Impeller Hype?

[soaresfive]

I hear quite often that the impeller should be changed every 100 hours or every season. Then I heard every two seasons. Looking at what the impeller is made of - hard rubber like material - it doesn't seem as if it would wear down enough to need replacement unless otherwise chewed up by something that was sucked in... I understand the importance of the part in keeping your engine cool but how much wear and tear is there? Really now...

PS

The part shown in the photo is not correct for a 03 206...

[DRAGON88]

RE: Impeller Hype?

First page of the owners manual: "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

It's not so much that the impeller is destroyed after a season, it's just that if it does go bad it can do some pretty gnarly things. Rubber bits blocking coolant ports, overheating on the lake, etc. At the very least you should be removing the impeller every year to check for wear.

To most people a $20 part every year is cheaper than destroying a motor, (overheating) or being stranded on the lake. It's just cheap insurance.

[Mikeski]

RE: Impeller Hype?

my buddy thought it was BS, finally after 5 seasons his Brendella impeller threw the blades off, he kept driving to get to the houseboat since it was already getting dark. It's not too bad, just needs new heads, new exhaust manifolds, and new exhaust hose. Probably set him back about $2k on a boat worth about $8k. I change mine every other year, it's just cheaper. Even a brand new impeller will cook if you run it dry for any length of time.

[99ProAir]

RE: Impeller Hype?

I replace mine every year. Like Dragon 88 said, it's cheap insurance.

[Erik]

RE: Impeller Hype?

I just wrote something on this issue
http://www.wakeboardreport.com/

2nd blog down. Right after the mirror story. Have a look at the impeller I pulled out of my SAN on Saturday...

[soaresfive]

RE: Impeller Hype?

I just wrote something on this issue
http://www.wakeboardreport.com/

2nd blog down. Right after the mirror story. Have a look at the impeller I pulled out of my SAN on Saturday...

Ok, the consensus is in change the impeller every year to every other year regardless, don't risk it, it's not worth taking a chance for a $20 part. I get it!

Erik,

Nice little article and the picture was very compelling.

Thanks to everyone for the great feedback.

[bkhallpass]

RE: Impeller Hype?

Soares,

It is not that the impeller wears down. It is that it gets hot. Hot rubber get brittle and rots.
I bad impeller will typically have cracks, in which case the vanes of the impeller do not remain rigid and therefore do not get a nice fit to properly pump the water, or disintegrate all together, in which case you will have virtually no water pumping through the engine and a lot of chunks that you have to go tracking down throughout the hoses and the motor. Even if you don't crack a head or blow a head gasket, it's not worth your time to have to track down the debris. BKH

[soaresfive]

RE: Impeller Hype?

Soares,

It is not that the impeller wears down. It is that it gets hot. Hot rubber get brittle and rots.
I bad impeller will typically have cracks, in which case the vanes of the impeller do not remain rigid and therefore do not get a nice fit to properly pump the water, or disintegrate all together, in which case you will have virtually no water pumping through the engine and a lot of chunks that you have to go tracking down throughout the hoses and the motor. Even if you donBKH,

I now understand. I picked up our 206 last night and the mechanic did replce the impeller beacuse one fins was nearly torn off. In addition he also showed me one where everything was in tact however through wear and tear the fins were worn in the direction the part spins. He had indicated if you have ever run the motor without water it could destory the impeller in as little as 30 seconds. (And yes I have been that stupid) For hundred bucks -parts and labor it is indeed cheap insurance.

Thanks,

for the insight!

[winebrad]

RE: Impeller Hype?

I had mine changed this spring. I had the boat in the shop for some other work and asked if they could take a look at the impeller just to make sure all was well. Well we caught it just in time as one of the blades was nearly sheared off but still connected. It would have come apart the next time out!! My boat has three seasons and only 86 Hrs which is not a lot but just to be on the save side I will replace every year!

Brad
02 Air

[EchoLodge]

No Hype

On my 90 Sport I would get two years out of an impeller (about 300 hrs). The boat always ran at 160 and when it would start running at 170 I knew it was time to change. The old impellers never appeared in bad shape rather the fins had developed a memory and would be bent. I always carry an extra impeller on board and you can swap it out on the water in about 5 minutes with a crescent wrench and screw driver. I have over 1200 hrs on this boat. We use my buddies boat now (01 Sport). I change it every year to be on the safe side. At under $30 it is cheap insurance.

[DavidF]

I now understand. I picked up our 206 last night and the mechanic did replce the impeller beacuse one fins was nearly torn off. In addition he also showed me one where everything was in tact however through wear and tear the fins were worn in the direction the part spins. He had indicated if you have ever run the motor without water it could destory the impeller in as little as 30 seconds. (And yes I have been that stupid) For hundred bucks -parts and labor it is indeed cheap insurance.

Thanks,

for the insight!

30 seconds is VERY long time to run the impellar without water. Personally, I always dry start my engine on the trailer just to make sure it is going to run before heading to the lake. At the longest, I might let it run for 5 seconds, but I doubt that long. NEVER EVER have I had an impellar failure that I can relate to this behavior. I change the impellar every two to three years. No abnormal wear on impellar. Some will ademantly disagree with this practice and that is fine, but it works for me.

[EchoLodge]

We have all been told dry starts are bad. But there is usually water left in the strainer, elbow, and pump. Gives your impeller a bit of lubricant!

[richard]

Impeller Hype?

I agree with DavidF

[joelhern2]

I just jumped on the bandwagon and ordered an impeller for my '91. Is there instructions out there anywhere showing the "how to's and what not to do's" of changing the impeller?

[wakejunky]

Anybody have any good sources for an impeller? I know Skidim has them but, they're not necessarily the most economical.

Chris