How often should impeller be changed?

[backacres]

Hi All -

I've heard that the impeller should be changed every other year (Merc. 3.0 L w/Alpha I Outdrive in fresh water). How true is this?

The reason I ask is because it's going on the "every other year" for my boat. I changed it when I first purchased it used--the owner told me that the impeller hadn't been changed for at least three years. When I looked at the old one, it appeared to be in good condition. I changed it anyways.

What is a good rule of thumb?

Thanks for any advice!
d

 

[Bondo]

Re: How often should impeller be changed?

Even if it's possibly over-kill,.....

It's a Tiny Expence for trouble-free boating to Change it Atleast Every Other Year......
Some folks are doing them Every Year.....

 

[QC]

Re: How often should impeller be changed?

Yes, most say every other year. Merc says "inspect" every 100 hours or annually . . .

 

[capecodder116]

Re: How often should impeller be changed?

What about a seawater pump for closed cooling systems? Mercrusier 260 engine.....

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: How often should impeller be changed?

.mmmmmmm

 

[QC]

Re: How often should impeller be changed?

capecodder,

Same pump, same job . . .

 

[Boomyal]

Re: How often should impeller be changed?

...get an OMC. I've changed mine twice in 28 years! They are about four times bigger than the dinky black anchor impellers so they can stand some degradation and keep on pumpin!8)

 

[Don S]

Re: How often should impeller be changed?

The Mercruiser Alpha I Gen II impellers are like that too Boomer, so you really don't have to get an OMC just to save 20 bucks everyother year. Man, talk about a wierd reason to get an obsolete drive, an impeller is about the worst reason I could come up with.:devil: :devil:

 

[Laddies]

Re: How often should impeller be changed?

d8)8)

 

[Boatist]

Re: How often should impeller be changed?

I am with you Boomyal, changed the boot and the impeller twice since new in 1980, but then do not run without water and do not run in mud or sand. I still have the two I removed and can see nothing wrong with them at all. Changed when doing other work.

 

[tommays]

Re: How often should impeller be changed?

9 years old GEN II

The big reason to change them NO matter what you own is NOT waiting so long it does NOT want to come apart

Tommays

 

[Boomyal]

Re: How often should impeller be changed?

I am with you Boomyal, changed the boot and the impeller twice since new in 1980, but then do not run without water and do not run in mud or sand. I still have the two I removed and can see nothing wrong with them at all. Changed when doing other work.

Boatist, next time you go to change one, just take an old one and flip it over. You'll be good for another ten years.

Last year, while trying to solve a carburator issue I forgot to turn the water back on when I restarted the motor. I ran it for five minutes before I realised what was going on. (The motor runs on a closed system) I freaked out at the prospect of damage. I yanked off the drive and took it to my local OMC guru. In 15 minutes he had the drive apart, took one look at everything, flipped the impeller over (on general principal) and put everthing back together. No charge.

The worst and quickest damage would be cooking your shift cable without water to cool it.

 

[Don S]

Re: How often should impeller be changed?

Boatist, next time you go to change one, just take an old one and flip it over. You'll be good for another ten years.

That move is one of the top things that EVERY impeller manufacturer warns against. But if you say it's ok, then it must be.
Sad to see people so friggin cheap they won't even install a new impeller every few years, which IS the method of cooling the engine ya know.
I guess I now know the meaning of OMC.
Oh, I'M Cheap

 

[1978 century]

Re: How often should impeller be changed?

yea deff a good idea to change them they get hard after being in there for a while..i dont know y people are cheap...i laugh when i see people break down over dumb things...tune up impeller battery ..i do it every year and i never have any prolbems..so what if it isnt bad ....when it goes and u over heat your motor ull wish u changed it

 

[Boatist]

Re: How often should impeller be changed?

For me If I am in the area or have it apart I will change the impeller, but it not a 1Hr $200 job on a stringer.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: How often should impeller be changed?

I take my boat out 30 miles to Catalina Island. There is no way I would not change a critical $20 part that effects my safety and my family's safety like that.

Also, don't want to tow my boat 700 miles one way, spend $200 on gasoline and have my vacation and engine ruined because of it failing.

Talk about peny wise pound foolish!

 

[Scaaty]

Re: How often should impeller be changed?

No definitive answer here. Way too many pump configurations, conditions, inside pump housing smoothness, in or out water, yada, yada, yada.

 

[Capt Ken]

Re: How often should impeller be changed?

I love how the book says to inspect. Now why would somebody go thru all the trouble of breaking one down and not install a new impeller. I guess the same people that would use a gasket twice and wonder why it leaks.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: How often should impeller be changed?

never ever change a part until its broke.
your local parts people and tech's need the money.

 

[mercibby]

Re: How often should impeller be changed?

Hi All -

I've heard that the impeller should be changed every other year (Merc. 3.0 L w/Alpha I Outdrive in fresh water). How true is this?

The reason I ask is because it's going on the "every other year" for my boat. I changed it when I first purchased it used--the owner told me that the impeller hadn't been changed for at least three years. When I looked at the old one, it appeared to be in good condition. I changed it anyways.

What is a good rule of thumb?

Thanks for any advice!
d