Engine overheating, could weeds from trent Severn be the pro

[dreamer*65]

There is an overheat warning on the Volvo penta display and exclamation point on throttle. Overheating occurs at a higher rpm. The Trent is filled with weeds, eurasian milfoil, and zebra mussels. Could either of those be the problem?

 

[BB marine]

Yes. What boat do you have? If you have a R25, R27, C26 a 1" thru hull is used which is marginal sized thru hull pickup. If this system gets slightly plugged you will experience at high speed operation over heat or higher then normal engine temperatures. Clean the sea stainer, if a lot of weed is noticed then go one step further and remove the hose from the strainer to the reverse gear cooler and inspect the cooler for debris. At the dock , sea strainer cover off (seacock closed) Have a hose that is attached to dock water, have a nozzle on the end of the hose. Position the nozzle in line where incoming water enters the strainer. Open the the seacock and start back flushing the plumbing through to the bottom of the boat. If it still over heats after do this I would inspect the raw water impeller. Also don't over look low coolant level. I know of a R25 tug that had this same issue on the Erie this year the flush resolved the issue.

 

[knotflying]

You may want to also inspect the oil cooler. It has been known to collect weeds and clog up, hence low water flow.

 

[dreamer*65]

Thanks. Engine overheating was due to need of an impeller replacement. We researched all the how to's on Tugnuts and I highly recommend anyone approaching this replacement project on an older boat to do likewise. I tried to wriggle my body into the "access hatch" and literally got stuck and torn up trying to extricate myself, and no replacement. My suggestions: If you want to do it yourself and have a meaty torso or are a broad-shouldered guy, stop! Cut out the entire step to access the front of the the engine and then replace the step with a nice teak something or other that can be simply removed in the future for the next replacement. Your resale price will go up since that impeller is supposed to be replaced every 300-400 hours and the next owner will thank you immensely! Save the hatch opening that you cut out and show it to the next perspective buyer. Price dickering done!

P.S Hi Kenny. I watched your video on how to do the job on a NEW R27, and it helped immensely for the 140 pound mechanic and his assistant that I was able to find to crawl in the hatch to do the job an a 2013. I commend you if you have been able to crawl into that hatch beneath the step on the 2013 R 27 😉 Seriously, though, the video really helped the mechanics and probably saved me a couple of hundred bucks since I had all the panels off and everything was ready to go!

Love my Ranger Tugs R 27, but whoever designed that set up to reach such a critical engine part must have been . . . . whatever at the drawing board.

 

[ALICE J]

Alice J is a 2011 R27. Traveling on both the Trent Severn and the Rideau Canals I picked up weeds before the thru-hull. There is a grate on the outside of the thru which clogged several times. Each time I jumped into the water with an ice pick to pull the weed from the grate. A major problem of weed infestation was just before Ottawa where the canal authority what just mowed the seaweed and lots of little pieces were in the water. It was packed very tightly against the intake grate. I do have a flow alarm that warned me before the engine overheat sounded, then quickly crossed checked the engine temperature which was quickly rising. Shut the engine down, anchored and cleared the problem. The water flow alarm paid for itself and saved the impeller.