65RoadRacer
Well-Known Member
I had a Flowkooler pump on a brand new engine. Less than 1,600 miles later, my car started to overheat. I couldn't figure it out, everything was new. When it started to cool a little, I removed the upper hose - T-stat was wide open. Still couldn't figure it out, and I was on the road, 20 miles from home. I drove it until it got to 210, then parked until it cooled, and kept that up until it was Sunday morning at 3 am that I finally got home.
I noticed that the upper hose was hot, but the lower hose was cool, (or vise versa, can't remember which) and that meant the pump wasn't pumping coolant. I called Flowkooler and immediately they told me that I did something wrong, that I didn't know how to install a water pump, and wouldn't warranty their pump. I decided to remove the pump, and lo and behold, the pump and impeller were not spinning together. The impeller stayed on the shaft, but I could hold the front input shaft and spin the impeller. Basically, it was free-wheeling, and therfore even though the pulley was turning, the impeller wasn't.
I called Flowkooker again, they told me it was impossible, they said there was no way it could do that. I told him, I can spin the impeller one way, and the pulley flange the opposite, and he immediately jumped on the defensive and said, "I can do that with any pump off the shelf, that doesn't make it a bad pump". I said, "Opposite directions??". He then told me that the impeller is pressed on with a 50 ton press, and that there is no way it would still be attached if it wasn't spinning with the shaft. He also said that most of his customers are clueless and have no idea how a water pump works. Kind of insulting considering the circumstances.
I took video of the pump coming off, and showing that the "impossible" is indeed possible. Because Flowkooler was less than willing to work with me, I will never buy another Flowkooler product again. I still have that pump, too.
I noticed that the upper hose was hot, but the lower hose was cool, (or vise versa, can't remember which) and that meant the pump wasn't pumping coolant. I called Flowkooler and immediately they told me that I did something wrong, that I didn't know how to install a water pump, and wouldn't warranty their pump. I decided to remove the pump, and lo and behold, the pump and impeller were not spinning together. The impeller stayed on the shaft, but I could hold the front input shaft and spin the impeller. Basically, it was free-wheeling, and therfore even though the pulley was turning, the impeller wasn't.
I called Flowkooker again, they told me it was impossible, they said there was no way it could do that. I told him, I can spin the impeller one way, and the pulley flange the opposite, and he immediately jumped on the defensive and said, "I can do that with any pump off the shelf, that doesn't make it a bad pump". I said, "Opposite directions??". He then told me that the impeller is pressed on with a 50 ton press, and that there is no way it would still be attached if it wasn't spinning with the shaft. He also said that most of his customers are clueless and have no idea how a water pump works. Kind of insulting considering the circumstances.
I took video of the pump coming off, and showing that the "impossible" is indeed possible. Because Flowkooler was less than willing to work with me, I will never buy another Flowkooler product again. I still have that pump, too.
