Broken Water Pump?

[DS410]

Just had spring commissioning done (by mechanic). Engines are 3116 CATs. New impellers last season. Boat started fine and engines were pumping water. Slow (6 knt) cruise over to haul-out for power wash and wax, (about .5 mi). Next day, put back in and had trouble starting stbd engine - needed emergency battery power. Ran her up SLOWLY to 2500 RPM and shortly thereafter got a system alarm - PORT engine overheating. Had some smoke. Shut down both engines. Re-started stbd engine and limped in to port. Opened engine hatch and saw puddles of orange fluid here and there, and some heat-related blistering.

Mechanic looked at her the next day and said the water pump broke due to metal fatigue. He said it happens. That's as much info as I have at this point. Generally speaking, I like my mechanic, but I hope he doesn't read this forum cause I'm not buyin' it.

Could he possibly have inadvertently done something wrong either in winterization or commissioning that would have caused this, or made it more likely to happen? Anyone else ever have water pump break from metal fatigue?

Thanks.

 

[tc410]

David-

I'm not sure which water pump you're referring to - seawater or internal coolant pump. If it's the seawater pump, it's not entirely unusual. I presume the pump shaft broke? I had one break on my first trip of the season the spring after I bought the boat. Knowing what I know now, it is a very easy DIY repair. Back then, I had CAT come out and rebuild the pump (around $650 - 750 as I recall). Now I would just buy a new pump and replace it (for around the same price). Your lucky it's your port engine. The seawater pump on the stbd engine is a real bear to get to.

 

[DS410]

See, this is what I'm wondering about. Your first trip of the season - OUR first "trip" of the season. Is there something about the winterization or spring commissioning that can prevent this from happening?

BTW, I don't know which pump, but I suspect seawater. However, if it WAS the seawater pump, would there likely be coolant all over the bilge? I don't know.

David

 

[osd9]

Could the coolant all over the bilge be from the cooloant overflow due to overheating? :smt017

 

[fwebster]

"Red" liquid in the bilge is Caterpillar ELC coolant and indicates the circulating pump failed. Is is unlikely the engine got hot enough tp force enough coolant into the expansion tank to overflow without triggering the systems monitor overheat warning.

 

[DS410]

"Red" liquid in the bilge is Caterpillar ELC coolant and indicates the circulating pump failed. Is is unlikely the engine got hot enough tp force enough coolant into the expansion tank to overflow without triggering the systems monitor overheat warning.

The systems monitor alarm DID go off.

 

[Dancin Dave]

DS410, in your first post you mentioned an orange puddle(trail and accumulation?), not red. That would indicate to me rusty water, which is what a failing raw water pump would create.

I just changed mine out, from cat on the 3116's. (remans) 358.00 158.00 back on the core return, and my own time to change. and tc410 your so right about the starboard change out.

 

[tc410]

Could the coolant all over the bilge be from the cooloant overflow due to overheating? :smt017

That's what I was thinking, Dom. Things must have gotten pretty hot to result in the alarm going off plus smoke (steam?) and heat related blistering. Coolant could have been blown off through the cap.

And David, while my breakdown occurred in the spring, I don't think it was related to winterizing because I don't winterize anything...I store in heated storage. Just coincidence?? :smt017

 

[osd9]

[quote="tc410I don't winterize anything...I store in heated storage. [/quote]

Jeff:

If you don't winterize, I am assuming you don't drain your systems either. As Dave said above, your Orange fluid, NOT Red, could be rusty water. The water laying in the systems all winter would surely realize a substantial amount of rusty liquid in the Raw Water circuit. Come to think of it, that could have contributed to the failure. The Antifreeze I put in for winterization also has rust inhibitors, but I can tell you from experience, even with the rust inhibitors, on first spring start up, a "bunch" of rust colored water comes shooting out of the exhaust.....