Is my engine toast?

[LoopSki]

Went to pull my son just now and the engine sounded funny. As we headed down course engine sounded really funny and loud beep came on with an exclamation point. Put it back on lift and popped the hatch. There is a green liquid down there. Cant seem to locate where its coming from or if ots related. 2017 MC with 300hours.

[UWSkier]

Green liquid is usually glycol (anti-freeze). What was the temperature reading when this happened? Oil pressure? Also, describe funny? Extra hiss, a popping sound, etc?

[LoopSki]

Oil pressure normal , temp started getting high so shut it down. Im thinking impellar needs changing but confused on the green stuff. Also it started running rough as soon it started.

[scorban2]

Maybe an obvious question, but was the bilge dry beforehand, or was there something else down there? Does sound like it got hot.

[LoopSki]

Not sure, i rarely open the hatch. Not sure what it could be. Dont think it has closesld cooling. It did get hot and quick. But it was runjing weird from start up as if the damage was already done.

[keithh2oskier]

I can pick up the boat for no disposal fee if you would like?

[BraceMaker]

Rent a radiator pressure test kit and see if you can find where your coolant got out from.

[scorban2]

Reason I ask is a bit of water could have something growing in it to get you your green stuff.

 

Id feel and smell it. Antifreeze is usually a bit oily feeling and smells sweet.

[MNshortliner]

Better order that 2021

[UWSkier]

can you post a picture of the green stuff?

[Andre]

6.0 engine?

 

[LoopSki]

Ok im prerty sure the green stuff is just our dyed lake water mixed with floor dirt. Did have alot of wet kids in n out last week. So hoping its just a shot impeller. 5.7 engine

 

 

[MNshortliner]

Can you post a pic of the over all engine

[Jordan]

You still need to figure out where it came from. If the impeller fails that alone won't put water in the bilge.

[pregom]

How far are you from a dealer or other knowledgeable mechanic who can take a look?

[swc5150]

You prob toasted the impeller and the engine went into limp mode from the overheat. That green is lake dye. You ordered your boat if I recall, so you’d know for sure if you bought closed cooling. I’d bet when you put in a new impeller, the engine will fire up fine.

[LoopSki]

Impellar is needed but not sure if the cause. I have a new problem now. Went to install the new impellar and now its jammed. Wont go in and wont come out. FmL!

 

 

[swc5150]

They’re a bitch to put in. I wrap the new impeller with a metal hose clamp to get the fins bent in the direction I want for easier insertion, otherwise I’ve found it to be next to impossible on the newer boats.

[swc5150]

That impeller is toast. Mystery solved there anyway. I replace them annually as cheap insurance fwiw.

[UWSkier]

That impeller looks like it was run dry. Do you have a petcock valve on your raw water intake, or do you have a strainer that may have cracked and had it sucking in a bunch of air? Usually they'll shed a few fins but won't look that deformed. At least on the ones I've replaced (all classic Johnson crank-mounted).

[scorban2]

I've had impellers that looked fine to the naked eye not work well, so no wonder that one wasn't doing much.

[UWSkier]

Also, good way to remove a stuck impeller is with two straight blade screwdrivers. Hold them opposite each other and press them against the impeller hub on opposite sides just a little bit inside the housing. Pry against the housing by pushing the screwdriver handles away from you. Should pop right free.

 

A little petroleum jelly or personal lubricant (don't laugh, it works) helps a lot when trying to get the new impeller in. It helps to turn it a bit as you push it into the housing too so the splined shaft can find alignment on the hub.

[hemlock]

Take pride in opening the hatch more. You have a sweet engine. Gaze at it for a few seconds, then close.

[dbutcher]

@LoopSki Lube the new impeller generously with slippery, liquid soap. Since it got stuck, pull it out and examine it closely for damage. Then lube it again, rotate it in the proper direction, and gently push it in.

[jordanh]

Right? I have a 95 GT40 and can't help but stare at that ole girl everytime I start it up !

[Stevie Boy]

I would encourage everybody, to lift there engine cover, give a quick look over, belts, engine oil, gearbox oil and bilge.

Why ruin your day, for 5 minutes of your time, note if your engine tone changes or you notice the engine is making just that little bit more noise, like a throaty sound, likely cause would be your impeller is on the way out.

[ScottScott]

Those Ilmore engines are nice to look at. I crack my cover open when not in use anyway, you should check oil/trans level occasionally.

 

I just replaced my '17 impeller (1st time it was replaced @600 hours) looked new, came out without too much effort. I'm guessing that one ran dry at some point.

[jimski]

I constantly have this conversation with people I ski with.

Impellers, oil, fuel filters are so cheap why don’t people change them annually

Oil every 50 hrs fuel filters and impellers every winter.

And have a good look at everything else.

Plugs, wires, dist cap, grounds, look for any corrosion.

Strainers, hoses,

A couple hrs in the off season or before the boat goes in can save Valuable ski time in the summer.

Not to mention all the sad faces on the dock when the boats broke down

[skimtb]

Yeah nasty impeller.

I open cover after skiing every time. To cool engine down and get a look see. Also open prior to starting to let it vent out.

It is pretty, check it out.

 

[jordanh]

I don't replace my impeller every year as I put a very low number of hours on my boat unfortunately. I do however pull the impeller every winter and place in a zip lock bag and put it in my glove box. This gives me a chance to inspect my impeller and doesnt sit over the winter with the fins stressed in the housing.

[BraceMaker]

I've never understood why there isn't just an intake water flow sensor on boat engines.

 

Every hot tub has some form of flow sensor to ensure there is water through the heater. Its just a spring loaded arm in the flow with a contact, if that contact breaks the circuit breaker shuts off the heater. Think how many overheats you hear about from impellers, clogged intakes and clogged strainers.

[DW]

@LoopSki - Given the appearance of the impeller, I would check the housing for any damage on the contact surfaces also. Before I would make the assumption the green is dyed lake water, verify you do not have closed cooling but if you do, check the level. Also, when you repair, check cooling system for debris particularly at the trans cooler inlet.

[slvrbulit]

That sucks @LoopSki I hope you get it fixed quickly and it is just the impeller.

[MNshortliner]

Really should throw up a pic of the whole engine of you’re not sure if it is closed cooling or not

[savaiusini]

I've never owned a closed cooling boat, so forgive me if this is a dumb question: If it's a closed cooling boat, why does it need a raw water pump/impeller?

[UWSkier]

@savaiusini good q. Raw water is still used to pull heat out of the cooling system via a heat exchanger, and you still need raw water dumps into the exhaust to cool it. So even in a closed-cooled boat, it's still the lake water providing the cooling effect. The water is just cooling coolant instead of cooling the block itself.

[savaiusini]

@UWSkier awesome, thanks man! B)

[LoopSki]

Its not closed cooling.

 

 

[MNshortliner]

That’s good to know. I have never seen lake dye that green color before. From that pic I would have said anti freeze for sure.

[Mateo_Vargas]

@LoopSki if it's green then your 32 off has a leak.

[LoopSki]

@MNshortliner that's what have me so confused because I couldn't understand what green liquid would come out of my engine. then I remembered how green blue our water is and that we had six kids playing in and out of the boat for the last 4 days. This is a little statue that I filled his bowl up with lake water you'll see how blue grren it

 

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[LoopSki]

. Im trying to install a new impellar my Prostar and I can't get the new one in for the life of me. Im very frustrated as this task has taken 10minutes on my past boats. Ive tried all my tricks in the hat. No matter what I do, the key falls out of place. I disconnected both hoses now as it finds it way out of the water pump. Not only am i wasting time looking for the key in the bilge, im losing ski time. Ive tried ky jelly , wd40 and zip tide the impellar to go in easier. It doesnt matter. I cant line it up and out goes the key. Its beyond frustrating , this should take no time. As owners with this boat , its not possible to bump the motor so that the key sits on top. My luck its sitting on the left side so im in a bad spot as it is. I hate to take to dealer for what should be so easy. Anyone have any tricks I have not tried. Only thing I can think of is to remove the pump to have easir access.

[skimtb]

Can you put some grease on the shaft and key to hold it in place better?

[UWSkier]

Not familiar with the setup on that particular boat but I'd imagine bumping to reorient the shaft won't hurt. Just don't run it for more than a few seconds. You may also be able to turn it a bit by pulling on the serpentine belt.

 

I'm a bit surprised they use a keyed shaft rather than splined. That stinks.

 

Can you slip the impeller in, align it, then slide the key in?

[skihacker]

Short answer is lock the belt tensioner back all the way with a drill bit so you can spin the pump shaft by hand, put the key at 12 so it doesn't fall out, push impeller part way in and wiggle the pump shaft to line up the key, this isn't a short answer is it? Oh yeah beer, some beer, not too much.

[harrison_343]

with installing and removing impellors some brands come with some lube you can use to lubricate during install and initial start, its really helpful. At the boat service centre i work at in school holidays we have purpose made impellor removal tools which work well.

 

check your oil level as that may or may not be a hint! good luck

[MISkier]

I wonder if a couple of these would work to remove an impeller:

 

 

[DW]

@LoopSki - if you can't use the starter to bump over, you should be able to use a large screwdriver to try at the flywheel to get keyway in a better location.

(I am making the assumption there is a hole in the bellhousing to poke the screwdriver through, could be a poor assumption given no need for timing marks anymore)

[BraceMaker]

@MISkier they do - but I've had better luck with a small channel lock just grabbing the hub between 2 vanes and wiggling

[Stevie Boy]

To remove, Lots and Lots of Lube and two pairs of thin nosed Mull Grips,

Fitting, Fit it into plastic tube same diameter as recess, position and push from the other end with bit of broom stick.

Probably easier to drop it in a bowl of hot water, lube it and just push it in, with a little twist.