Seawater cooling system

[pat8839]

Before storing my boat I drained the water from the "seawater cooling system" and now I am curious if you have to refill it somehow before running the boat again. I did not fill it with antifreeze which I guess some people do I just left it empty...If I run the engine on the hose will it fill itself as needed without a problem?
Thanks!

 

[pat8839]

Re: Seawater cooling system

Sorry I should have added that the engine is 2006 Mercruiser 4.3L
Thanks again

 

[Don S]

Re: Seawater cooling system

If I run the engine on the hose will it fill itself as needed without a problem?

Yes, as long as the raw water pump impeller is still in working order. They are a maintenance item and get replaced at intervals depending on which outdrive you have.

 

[pat8839]

Re: Seawater cooling system

I have the Alpha I outdrive...I know the impeller exists and needs to be maintained, but sadly I have no idea when or how...

 

[Don S]

Re: Seawater cooling system

I just put this together this morning and uploaded it. First you should remove the drive since this is your first time. Then the raw water pump is in the outdrive, and this should show you what it takes to check/replace the impeller.

http://www.4shared.com/document/eEm9dw5y/A1G2_Raw_water_pump_repair.html

 

[pat8839]

Re: Seawater cooling system

Don that is awesome!! Thank you vey much for hooking me up with that. Just curious-how heavy is the lower gear housing that is to be removed?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Seawater cooling system

Just curious-how heavy is the lower gear housing that is to be removed?

Ayuh,... 'bout 35, 40lbs...

 

[pat8839]

Re: Seawater cooling system

Hey Don,
sorry for all the questions, but here are 2 more...Do I remove the entire outdrive THEN remove the lower gear housing? Also, looks like I have to drain the gear lube before taking this thing apart too huh? (I just changed the gear lube last weekend not knowing about changing the impeller oh well!)
Thanks for your help

 

[nola mike]

Re: Seawater cooling system

Hey Don,
sorry for all the questions, but here are 2 more...Do I remove the entire outdrive THEN remove the lower gear housing?

you can do it either way. not a bad idea to remove the whole drive to check the condition of the bellows, leaks, alignment, gimble bearing, etc. not strictly necessary though.

Also, looks like I have to drain the gear lube before taking this thing apart too huh? (I just changed the gear lube last weekend not knowing about changing the impeller oh well!)
Thanks for your help

yup, needs to be drained--or else it will "self drain" when you pull it apart. you can probably reuse it though.

 

[pat8839]

Re: Seawater cooling system

Just for the record, ran the boat over the weekend and it cooled fine so obviously it did fill itself back up with water! I also bought a new impeller kit so I will be tackeling the impeller change and overall inspection soon. Thanks for the guidance guys!