EWP Control with dominator
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 1,474
Likes: 101
From: Warrenton VA
EWP Control with dominator My 95 z28 has a 427 SBC in it and this winter I installed a dominator ECU, stealth throttle body, LS coils, 7" dash blah blah. Was working with the tuner last weekend setting up some of the inputs and outputs before firing it up and I'm going to let the Dominator control the EWP vs me having it on a physical switch like before. My original thought was to have it turn on based on RPM so once the engine was running it would kick on and not be a draw while starting. The tuner suggested I do it off coolant temp and just let it stay off until it gets up to temp, so that's what it currently is set up as, to come one at 180. I'm thinking the way it is will be fine, just maybe lower the cut on temp to allow it to circulate some coolant as it starts to warm up. I tried to do some searching on here and elsewhere to see if there was a consensus or thoughts on the idea but can't find any. So what do you all think, leave it, adjust the temp, go to rpm, something else?
That's the job of the thermostat, it keeps all the water in the block until things are warmed up. Always run the pump while the engine is running. Never let water sit stagnant in the block or you'll get hot spots and never know it because the temp sensor is only in one location. The water is there to regulate temperature of the cylinder walls and you need water moving for that to happen right.
I would hardwire the pump to relay and then use the Dominator ECM to sense whether voltage is actually present at the pump. Kind of crude form of diagnostics.
I would hardwire the pump to relay and then use the Dominator ECM to sense whether voltage is actually present at the pump. Kind of crude form of diagnostics.
Last edited by QwkTrip; Mar 18, 2022 at 12:48 PM.
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 1,474
Likes: 101
From: Warrenton VA
I'm using an output from the ECU to trigger a relay in my leash board that runs the EWP, it's all under the dash, forgot to mention that in the original post. We got the car fired up yesterday and took it for a little drive, I set the EWP to come on at 100 degrees of coolant temp and it clicked on right then, I might add another modifier to also see RPM so it's not running if I just have key on, or starting it while it's warm, but so far it seems ok. Like QukTrip said I'm of the idea that the water should be moving and having it sit still until 180* seems like it's the potential for undue stress. I'll add a digital switch on one of my 7" dash screens to turn on the pump and fans if I need to cool things down while sitting with the engine off.
I make them turn on with the engine running regardless of temp. I then add a over ride switch on the touch screen to turn on fans and water pump so we can cool it off with out running.
I built a controller for an EWP/PWM fan combo that worked pretty well without a thermostat. Better than stock, if you measure performance by the ability to maintain a temperature set point. The EWP speed is controlled by temperature feedback and feedforward from events that create heat, like high load or RPM. Fans are controlled by temperature feedback only. Allows for multiple ECT setpoints that can be controlled by boost level...if you're really gonna lean on it on high boost, it can work harder to simulate a '160° thermostat', otherwise the target is around 190. I'd use the dominator for all its worth...manage that EWP and anything else to automate the process.
