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Hesco Waterpump - Horsepower gain bogus?

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Old Aug 15, 2014 | 09:04 PM
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Default Hesco Waterpump - Horsepower gain bogus?

I'm going to overhaul my cooling system just because it's past due. In the process of doing so I figured why not add a high flow water pump. Well, I stumbled upon the Hesco pump and while it does indeed look nice, I read this bit on their website and laughed my *** off...
Another First! Provides 10 to 20% more cooling efficiency than the stock water pump. We have replaced the stock stamped steel 5-vane impeller with an 8-vane billet aluminum impeller to achieve this goal. The impeller is larger than the stock and lessens the cavitations of the coolant to create a more positive flow in the space between the impeller and the #1 cylinder. The dyno showed an additional bonus of 6 hp. and 2ft/lbs. of torque gain we weren't expecting. The horsepower gain comes from the impeller slicing through the coolant instead of paddling the coolant. Individual gains may very depending on what accessories are already in place and engine condition. Either way it is a worthy addition to any Jeep engine whether it's a street driver or an off-road rock crawler.
You can see it here.

Okay, so I'm no expert on this matter but this seems laughable at best. More horsepower / torque because the water pump is now "slicing through the coolant"!?

You guys tell me... Do you think this is bogus or is there actually some merit to it?
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Old Aug 15, 2014 | 10:05 PM
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There is no regulation for those types of claims, so I will call shenanigans on their claim. Go to any flea market and you will find 1000 watt amps the size of a cigarette pack. Again, no regulation so the manufacture can say anything they want. That water pump may offer better cooling, but not much else.
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Old Aug 15, 2014 | 10:08 PM
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That's what I figured... Sounds like snake oil to me.

I just find it laughable that people make these sort of claims. I find it even more laughable that people buy products like this under the assumption they will indeed actually gain horsepower.

Sheesh...
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Old Aug 15, 2014 | 11:29 PM
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Sounds bogus to me, although I could see how you could get very marginal gains from creating a pump with less "drag." Kinda like how an electric fan is more beneficial than a mechanical one. Just thinking hypothetically.
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Old Aug 15, 2014 | 11:29 PM
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I think they are trying to say it moves the coolant much faster (paddling verse slicing may be a bad choice of words ) producing more cooling which in turn can create more horsepower. They didn't mention if it were at the crank or rear wheels or even what the test engine was..

In high horsepower vehicles I know that efficient cooling does produce horse power gains. But again there was no reference to what engine was being used for the testing imagine a 1% gain in hp in a 600 hp engine is 6
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Old Aug 16, 2014 | 09:20 AM
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Get a Flowcooler for less $. They use a nice CNC piece.

As for Hesco's claims, I am sure he had tests on a dyno to show difference, OK maybe at 5000 rpm, everywhere else not noticable.
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Old Aug 16, 2014 | 10:01 AM
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Originally Posted by CobraMarty
Get a Flowcooler for less $. They use a nice CNC piece.

As for Hesco's claims, I am sure he had tests on a dyno to show difference, OK maybe at 5000 rpm, everywhere else not noticable.
The FlowKoolers are notorious for breaking. Apparently they've riveted a metal plate on the end of the impellar and the rivets are very prone to coming out after X amount of miles which can end in catastrophe.
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Old Aug 16, 2014 | 10:51 AM
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Originally Posted by PumpinIron
The FlowKoolers are notorious for breaking. Apparently they've riveted a metal plate on the end of the impellar and the rivets are very prone to coming out after X amount of miles which can end in catastrophe.
That's old news. Now they have CNC billet inpeller.

http://www.flowkoolerwaterpumps.com/info/mirakool.html
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Old Aug 16, 2014 | 01:01 PM
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Originally Posted by CobraMarty
That's old news. Now they have CNC billet inpeller.

http://www.flowkoolerwaterpumps.com/info/mirakool.html
News to me, I didn't even realize!

Good news though, I'll be sure to get one now.
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Old Aug 16, 2014 | 02:01 PM
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I save HP on my race motor water pumps.......use electric only way I found.
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Old Aug 16, 2014 | 02:18 PM
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Originally Posted by Fred/N0AZZ
I save HP on my race motor water pumps.......use electric only way I found.
An electric water pump I could see saving some horsepower. I don't think that's a practical application for street use, though I could be wrong.
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Old Aug 16, 2014 | 03:11 PM
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Originally Posted by PumpinIron
An electric water pump I could see saving some horsepower. I don't think that's a practical application for street use, though I could be wrong.
I do run one on the street but its in a sleeper wagon now SBC (Dart block & Heads) FAST F.I., Twin Turbo Air to water inter-cooled.

Was just joking about one for the 4.0.
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Old Aug 16, 2014 | 03:23 PM
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Originally Posted by Fred/N0AZZ
I do run one on the street but its in a sleeper wagon now SBC (Dart block & Heads) FAST F.I., Twin Turbo Air to water inter-cooled.

Was just joking about one for the 4.0.
I figured as much, LOL.

I'll end up putting one of those on my 69' Camaro SS when I put the new motor in.
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Old Aug 16, 2014 | 04:13 PM
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You don't want faster flow in a stock engine. The coolant has to stay in the block, then the radiator, for a certain amount of time in order for proper and sufficient heat transfer to take place.
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Old Aug 16, 2014 | 04:43 PM
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Mine just arrived today along with the high flow thermostat housing.

I just think its just cooler having it...hopefully I will have a loss of 6 horsepower and an overheating issue. I enjoy complications in my life...

Oh I have a 4.0 in a YJ with a Flowkooler water pump, high flow 180 stat, hi flow thermostat housing and a 3 core aluminum radiator.

I live in Las Vegas where its stays pretty cool year round... and I noticed a difference in it taking longer to get to operating temperature and I run a few degrees cooler on the highway







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