Water Pump Impeller

[Bigplumbs]

So here we go I bet a war starts. How often do you change your impeller on your outboard.

Dennis

[Ianfs]

Every 2 weeks....just kidding!

It depends, my opinion, if you buy a reasonable one say a Quicksilver or Volvo or Sierra, something like that, it should last for several years. The conundrum lies in type of usage, where you use it, how often you use it.

I've had one chewed up and the bits found in the water intake because of some silt and small bits of gravel which got sucked up. The book says every year, doesn't it?

So my two penn'orth, if you haven't used you boat much and you use it in clear water don't worry about changing it. If ever you suck up some sh*te, check it and if you use it a lot and in silty water change it every year.

[TorbayRob]

Oil every year and check/lightly grease impeller. I replace at least every other year, but any sign of perishing etc replace annually.

[MartynG]

Do you mean the out board for the dinghy (which gets little use ) ?
If so I have a new impeller on the way to me . The one in it is believed to have been in it since new.

[Bigplumbs]

I mean on the main boat. The issue I have is having replaced a few usually after 2 years when I take the old one out it generally looks as good as the new one I am putting in. Once again I feel that we do these things too frequently.

I think this frequency is perhaps driven by the manufacturers who of course want to sell spares and dare I say it some boaters who are very rich that the cost is insignificant to them and they just pay someone to do it.

I am now not working so I now have to focus more on cost

I watched a video on changing an impeller on a mercruiser leg and it had been in there 7 years came out good as new.

Decisions Decisions

[MartynG]

On my main (inboard) engines I have always put new impellers in annually. That is at every engine service = 100 engine hours.
I have a collection of serviceable used impellers and have never had any impeller failure.

However at the recent service the impellers looked as good a s new . I have decided to leave the impellers in another year. New impellers will go in next time regardless.

[Bigplumbs]

On my main (inboard) engines I have always put new impellers in annually. That is at every engine service = 100 engine hours.
I have a collection of serviceable used impellers and have never had any impeller failure.

However at the recent service the impellers looked as good a s new . I have decided to leave the impellers in another year. New impellers will go in next time regardless.

Martyne

When the old impeller comes out thoroughly compare it with the new one before you put it in and see if you can spot the difference.

[shibbs]

This is a strange one as, in the past, in my old boat, a near 30 year old Volvo powered boat ( owned since 1 year old) the impeller was probably changed about 5 times in its whole life. And the strange thing is that it was a really easy job as it was closed sytem cooled.
In my boat now it is in the leg, (alpha 1) and I have changed it every year, even though it's a more time consuming job.
Granted, the boat stays in the water now for the season and the last one was trailered and the impeller taken out over the winter but the usage is generally the same.
The trouble is, I agree with you about service recommendations by dealers, they are simply there IMO to generate revenue to a certain degree but at the same time, if you follow them you'll be really unlucky to have anything go wrong.
If you don't and have to make an insurance claim and you can't say you have followed the service advice your done for.
My boat now, is to me, a significant investment, so I can't justify challenging my rights to a claim should I need it...

[NikTheGeek]

Maybe every 4 years, depending on amount of use. My use is 95% freshwater which I suppose will make a difference and the boat is stored in my garage when not in use. But from experience of racing boats, the main reason I do it less frequently is that I have seen outboard lower units go missing because the threads are worn. I had to drill holes in the heads of my bolts to wire-lock them. I don't race anymore, but I figure that if you take the lower unit off too much, it's going to wear the threads...

Gearbox oil, now that is every year, regardless....

Nick

[BruceK]

I just replaced my genuine Volvo ones today. 2 years old and on both sets each and every vane was torn halfway through at the base. A very lucky break. I will now do this annually as it simply is not worth the risk. Also noted about 1mm of wear in the housing so will change housing on a 3 year basis too.