where exactly does the water pimp pump water to? and does it cool the pistons and cylinder walls only? i was wondering because there is already coolant to cool the pistons, so why the water? thanks

 

"water pump" is only a term used for simplicity.

-it is actually the coolant system pump. it is the only thing pushing coolant thru your engine and radiator.
-the water pump is a propellor-bladed-pump inside the block that is driven off of the timing belt.
-if the thermostat opens up, the coolant will flow from the radiator into the block.
-if the thermostat is closed, the coolant will flow inside of the engine but not ciculate thru the radiator.

 

Water and coolant is the same thing.

Your coolant does not cool the pistons, but it does cool the cylinders from outside of the combustion chamber. This area is known as the water jacket.

 

when does the thermostat open and close? okay, you said the water pump is a propeller driven by the timing belt, but i thogught that the water pump was just another name for the coolant pump?

 

When the coolant near the engine reaches a certain temperature (typically 180-195 F or so), the thermostat starts to open, which lets the coolant flow to the radiator and cool down.

Yes.

Yes. I don't understand the word "but" in your sentence. There's nothing contradictory.


[Modified by mph6563, 4:43 PM 2/27/2003]

 

you said that "water pump" was just another term for coolant pump. so your'e saying that the coolant pump is a propeller driven by the timing belt?

 

Yes.

Yes.

Is there something particularly confusing about this?

 

no, i got it thanks