People have a different connection with their car, they take care of it like a pet. So, maintaining a car is also a big concern for them, right? People show concern about the failures in car engines due to the temperature rise. What does a water pump do in a car? Read more to know!
In this case, a water pump plays a crucial role in cooling the car engine and maintaining the proper temperature. People are also curious to know what does a water pump do in a car. If you find your water pump is leaking or failing, you must read this article to know the complete details of the car’s water pump.
1. What Does a Water Pump Mean?
A water pump is a machinery device that helps in cooling the engine by pushing coolant through the engine’s cooling system. Water pumps serve as a backbone for a car’s cooling systems, although not every water-cooling system requires them.
There are several ways to give power to water pumps, however, most of them operate through craft shafts. People use several other water pumps having a variety of styles. The water pump in your vehicle is essential for the smooth functioning of your car’s cooling system.
The centrifugal force ensures that the water is drawn consistently from the center when the water pump keeps on spinning and expels it outside.
2. The Main Parts of a Water Pump
2.1. Housing – The Protector
Mostly it comprises aluminum or cast iron. It protects the water pump from major damage. Nowadays, the manufacturers use stamped steel to make the modern water pumps. It has two holes: weep holes & vapor holes.
The weep holes in it help to leak out the coolant via a broken seal. Therefore, it’s a necessary part to ensure that the coolant doesn’t get wrapped in the bearing assembly and damage the entire pump. In between the pump seal and hub, a vapor hole can be seen. It helps to reduce the excessive gas pressure.
2.2. Impeller – The Distributor
It comprises metals or plastic material. The lasting capacity of a metal impeller is more than a plastic impeller. There is a large demand for water pumps with metal impellers, so manufacturers often prefer to make impellers from metal.
Within the housing, the Impeller is connected at the end of the shaft. The primary role of the Impeller is the distribution of coolant with the support of spinning. The RPM (“Rotation Per Minute”) estimates the rate at which the impeller spins.
2.3. Bearing- The Supporter
The mechanical support to the shaft is provided by bearing to ensure the movement of the shaft with no interruption. The shaft has a hub at the top and an impeller at its end, it moves against the bearing.
2.4. Pulley or Hub – The Power Source
The pulley or hub serves as a source of power to the impeller. It is an essential part as it helps to rotate the impeller. The pulley or hub connects the timing belt, and V-belt including the serpentine belt.
2.5. Seal – The Shield
The pump seal moves around the shaft and protects the bearing from getting contaminated. It also helps to prevent coolant leaks. The damage to the seal can cause leakage of engine coolant during the running of the engine.
2.6. Mounting Gasket
It hooks the water pump with the engine to ensure safe mounting and no leakage of coolants.
3. Types of Water Pumps
There a several varieties of vehicle water pumps in use, which:
3.1. Gear Water Pumps
As the name implies, the transfer of energy takes place from the engine to the coolant with the help of the gears it has. They are highly durable and provide a high flow rate, so generally, heavy-duty vehicles use them.
3.2. Centrifugal Water Pumps
The impeller is utilized to produce centrifugal force which expels the coolants through the system. The durability of these pumps is good. They are highly efficient.
3.3. Vane Water Pumps
Here, the vanes are responsible for the movement of coolant. They fulfill the requirement of those vehicles that demand high coolant flow. They are extremely reliable.
3.4. Impeller Water Pumps
They are identical to Centrifugal water pumps as here also the impeller helps to expel the coolant through the system. They are smaller in size in comparison to Centrifugal water pumps. Generally, their high utilization is in Compact vehicles.
3.5. Turbine Water Pumps
A turbine wheel is responsible for the movement of coolant. They are also considered identical to centrifugal water pumps, like Impeller water pumps. However, they are highly efficient and utilized in heavy vehicles having different designs of impeller.
4. What Does a Water Pump Do in a Car?
A car’s engine can’t work properly without a water pump. A water pump helps to circulate coolant through the engine block, cylinder head, and radiator to maintain their constant temperature. A belt coming from the crankshaft pulley operates it.
The centrifugal force and impeller blades are responsible for the movement of coolant through various tubes and hoses. Once the coolant is circulated through the engine, the heated coolant is sent by the tubes or pipes to the radiator to cool it down with the help of the air over the fins of the radiators. The radiator is found in the front of the vehicle. After leaving the radiator, the liquid flows back to the water pump to restart the cycle.
5. Indication for the Failure of the Water Pump
There are a few reasons that can cause damage to the car’s water pump:
5.1. Rumbling Noise
The rumbling or grinding sound is an indication of the worn-out bearings in the water pump. It is possible to replace the bearings, but the seal also won’t last. Usually, the need is to change the entire pump in this case.
5.2. Fluid Leak
The failure of the shaft seal and gasket attached to the water pump is also an indication of a faulty water pump. It’s a cause for the leakage of coolant. One should replace the entire pump, in case the shaft fails, however, if the gasket fails it can be replaced.
5.3. Impeller Damage
Modern water pumps use plastic impellers which sometimes break and cause unusual vibrations. One should replace the impeller for the proper working of the water pump. When your car’s water pump fails, you need to repair it immediately to keep your vehicle running smoothly.
6. Conclusion
Now, you know the answer to your question, what does a water pump do in a car, that is the water pump in the car is responsible for continuously pumping coolant from the radiator to the engine block.
The water pump is an integral element of the cooling system and may be found near the front of the engine. In this way, the water pump ensures the maintenance of constant temperature in the engine for its smooth functioning.
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