ENGINE MANAGEMENT & COOLING
BEYOND THE FACTORY
Automotive cooling has been at the heart of Australian Manufacturer, Davies Craig’s business since 1972 It all began with the creation of the Thermatic Electric Cooling Fans. These were installed onto radiators, replacing the belt-driven fans. In the late 1990s, Davies Craig conceived the innovative and revolutionary remote-mount Electric Water Pump (EWP) to replace the iron-age mechanical, belt-driven pump. Most significant too was the introduction of the Davies Craig EWP Controller. With further advances in engine technology and increased horsepower, subsequently, higher torque figures were produced. These two increases generated additional heat, thus, placing extra demands on the engine’s thermal management system. Electronics and new technologies are now playing a greater role in cooling engines and delivering excellent results. Traditional mechanical cooling systems rely on an engine/belt-driven iron-age water pump, a restrictive thermostat, and a radiator — all of which add considerable weight and consume horsepower. While these mechanical systems have met basic cooling needs for several decades, the demand for change to engine cooling management systems was necessary with ever-spiralling fuel prices, plus, Government Regulators keen to drive down vehicle emissions along with the onset of global warming. Sophisticated new cooling systems enable an internal combustion engine to operate at higher temperatures with far greater efficiency. These innovations demand more precise thermal management for internal combustion and hybrid power train systems. Advanced engine cooling systems feature rapidly evolving technologies, for example, coolant flow controlled Electric Water Pumps, such as the remote-mount Davies Craig’s Electric Water Pumps (EWP) and Electric Booster Pumps (EWP) to complement speed controlled Thermatic
76
Australian Automotive Aftermarket Magazine November 2023
Electric Cooling Fans and thus significantly reduce parasitic power loss. This is achieved by controlling and varying the coolant flow commensurate with engine temperatures, totally independent of the engine’s speed. This process has been made possible by the introduction of the initial Davies Craig EWP Controller, launched in 1999. Since then, this unique Controller has advanced to encompass digital technology and now the patented LCD EWP/Fan Digital Controller monitors and manages the entire cooling system for both 12V and 24V electrical systems. The introduction of the display screen along with several new, push-button features vastly enhances information available in demanding highway and the various motor sport applications. The LCD EWP /Fan Digital Controller Kit (Part #8002) will also manage other billeted-type electric water pumps. Importantly, it can also provide heat soak protection and continues coolant circulation and electric cooling fan air flow for a period after engine shutdown. The performance, efficiency, and environmental benefits delivered by enhanced cooling systems provided by innovative companies like Davies Craig Pty Ltd are ‘game changing.’ These advantages will, no doubt, become even more crucial as environmental regulations continue to increase, along with consumer demands for more fuel-efficient, higher horsepower vehicles. Davies, Craig says there are some significant horsepower and torque gains should the mechanical water pump and mechanical fan be removed and replaced with a Davies Craig EWP Electric Water Pump Combo Kit, which includes the Digital Controller and Thermatic Electric Cooling Fan. Regardless of the engine’s cubic capacity many owners have either removed or blanked off the mechanical water pump or just simply removed the impellor/s. Either way, the mechanical water pump will operate in unison with any model EWP. Horsepower gain, timelier engine warm-up and better throttle response will be achieved if you remove the impellor/s or the water pump entirely, says Davies, Craig. Davies, Craig has just expanded its Electric Water Pump (EWP) range by adding two alloy EWP80 Electric Water Pumps delivering 90 l/min. Davies, Craig says these two high tech products
offer unsurpassed cooling efficiency for most engines up to two litres. Further, the other Davies Craig EWP models; EWP115, EWP140 and EWP150, are lightweight and deliver excellent flow rates. The unique compact design allows for simple remote mounting into a tight engine bay on the bottom radiator hose. Variable inlet and outlet adaptors are available. With efficient low current draw ‘pancake’ motors built into the pump body, this offers the EWP motor an acceptable operating environment as the engine’s coolant passes smoothly through the pump’s volute chamber thus producing excellent air-free coolant flow. The unique Davies Craig LCD EWP/Fan Digital Controller will manage the operation and performance of both the Electric Water Pump and Electric Cooling Fan/s. The patented EWP/Fan Digital Controller becomes the engine’s new ‘thermostat’ and will automatically turn on the fan at 3°C above the set/targeted temperature, which is normally set at the manufacturer’s thermostat temperature for efficient engine operation. The entire range of Davies Craig Electric Water Pump (EWP) Combo Packs and the Thermatic Electric Cooling Fans are available with simple, doit-yourself ‘plug and play’ with a comprehensive booklet of installation instructions. For more information, visit www.daviescraig.com.au
