DrLoch

When looking at the back of the motor at the coolant tube running from the water pump the thermostat housing, which way does it go?

A) From the water pump to the thermo housing
B) From the thermo housing to the water pump

Oldblue

I would think A, because when I had my rad cap off the flow seemed to go into the block away from the rad, so I think the waterpump will pull the coolant through then thru the pipe to the thermostat, heater core , lower rad hose, into the rad.

aradmahogany

Oldblue you mean to tell me you can just remove the cap and simply watch the coolant flow??? This seems oddly intriguing to me and I feel dared to try it LOL

Oldblue

You can while it is cold !
In my training as a mechanic I was taught the coolant enters the rad thru the upper rad hose and is forced down to the lower rad hose, like this, but that was in V-8 ville

DrLoch

OB, that is how a V8 flows. I'm trying to figure out which way it flows on the ecotec. I tried looking for that information on the internet but wasn't successful, figured I'd try here.

donbrew

Here is what AllData says:

Oldblue

Well I still think it is A like I stated in post 2.

There is just no room for my rubber ducky in there to prove it!

Dbeluscak

I'm with blue on this one. I've ran with the cap off to burp the system. It appears to be pulled through the radiator, so it's flow would be towards the stat. That being said, Doc you're Hyd/mech engineer wouldn't the impeller tell you something? We know which way it's rotating, so I would think that would be a good way to figure it out.

All data says B, we can't argue with that! Maybe it's gravity because I do keep the nose up while filling the system. That would make sense I suppose. I still think we should be able to tell by rotation and the impeller design.

donbrew

And the tube goes to the center of the impeller. Wouldn't centripedal forces want to throw the flow outward? So, t-stat to pump.

firemangeorge

Good question Don.
But, is the water pump in fact a centrifical pump with straight vanes which slings fluid out ?
Or is it a simple pump with curved vanes that draws fluid in and pumps it back through the center shaft piping ?

Now I've got a headache. Trying to recall all that info I learned before retiring. 30 years of Apparatus Operator, Pump Operations and other classes.
You guys are making me crazy.