flow kooler water pumps!!

I picked one up 2 years ago from quadratec. it was 100$ which I found out was around the same price for OEM. The construction seemed to be the same, the impeller was the same design as OEM, the only difference that I noted was there is a plate riveted to the impeller. The plate is supposed to help the pump at lower speeds. My cooling system consists of a CSF radiator (from DPG), the flow kooler pump (from quadratec), the mechanical fan, a flex-a-lite high flow fan (from Summit Racing) and Hood Vents. To be pefectly honest I have no idea if the Flow Kooler pump is actually making a difference. I will find out when I replace it because I am going back to an OE pump when this one goes.
 
i slapped a flow kooler on today w/ new radiator, thermostat, i too have louvers, guess i will find out aswell! oem pumps for my 91 are only 39.95, FK pump-125 bucks! keepin my fingers crossed...
 
I had a Flowkooler on my old 96 XJ a few years back. Yes, it is just a plate riveted to the impeller. When mine decided to give it up, it happened very suddenly. Some of the rivets had come undone and the plate ground against the housing, stopping the impeller dead in its tracks.

I heard a big whoosh and I saw my temp gauge peg out. I was able to pull over very quickly to avoid any further damage. When the impeller went, the fan went off at an angle and shredded the serp belt.

Luckily, my buddy had a spare water pump. And my other buddy went off to find a parts store to get me a new belt and coolant. We were able to get it back on the road pretty quickly.

I now have a Hesco pump on my MJ. Their design is much better. The impeller is one solid machined piece, as opposed to Flowkooler's two-piece design.
 
I currently run the FlowKooler water pump. Its works well for me. As johnny mentioned, its a glorified OEM pump with some slight differences mostly being the plate on the impeller. Somewhere I had read how it has slightly better bore in some spots but honestly, my next water pump will be a Hesco if I wanted to shell out the bucks
 
been running the flow cooler waterpump for over 3 years with no problems, and its keep my motor cool.
 
Ran a FlowKooler for about 100,000 miles until it started leaking out the weep hole. Replaced with stock pump-saw NO change in the coolant temp.

I guess I could still send it back under the warranty---
 
jpcherokeekid said:
been running the flow cooler waterpump for over 3 years with no problems, and its keep my motor cool.
Click to expand...

jeepme said:
X2 going on 5 years now for mine.
Click to expand...

That's all well and good. I had mine on for about 5 years also. But mine failed suddenly and catastrophically.

But you could be lucky like Wayne and get some advanced notice. ;)
 
I installed mine about 5 months and at the same time did the ZJ fan clutch upgrade. I'm not sure which made the bigger difference, but it always runs at 195 even when sitting in summer traffic. I also have a CSF 2 row radiator, but it ran around 210 with the radiator and stock water pump and fan clutch.
 
I ran a flowkooler for a long time. I replaced it because I thought it was going bad but it turned out to be an idler pulley. It definitely has a larger bore than stock on the input side. I drilled out the rivets and installed the impeller backing plate on the stock replacement and that works fine too. I did have to press the impeller a bit farther onto the shaft though to prevent the backing plate from rubbing on the water jacket.
 
tj'sxj said:
anyone know how they work and the quality of them? looking for more details than whats listed in the sales ad!
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tj'sxj said:
i slapped a flow kooler on today w/ new radiator, thermostat, i too have louvers, guess i will find out aswell! oem pumps for my 91 are only 39.95, FK pump-125 bucks! keepin my fingers crossed...
Click to expand...

Sorry dude, but the time to make a thread asking the quality of a product and how well they work, is not after you have already installed it. Next time, I suggest doing research before you buy, it could save you from wasting money in the future.


With that said, I have a Flowkooler installed as well. I like it, no problems.
 
I put them in both my XJs. Never a problem. Whatever you do, avoid a rebuild from a chain autoparts store even with a "lifetime" warranty.
 
DeathValleyPaul said:
I put them in both my XJs. Never a problem. Whatever you do, avoid a rebuild from a chain autoparts store even with a "lifetime" warranty.
Click to expand...

x10,000 to the tenth power.
 
I just opened up the Flowkooler box that has been sitting on the shelf for a year, I ordered it to up the cooling. I am overheating in winter but everything else checks out so I ascribe this to the purple cam (which I've double-checked the timing of) and the plow on the front which redirects all airflow past the rad. It only overheats on the highway, a combo of pushing that big plow through the air and that being the right 'airspeed' to actually create a venturi from the area between the plow and radiator. That's my theory anyway. I'll take care of that later........

Well anyway I should have done my research first, as I am quite peeved to discover that it is, as others have stated, nothing more than an OEM with a backing plate riveted to it. I could have done that myself. Actually, on account of the reviews I now see, I will TIG the damn thing to it to prevent rivet failure.

Now, I have no idea where the pump that was on my XJ came from (bad memory and the engine isn't the original), but the inlet for the 'original' pump is much larger than the flowkooler. The flowkooler inlet is a cylinder that pinches down to clear the engine and enter the impeller, but the 'original' one gets wider where it pinches down at the impeller entrance to compensate for the reduction in cross section. So it appears that whatever this pump is, its housing flows better than the flowkooler. I took pictures if anyone would like to see them, I'll post them.
 
Blix said:
Now, I have no idea where the pump that was on my XJ came from (bad memory and the engine isn't the original), but the inlet for the 'original' pump is much larger than the flowkooler. The flowkooler inlet is a cylinder that pinches down to clear the engine and enter the impeller, but the 'original' one gets wider where it pinches down at the impeller entrance to compensate for the reduction in cross section. So it appears that whatever this pump is, its housing flows better than the flowkooler. I took pictures if anyone would like to see them, I'll post them.
Click to expand...

Larger doesn't always mean better. If it flows water/coolant too fast, it doesn't have time to dwell and pick up heat. I don't know what you have or experience with exactly what you're describing, I'm speaking in general terms of heat transfer.
 
If that's all it is just a plate riveted to the impeller.
Can't you just get a OE pump and make a plate and weld it on yourself?

Edit: Anybody got a pic of this plate? I can't seem to find one. It just shows the front of the pump.
 
JeepingDan said:
Edit: Anybody got a pic of this plate? I can't seem to find one. It just shows the front of the pump.
Click to expand...

This is mine after two years (PO must not have torqued the bolts down properly because the gasket started leaking). Rivets looked fine. Search keywords are below.

Flowkooler pic flow kooler plate rivet

362934359_5HsLg-X2-1.jpg
 
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