coolingmist kit. i need to check on whether its working or not, because it doesnt seem to be using a lot.

 

Oh Rich,

how are planning on tuning for it? Someone said that the AFR can be inaccurate? Just curious.

 

Then what do you use for a coolant reservoir?

 

I use the rear windscreen washer reservoir, with the pump and controller mounted higher in the factory tool bins.. no problems

 

id like to hear more on this. . .

 

Are you planning on tuning for power increase? Or just as insurance and cooling of temps?

 

I'm pretty sure he is referring to the off-the-shelf tanks you can buy at pep boys/autozone etc, not using an exisiting stock piece.

 

Rich it would be best to gravity feed the pump. This eliminates that problem. My custom set-up is also gravity feed. I never have any problems with water supply unless of course it runs out of water. When you mount the pump above the tank, your then relying on the pressure from the tanks capaity to push the water into the inlet. This pressure gets weaker the less water you have in the tank.

 

choice number one sounds more appealing, but i will probably stick with choice number two for the sake of longevity .

 

Hi Dr Bob,

great advice. I need to double check everything. I may just go to a seperate tank and let gravity aid the system as suggested. Thanks guys .

 

@ 20lbs ?? C'mon

 

You need to prime the pump to get her cookin', however a gravity feed is the best system...

 

Hi Jack,

the bitch won't prime. chris and i tried everything, including uninstalling the pump and using a large bucket of water lifted higher than the pump for a gravity-assist effect. no dice. even tried reversing the lines....it pumps but won't suck

 

do you have a pic?

 

the chances are good your pump is sucking air rather than water. the smallest pinhole leak will do it. a good way to check is to disconnect at the pump and put a MiteyVac on the line to the tank. if you can't draw water or hold a vaccum you have a leak...

it would be more conservative to have the tank higher than the pump although i realize the washer tank is handy.

i have finalized my water injection. it will be 100% methanol. i am working on an approx 4 gallon fuel cell for the rear of my car and will be using a progressive system from Julio Don at AlkyControl. i will be tuning for more power and will be advancing my timing and boost a bit utilizing the usual along w twin egts.

good luck,

howard coleman

 

Ahh I know what your problem is. You have air traped in the pumps outlet line. Your system wont prime with air in that line because it's being compressed with water too. Fluid pumps can only pump fluids and not both fluid and air. The air will back track causing an air pocket inside the pump itself. Also most pumps don't do that good of a job sucking. My Shurflo 100psi pump wont suck for ****. Disconnect the lines from the nozzels and then re-prime the system till all the air & water spray out of it. When you get to the point that only water comes out, then your fine. Reconnect your lines. My set up is pressurized and if I run out of water, it too is hard to prime again because the pump sucks in a ton of air creating air pockets in the entire system.

 

What's the fluid capacity ? I read 9-cups (2.5 quarts) but I'm not convinced.

Thanks,
:-) neil

 

I've filled it up with almost three-quarters of a gallon of fluid after a day of hard (and frequent) boosting on the Tail of the Dragon.

 

ONLY REASON WHY I USED A TANK IS THE space. i needed at least a 1-2 gal just so i didnt keep stopping to fill up the tank over & over

 

When using the windshield washer reservoir as your tank how did you connect it to the pump? What I’m asking is, is pump suction connected to the existing washer line from the tank (through the washer pump)? If you made new penetrations into the tank what fittings did you use? Did you have to remove the reservoir to complete your install?