Water Distribution Housing - leaking water

saltydogz

Member
Sep 15, 2008
229
Chesapeake Bay
Boat Info
2008 350 Sundancer
-Prevs Boat: 290 Amberjack 2005
Engines
Twin MerCruiser Horizon 8.1L (375hp) w/ V-Drives
On my starboard engine, the Water Distribution Housing is leaking at the point where the blue drain plug gets screwed in (Have tried two new O rings and one new plug). This engine was running 2 degrees hotter then the other one and my Smart Craft system says that my H2O pressure is lower on that engine then the other one, but the raw water flow seems to be fine coming out the exhaust (seem the same flow as the port side). As I bring the RPMs up to run the boat on plane, this is causing the engine guardian to trip on and the alert message says that the sea water pressure is to low. From the best that I could see it looks like the leak flow increases when the RPMs increase.

What does the Water Distribution Housing do (just for my knowledge) and could this leak be the cause of my lost pressure?

I take it that the only fix will be to replace the Water Distribution Housing.
 
Been through this just this past spring. You have to replace the water dist housing. If you overtighten the blue plug - even just overly "hand" tight; you will create a small crack in the housing just under the front plug threads. I had to remove mine before I could see the crack. Removal is very easy though. Two hose clamps, hoses off, 2 or 3 bolts and its off. When re-installing be careful not to overtighten any of the above. The only problem I had was getting a water dist housing. Marine Max reported they were on back order from MerCruiser during May......which tells me they are a hot item when folks like us re-install the blue plugs after the winter....

Sorry for the bad luck...Even sorry-er that MerCruiser uses cheap plastic parts in the water intake system.

tginz
 
It looks like I have the same problem. When the smartcraft check engine light comes on, would this make the boat not run properly. My boat won't idle, I have to keep giving it gas
 

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