Comments on: Does a water pump actually pump water (in your car’s cooling system) ?

By: ThereIsNoHope

ThereIsNoHope — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 03:27:53 +0000

Manufacturers didn’t start using antifreeze until 1960 (see link). Prior to that it was all water- thus the term water pump. Plain water in an engine block will freeze if the car is not run everyday. When water turns to ice it expands and sometimes in these older cars crack the engine block. This is the reason for Freeze Plugs. The expanding cold water would hopefully push a freeze plug out before the water froze and cracked the block. Antifreeze as the name suggests doesn’t freeze. This was the major advantage of antifreeze over water + it has a higher boiling point (made even higher by pressurizing the coolant with a pressure cap). The Water Pump is a true Pump and it pumps the coolant in a circle from the engine to the radiator and back again. It is a Centrifugal Pump I believe.

By: hey_yall

hey_yall — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 02:36:41 +0000

yes you are correct, it does pump water/antifreeze mix.

By: Nick M

Nick M — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 00:37:05 +0000

Not a bad guess! A water pump circulates the water it has a fin type impella that when it turns it forces the water to move through the rad, and cooling system. when you add antifreeze, the system mixes it has it flows through the system.
Simple Tips: ck belts often make sure their not worn or fraed, have system flushed every 2-3 years, new raditor cap and thermostate!….Always vk fluid level when eng. is cold, never when it’s hot…..Keep trucking good biddie !