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......Mine are only replaced when they fail. I split the raw water system and pulse flush the broken bits out of the heat exchangers.
Verify proper flow at start-up on the side exhaust and don't cast off unless this critical cooling is acceptable. This should become routine to ensure a preventable failure doesn't happen at a bad time.
Mine are only replaced when they fail. I split the raw water system and pulse flush the broken bits out of the heat exchangers.
Thanks for the concern.For a guy who goes WAY overboard on some of your other 'mods' , that's one of the dumbest things you've said!
I can see it now....you're on your 5th year of impellers and it's only a matter of time....and then just when you are getting ready to pull into an unfamilar inlet to get out of some weather......bammmm....the port impeller goes....better hope the stbd impeller stays intack......
Replace your impellers according to the manuals
Move another Four Suns topic to the bilge and create a clean Part 2 with less of his verbal diarrhea.
Here is what wingless has said:Wingless says don't change impellers until they fail and that checking exhaust water flow at the dock is adequate preventitive maintenance.
Verify proper flow at start-up on the side exhaust and don't cast off unless this critical cooling is acceptable. This should become routine to ensure a preventable failure doesn't happen at a bad time.
At least we share the concern about being forced to replace the impeller at a bad time, which is why I will always remain a vocal proponent of inspecting raw water flow at startup.
All your choice, I will continue to remain the sole vocal proponent of detecting this problem at the dock.
There is no guarantee that the recommended interval will avoid headache, but following the maintenance schedules and the documented procedures is good advice. My boat has excess maintenance.So save yourself a real headache and follow your engine manufacturer's recommendations on impeller replacement intervals.
Mine are only replaced when they fail. I split the raw water system and pulse flush the broken bits out of the heat exchangers.
You forgot to include this little noodle of great advice
Is it fair to conclude that you'll never grow up?Mine are only replaced when they fail. I split the raw water system and pulse flush the broken bits out of the heat exchangers.
Maybe I'm unlucky, but I've never made it to five years on the impellers. I usually get about two.
I don't think the wingless approach of habitually checking the raw water flow at the exhaust is a bad idea. If there is no flow at the dock, there certainly will be no flow at speed. That said, checking water flow at the dock should not be your only approach to determining when to change the impellers.
On my boat, I can easily hear when the exhaust fills up with water because the sound is much louder until the water flow begins. I always do this audio check. I also do a quick visual check of the flow, particularly on the generator, which has a far less robust impeller (in terms of service life) than the mains.
I am unable, however, to perform any sort of specific flow analysis visually. It comes down to: Is there water flowing? [Yes/No] Does it look "normal"[Yes/No]. As imprecise as that may be, it's still worth doing.
But as Frank reminded, just because there is adequate water flow at idle, doesn't mean it will be there when you wind them up. I'm changing my impellers annually even though the ones being removed look like new.