Run Dry Impellers

[Midnightsun]

Well the truth be told, I used to use the wrong cheap stuff until I fully understood the harm the wrong pink stuff can cause. Live and learn! I won't shoot you, just give you a serious scolding next time we meet.

[km1125]

Source of the post Hans, Don't shoot me. I'm one of those guys who also that use the pink stuff. Mind you, never had a problem, (knock on wood),but can see the long term affects happening, especially for someone who is not an up to date maintenance kinda guy.
But, this coming winter, let's get through summer first, I will be changing over to the good stuff. I need to do the impellers this spring also. Points taken on the pink juice, and they all make sense. You know, you'll still get people who have their own ways .

Just because it's pink doesn't mean it's the alcohol-based stuff. Some is poly and some is alcohol. The one big clue is the 'flammable' indication on the sticker, as Hans notes.

[Midnightsun]

Just because it's pink doesn't mean it's the alcohol-based stuff. Some is poly and some is alcohol.

I stand corrected, just so used to using pink when I refer to "safe" anti freeze. Glycol based anti freeze and alcohol based antifreeze does come in other colors but I must say I have never seen any in person, only on the net.

[Cooler]

Interval of impellers is exactly how this topic started. I am a 2 season guy normally. I once went three, just because I ran out of time one spring because my launch got pushed up unexpectedly. Figured if I had any issue, I could change in the water. When those 3 yr. impellers came out, they looked really good, just bent with no cracks. This past weekend we were changing impellers in some 502's that were removed from a compromised hull. Those impellers were at least 5 seasons old. Surprised at condition. Couple minor cracks. That is when the conversation started about Run Dry impellers and how one person has had his in for 7 seasons. My impellers will never run dry, but the idea of going from a 2 season change interval to a 3 or 4 season interval, piqued my curiosity. My cost for run dry impellers is only $12 more, so it made economical sense. 99% of my cruising is 3100 RPM and less, so the impellers will not take any beatings. If you guys want me to test the Run Dry, I Can. Not actually changing till April. The "marketing" language from Globe says 2X or 3X the interval of standard impellers, but ...... Otherwise, I will stick with the standard. er

[waybomb]

The go fast gets impeller changes often, especially after going out in big water.
I have not performed a preventative change on any of other current or past boats. I keep impellers and housings on board, and tools.
The only failure I ever had was the first year we had the 4207 and had to keep it outside/winterized. I started the engines when putting it back in the water, duh, without opening the sea cocks. That's it, never lost an impeller other than the dumb incident. Had boats since 1988.

[Metterdvm]

Ok, guess I’ll be taking the pumps off again in the spring to change the impellers. Not looking forward to tackling the starboard side. Port was bad enough. Good thing I’m small and flexible!

[Viper]

A couple of years ago I was called on what turned out to be a huge job due to an overheat. This was a guy that I had advised every season to change his impellers. He would keep saying that he always got 5 years or more out of a set of impellers and that he wasn't worried about it. These were 454 Crusaders. On a trip out one day his port engine stopped running. When he looked at his gauges, he noticed the temp gauge was pegged! The engine would not turn over again so he limped back to port on one engine. When he went into the cabin, there was an awful smell so he opened the engine hatch and noticed that some engine wiring had melted from the heat. That's when I got the call. The wiring was the least of his problems. The engine was toast and had to be rebuilt. It was as I always say; a perfect storm. The gauge worked but he wasn't watching it, and his alarm wasn't working so it failed to warn him. All the wiring was toast, literally, and all the exhaust system from the engine to the transom had to be replaced; hoses, muffler, fiberglass elbows, etc. The worst part was probably dismantling everything in the way of the aft cabin to get to the exhaust hose. He never got to use his boat that summer. The impellers were going into their 4th season. The one that failed that day was in pieces.

This was a pretty hefty bill for which the owner tried to get covered by insurance. The adjuster came out, took a look, was surprised at the damage, then smiled when he saw the impeller! This wasn't an accident, it was neglect, a lack of maintenance, it was inevitable/just a matter of time. Needless to say, the owner had to cover all the costs. Thousands of dollars and a summer lost for the cost of replacing impellers. Just because you've always gotten away with something in the past doesn't mean you always will.

[bud37]

Always check water flow from your engines after startup and during the trip if you can...only takes a minute or two and is a good habit and procedure for good safe boating trips.

I have noticed and warned more than a few boaters leaving the harbor with a loud engine and no or greatly reduced/steamy water flow......it is quite obvious to me anyway.......

[km1125]

For those folks who are commenting about how hard it is to access their pumps, you should explore a crank-mounter pump. Won't work in all cases, but if it does it makes changing an impeller a VERY easy task. I had 454 Crusaders and it wasn't too hard to access either pump, but even I was exploring going to crank-mounted ones.

[Cooler]

The various stories over the years regarding impeller failures are interesting to say the least. My neighbor in Madison owned a small boat with a partner. That partner wanted out, so another person bought his half. One day my neighbor called me and said his new partner was dead in the water on the lake, and said his new partner said something happened...all of a sudden black smoke was coming out from under the engine hatch. My reply to him was, " did you show the new guy how to run the boat, and watch his gauges?" The answer was, I assumed he knew, but now I find out he never drove a boat before. This lake had 2 stretches where depth was only 4 ft inside a dredged channel, but the new guy went outside of that and dragged the lower unit through the black silty muck for 1/2 mile. Black silt chewed up impeller, and the new guy had no clue until the alarm sounded, and then shortly after, the black smoke. Engine, exhaust, electrical all toast. Cost to fix was the value of the boat.