Coolant pump module

A method for controlling a coolant flow through a cooling circuit of an engine, comprising:

• receiving a first and second coolant flow from the engine and a radiator, respectively, at a coolant pump module coupled to the cooling circuit;
• combining the first and second coolant flows via operation of a thermostat integrated with the coolant pump module, wherein the thermostat is responsive to a temperature of the coolant at the coolant pump module;
• receiving a return flow from a surge tank and auxiliary components at the coolant pump module after the combining;
• outputting a third coolant flow to engine via a pump integrated with the coolant pump module;
• and
• enabling air release from a radiator passage of the coolant pump module via a check valve.

A module, comprising:

• a monolithic unit providing a plurality of fluid passages including at least a radiator intake passage, a bypass passage, a coolant output passage, a pump inlet passage, and a surge tank return port passage, the monolithic unit further having a check valve positioned between the radiator intake passage and the surge tank return passage;
• a pump mounted to the monolithic unit, wherein a pump inlet is in fluid communication with the pump inlet passage and a pump outlet is in fluid communication with the coolant output passage;
• and
• a thermostat mounted to the monolithic unit proximate to the radiator passage and the bypass passage, wherein the thermostat is configured to regulate a coolant flow into the coolant pump module from the radiator passage in accordance with a fluid temperature.