Landracing Forum

Tech Information => Water/Methanol Injection => Topic started by: ONEBADBUG on March 31, 2011, 10:24:55 AM

Title: pumping water with a fuel pump
Post by: ONEBADBUG on March 31, 2011, 10:24:55 AM
For reasons I won't bother to explain here (Chumpcar), I need a really cheap water injection system. I made one for Bonneville using an old fuel injection pump, and it failed right at the end of the event. Now, it was old and crappy in the first place, so it might have failed no matter what. My question is, has anyone used a standard injection pump for water for any length of time? Mine needs to run 24 hours.
Title: Re: pumping water with a fuel pump
Post by: hotrod on March 31, 2011, 11:39:06 AM
How cheap are you looking to go?

You can fabricate a low buck water injection system with easily available 12V pumps used in RV's to pump water for the faucets.

http://www.amazon.com/SHURflo-2088-422-444-Classic-Potable-Water/dp/B0006GK5NA

Their peak pressure is about 35 -45 psi on the low end up to about 80 psi on the top end depending on what you get. If you want a bit more flow and pressure you go to the higher end pumps but I've built simple WI systems with the budget pumps and they work just find if all you want is a bare bones system.

You will want to inject between 15% - 20% of your fuel flow in most systems with high power applications taking as much as 50% of the fuel flow.
You can get simple spray nozzles from Mc Master and Carr.

Larry
Title: Re: pumping water with a fuel pump
Post by: Moxnix on March 31, 2011, 03:42:49 PM
Snow Performance pump?  Not spam, but there was some verbage on here about them a few years back.
Title: Re: pumping water with a fuel pump
Post by: Seldom Seen Slim on March 31, 2011, 03:55:03 PM
I'm wondering what OBB wants the pump for.  If it needs 24 hours continuous -- there aren't many race engines that run like that 'cepting LeMans and maybe a few others, so  --  maybe he's building a motor to run the pump for farm irrigation, not a race vehicle.  Heck, he might be putting together a project for a science fair.
Title: Re: pumping water with a fuel pump
Post by: Moxnix on March 31, 2011, 05:09:44 PM
www.chumpcar.com
Title: Re: pumping water with a fuel pump
Post by: Speed Limit 1000 on March 31, 2011, 09:57:08 PM
How much water do you plan on in 24 hours? A soft drink or other tank with a high pressure CO2 or N2 with a regulator and then you do not need a pump. :cheers:
Title: Re: pumping water with a fuel pump
Post by: McRat on March 31, 2011, 10:40:47 PM
Snow systems are fairly cheap, IIRC, but if you must use a "cheap/free" non-water pump, perhaps you need to add a lubricity? agent to the water.  IIRC, windshield washer fluid has some lubricity to it.

That ChumpCar stuff sounds great.  But even junk cars are over $500 now.  How do they determine the $500 value?
Title: Re: pumping water with a fuel pump
Post by: dw230 on April 01, 2011, 12:09:00 AM
Claiming fee?  Looks like someone jumping on the 24 Hrs. du Le Mons deal.

DW
Title: Re: pumping water with a fuel pump
Post by: ONEBADBUG on April 04, 2011, 10:27:58 PM
I'm wondering what OBB wants the pump for.  If it needs 24 hours continuous -- there aren't many race engines that run like that 'cepting LeMans and maybe a few others, so  --  maybe he's building a motor to run the pump for farm irrigation, not a race vehicle.  Heck, he might be putting together a project for a science fair.
It's an old Karman Ghia, the race is a full 24 hours, and the temperature will be in the 90's. Since the whole car is supposed to be $5oo, I can't show up with a Snows system. You guys would love building a car for this series. The rule on custom made parts is: if you can build it in a regular shop with regular tools, it's allowed. Thus my plan for a junkyard fuel pump, and other cheap stuff. I plan to have the pump run continuously and have a temp switch spray water in the fan, and a vacuum or throttle switch spray in the manifold. I will buy a pump ($10 at pull n save) and run it in a bucket for 24 hrs straight to test.   
Title: Re: pumping water with a fuel pump
Post by: hotrod on April 05, 2011, 01:04:25 AM
Then your best bet might be to find a junk yard that has old campers and RV's and pull one of their 12v water pumps used to supply drinking water to the sink. It should out perform a fuel pump -- and as I mentioned I have successfully used them for water spray and water injection systems.

Larry
Title: Re: pumping water with a fuel pump
Post by: ONEBADBUG on April 05, 2011, 09:27:57 AM
I had not thought of looking for used one, good idea. Someone mentioned water soluble oil, that's a good idea too.
Title: Re: pumping water with a fuel pump
Post by: Dreamweaver on April 05, 2011, 09:46:14 AM
Chump racing , sounds right up my alley :)

The $500 thing sounds sketchy tho.
Title: Re: pumping water with a fuel pump
Post by: McRat on April 05, 2011, 10:45:47 AM
Another coolant might be machining coolant.  It water-based that you mix usually.  That has very good lubricity for a water product.

$500 would be refreshing.  If I walk into the garage to look at our truck, $500 evaporates from my wallet before I get all the way in.
Title: Re: pumping water with a fuel pump
Post by: ONEBADBUG on April 05, 2011, 01:04:59 PM
Yeah, "Band-Aid" from our saw should work great. I'm about $3000 into my $500 car by now, but safety things don't count towards value. Cage, Belts, Fuel Cell, etc. I am having to be creative to make a 40 year old air cooled car remotely competetive with a BMW or Miata.
Title: Re: pumping water with a fuel pump
Post by: manta22 on April 05, 2011, 01:38:08 PM
I used a Carter fuel pump in a water cooling system for a portable diffusion pump but, after two pumps failed, I checked into the pump's construction and found that it was a type of pump that uses the fuel as a coolant for the motor. They circulate the fuel through the inside of the motor case as well as in the pump section so the water was actually being circulated in the pump. The 12V caused a small electric current to flow through the water (it actually had some ethylene glycol added) and this current eventually erroded the wire braid connection to the brushes. When the brush contact was eaten through, the pump stopped. Lesson learned!

Regards, Neil   Tucson, AZ
Title: Re: pumping water with a fuel pump
Post by: ONEBADBUG on April 06, 2011, 08:28:23 PM
I used a Carter fuel pump in a water cooling system for a portable diffusion pump but, after two pumps failed, I checked into the pump's construction and found that it was a type of pump that uses the fuel as a coolant for the motor. They circulate the fuel through the inside of the motor case as well as in the pump section so the water was actually being circulated in the pump. The 12V caused a small electric current to flow through the water (it actually had some ethylene glycol added) and this current eventually erroded the wire braid connection to the brushes. When the brush contact was eaten through, the pump stopped. Lesson learned!

Regards, Neil   Tucson, AZ

Exactly what I am wondering about, I know that most pumps work that way, and therefore will not work long term. I will let everyone know how my experiment goes.
Title: Re: pumping water with a fuel pump
Post by: maj on April 08, 2011, 05:26:20 AM
How many cc/min are you needing ?
there are some small sureflow copys getting out there now that run at 80 psi and cost under $50 and run up to 4000cc/min
EG   http://cgi.ebay.com.au/12V-80PSI-Diaphragm-Water-Pressure-Pump-High-PSI-Model-/250799812994?pt=AU_Boat_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3a64d57182
Title: Re: pumping water with a fuel pump
Post by: ONEBADBUG on April 09, 2011, 10:35:17 PM
 :lol: That's awesome!
Title: Re: pumping water with a fuel pump
Post by: NathanStewart on April 14, 2011, 05:39:57 PM
Nope, a regular fuel pump will definitely not like water going through it.  I work for a company that makes a pretty affordable injection kit (not the company I was working at before).  I can get you a "racers discount".  Shoot me a PM if you're interested.

Nate
Title: Re: pumping water with a fuel pump
Post by: zenndog on April 15, 2011, 01:56:59 PM
I echo the comment, even without the race equip, how are most of those cars valued at $500? Is getting the car running not included in the total cost? Looks fun though.
Title: Re: pumping water with a fuel pump
Post by: Ron Clevenger on May 14, 2012, 11:40:36 PM
I've played around with water/meth injection for about 40+ years (designed and built my own systems). Currently run a system on my blown gas (40psi boost) that incorporates some of AIS http://www.alcoholinjectionsystems.com/Water-Injection-Pump/c29/index.html parts.

If you really want the water/meth systems to be effective you need to get the pressure up around 200 psi and the nozzle design is very important for proper droplet design.

But I have used a electric fuel pump to circulate engine water (drag racing small extra time). But it does require faithful maintenance at the end of the day to keep it going. Blow water out of it and apply some WD-40 through it and it's ready to go the next day.

Hope this helps..................................Blessings..........Ron