1988 268 Sundancer overheating

[Jerrit1]

I have a 1988 268 DA I just bought. I tried to run it on the muffs and it immediately overheats.
I noticed a through hull on the bottom of the boat (facing the ground). Is that a water pickup for a water pump on the engine? or is my engine cooling water being picked up by the alpha 1 outdrive? I noticed when I look in the engine bay between the engine and the outdrive on the transom that there is a hose in the middle that is capped off. So if the water is being picked up from the Alpha 1 outdrive then how is it getting to the engine?

 

[Handsome Transom]

I have a 1988 268 DA I just bought. I tried to run it on the muffs and it immediately overheats.
I noticed a through hull on the bottom of the boat (facing the ground). Is that a water pickup for a water pump on the engine? or is my engine cooling water being picked up by the alpha 1 outdrive? I noticed when I look in the engine bay between the engine and the outdrive on the transom that there is a hose in the middle that is capped off. So if the water is being picked up from the Alpha 1 outdrive then how is it getting to the engine?

Does water come outvtge centre of the prop when you had it on muffs. Is there another cooling line near the one that's capped off. Perhaps it was used as a place to drain the block during p.o. winterization . You really should go over the entire cooling system and exhaust system on this boat there are many posts here including from me outlining what needs to be done. Start at the impeller andveork through to the exhaust.

 

[Jerrit1]

Does water come outvtge centre of the prop when you had it on muffs.

Yes.

Is there another cooling line near the one that's capped off. Perhaps it was used as a place to drain the block during p.o. winterization.

None that I can see. ..and if it is a place where a hose was removed to add anti-freeze for winterization then why cap it off?
There is a hose on the starboard side, front of the engine going into the floor of the boat and it was disconnected but I re-connected it.

 

[Jerrit1]

Closer inspection seems to reveal that this boat was "upgraded?" from outdrive FWP to through hull FWP. So I ordered one of the "Fake Lake" plunger devices so i can run it on land...I only hope my running it on muffs while no water was getting to the engine did not 1) ruin engine 2) ruin water pickup pump.

 

[Handsome Transom]

Closer inspection seems to reveal that this boat was "upgraded?" from outdrive FWP to through hull FWP. So I ordered one of the "Fake Lake" plunger devices so i can run it on land...I only hope my running it on muffs while no water was getting to the engine did not 1) ruin engine 2) ruin water pickup pump.

Fresh water impeller almost certainly needs to be replaced . Definitely needed inspection.. compression test and or leakdown test also .

 

[Lazy Daze]

I highly doubt you hurt the engine - especially if you turned it off right away. But I would definitely replace the impeller - unless it looks absolutely brand new. FYI, the pump you are referring to is commonly called the "raw water pump" (whether it is in the drive, or a belt driven version).

 

[Yaya]

Closer inspection seems to reveal that this boat was "upgraded?" from outdrive FWP to through hull FWP. So I ordered one of the "Fake Lake" plunger devices so i can run it on land...I only hope my running it on muffs while no water was getting to the engine did not 1) ruin engine 2) ruin water pickup pump.

I think you have a sea water cooler. Check if it is hooked up. We have same boat...hope this helps you...

 

[Jack W. Williamson]

I was out on Monday in my 88 268 and we heated up to 215. I immediately slowed down, then shut it down. Mechanic replaced the starter, motor turns over but won't start. He says the motor is full of water... Any thoughts?

 

[Lazy Daze]

I was out on Monday in my 88 268 and we heated up to 215. I immediately slowed down, then shut it down. Mechanic replaced the starter, motor turns over but won't start. He says the motor is full of water... Any thoughts?

Jack, please start a new thread for this. Don't want to be a "hi-jacker"!

 

[Jack W. Williamson]

Jack, please start a new thread for this. Don't want to be a "hi-jacker"!

Ok

 

[NorCal Boater]

Jerrit1, there is a Mercruiser kit that will block off the cooling water from the outdrive water pump to the engine cooling system. But a couple of questions first: What size is the motor? Is it original to the boat? You say there is a through-hull fitting on the bottom of the boat....what is it connected to inside the boat.

The Mercruiser "kit" I was referring to is for a "Jackshaft" model. This is typically found in a boat where the engine is some distance from the outdrive. You might find it in a "Go-Fast" boat with a staggered engine setup. This is done because the engines (2 or 3) cannot fit side-by-side due to beam dimensions. Therefore one motor will sit ahead of the other(s) with a jackshaft (driveshaft) connecting the engine to the outdrive. In this configuration the motor has an engine-mounted raw water pump to cool the engine. It will be belt-driven off of the crankshaft. I have this setup in my 1985 Cobalt CM23. The water pump in the outdrive should remain functional to cool the upper gear housing of the outdrive but it does not enter the boat. And remember, that any cooling water that comes in the motor has to exit someplace so while it may not enter through the outdrive, it may exit that way.

Things to do: Follow the through-hull from inside the boat. If installed properly it should come through the through-hull, through a seacock (ball valve), through a pump, into the engine at the circulating pump on the front of the motor, then out the exhaust. Do a bit more digging around and see what you've got and pictures would be helpful.

One last thing.... you're a new member on this forum and if you read enough posts you will see someone talk about always having a "pre-purchase survey" (inspection) performed by a professional marine surveyor. They would have discovered your overheating issue and anything else that might be useful information.

Let us know what you find out.
Shawn

 

[Jerrit1]

Ouch...$477 later and my mechanic replaced the through hull raw water pickup impeller (it was completely destroyed into pieces), also did compression test (all cylinders were good) and put in new plugs. Boat is running great now....thanks for all the help and suggestions.

 

[Handsome Transom]

Fantastic and pretty cheap as far as boat mechanics and parts go . Keep that guy in speed dial . Glad you are up and running enjoy the rest of the season .