Changing the impeller

[tantytpt]

I have a 2016 Ranger Trawler I purchased a year ago. My question is, how often should the impeller be changed, on my D3 200 Volvo diesel engine?

 

[dbsea]

the general rule of thumb is annually or every 100 hours, whichever comes first. This is a preventative maintenance item so that you don't end up having to fish impeller pieces out of your heat exchanger!

 

[marob]

I was told by Port Boathouse where we bought our C28 to do it every other year or 400 hours which ever came first. We have the D4.

 

[BB marine]

This question can probably have a dozen answers. The Volvo D3 owners manual states every two years or 200 hours. So what does this mean? You should make a judgement call by how often you use the boat and how many hours you put on it in a season. If you are a boat owners that averages under 100 hours a season or year then go with the every two year maintenance program. If you are a boat owner that averages over 100 hours a season "say, 140 to 160 hours a season or year. replace the impeller the your are doing all your other maintenance items. My yearly maintenance if under 200 hours included the following. I averaged 150 hours a year.
*Engine Oil change
*reverse gear oil change
*ventilation filter change
*air filter change
*Engine flush with clean fresh water then remove both alternator and raw. water pump belts, spray CRC penetrating oil on the belt tensioners and exercise them to confirm they are functioning properly. wrap the sea water tensioner with a rag and then remove the raw water fully and bearing housing and impeller. Replace impeller and o-ring.
*Inspect belts and install ( I replaced the belts at 400 hours)
Check all motor mounts for tightness and condition.
* inspect all hose clamps
* Loosen the packing locking nut and lubricate the threads. Adjust packing if needed ( 650 hours I adjusted the packing twice and had less than 3 drips a minute in gear engine running. Loosening the locking nut and exercising it by threading it left hand will keep the threads clean so that when you do need to adjust the packing it will be easily adjustable.
* Grease the rudder box
* Replace all anodes
* replace primary and secondary fuel filter
* clean connections and load test batteries

If you do a good preventative maintenance yearly you have a better chance of having trouble free boating.

Sorry for adding more to you thread post question.

 

[TBates]

Hi tantytpt,

The Volvo impellers are due to be changed every 24 months or every 400 hours (whichever comes first). Please feel free to reach out with any other questions we can help with.

Thank you,

-Tim

 

[Just Right]

Brian describes my routine. I think time is a bigger factor than hours. The last impeller I changed in my D3 had started to crack at the base of the vanes approx 200 hrs. My boat is a 2013. I changed timing belt, idler and tensioner this year based on age( only 367 hrs). I would highly recommend taking plastic timing belt cover off and inspecting idler and tensioner. My idler bearing was leaking grease. This is easy to do and if you see grease coming from either bearing I would replace both. Belt was like new.

Britt

 

[BB marine]

Hi tantytpt,

The Volvo impellers are due to be changed every 24 months or every 400 hours (whichever comes first). Please feel free to reach out with any other questions we can help with.

Thank you,

-Tim

The 2016/2017 owners manual for the Volvo Penta D3 models

Every 100-200 hours / at least every 12 months

Engine Oil and Oil Filter
R
Crankcase ventilation filter
R
:Every 200 hours / at Least Every 12th Month. I= inspect R= Replace L = lubricate

Coolant level and antifreeze mixture
I
Air Filter
R
Fuel pre-filter and fuel fine filter
R
Seawater filter
I
Drive belt (tension)
I
Impeller, raw water pump
I
Reverse gear, oil and filter
R
Reverse gear, propeller shaft seal
I
Outboard drive, oil
R
Outboard drive, corrosion protection
R
Outboard drive, propeller shaft. Visuall inspection of propeller seal.
IL
Outboard drive, U-joint and primary bearing
L
Outboard drive, bellows, rubber hoses and clamps
I
Checking exhaust line
I
Outboard drive, universal joint bellow
I
Hydraulic hoses and fittings. Thoroughly inspect for signs of leaks, wear, cracs or aging
I
Engine and transmission, oil / fuel / water leakage
I
Engine and transmission, touch up paint as required
L
Batteries, electrolyte level

Every 200 hours or second year
Impeller, Seawater Pump
R
Outboard drive, universal joint bellow
R
Coolant
R

My list in previous post above did not include cleaning the reverse gear cooler. This is easily done by removing the raw water hose and inspecting and cleaning the debris that has passed through the Marine Hardware Sea strainer. The screen is course and seaweed easily passes through the strainer plugging up the reverse gear cooler. This will cause elevated operating temperatures and could reduce the impeller life expectancy. I do not change the yellow antifreeze change on the yearly service. I changed the yellow antifreeze every 2 years. I do not change it at 200 hours. I don't think the engine hours is as important to degrading the antifreeze as the marine life Years is. I changed the antifreeze every other year during my yearly service.

I agree with Britt the engine hours are not as important as the marine life ( Time ) When it comes to the impeller operating that small diameter impeller for 400 hours is a stretch. It would probably make 400 hours if always operated in clean water with no silt, sand, mud and a raw water system frequently flushed with fresh water. The installation in the Cutwaters and Rangers with D3 engines has a limited water flow capacity with the 1" through hull add a marginal impeller into the equation will probably compromise the raw water cooling system.