
If you're unsure whether your boat's impeller is working, there are a few things you can check. Firstly, if your engine has open cooling, water should go into the engine and then leave through the exhaust system. If the engine has closed cooling, water goes into the heat exchanger and then leaves through the exhaust system. If your engine is overheating, this could be a sign that your raw water pump isn't working. You should also check the wet exhaust on your transom for the proper flow of cooling water each time you start the engine.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Engine overheating | If the engine is overheating, the impeller may not be working |
| Water flow | Check the wet exhaust on your transom for the proper flow of cooling water each time you start the engine |
| Rotation | Make sure the impeller's rotation is to the right |
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What You'll Learn

Check if the engine is overheating
If your engine has open cooling, water goes into the engine, and then leaves the engine through the exhaust system. If the engine has closed cooling, water goes into the heat exchanger, and then leaves the engine through the exhaust system. You should check the wet exhaust on your transom for the proper flow of cooling water each time you start the engine. If your boat is overheating, it could be a sign that your raw water pump isn't working.
To check if the engine is overheating, start the engine and run it. If the engine is not overheating, then it's clearly pumping water. If the engine is overheating, then you should start with a new impeller and thermostat, and retest.
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Check the wet exhaust on the transom for the proper flow of cooling water
Checking the wet exhaust on the transom for the proper flow of cooling water is an important step in determining whether your boat impeller is working. This should be done each time you start the engine. If the engine has open cooling, water goes into the engine and then leaves through the exhaust system. If the engine has closed cooling, water goes into the heat exchanger and then leaves through the exhaust system. If your boat is overheating, this could be a sign that your raw water pump isn't working, and you should start by replacing the impeller and thermostat and retesting.
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Check the impeller's condition during Spring Commissioning and every 200 hours of operation
It is important to check the impeller's condition during Spring Commissioning and every 200 hours of operation. Impellers may last for several years, but it is better to stick to a schedule of preventative rather than emergency maintenance. Impellers will eventually fail while in operation, and usually at an inconvenient time.
To check the impeller's condition, you should first check the wet exhaust on your transom for the proper flow of cooling water each time you start the engine. If your engine has open cooling, water goes into the engine, and then leaves the engine through the exhaust system. If the engine has closed cooling, water goes into the heat exchanger, and then leaves the engine through the exhaust system. If your boat overheats, it could be a sign that your raw water pump isn't working. If the engine is not overheating, then it's clearly pumping water. If the engine is overheating, then you should start with a new impeller and thermostat, and retest.
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Check if water is coming out of the propeller
To check if water is coming out of the propeller, you should first put the boat in the water and start it up. If the engine is not overheating, then it's clearly pumping water. If the engine is overheating, then you should start with a new impeller and thermostat, and retest.
You should check the wet exhaust on your transom for the proper flow of cooling water each time you start the engine. If your engine has open cooling, water goes into the engine, and then leaves the engine through the exhaust system. If the engine has closed cooling, water goes into the heat exchanger, and then leaves the engine through the exhaust system.
Impellers may last for several years, but you should stick to a schedule of preventative instead of emergency maintenance. An impeller will eventually fail while in operation, and usually at an inconvenient time. You should carry a spare onboard, since the impeller is one of the vital components of your engine’s cooling system.
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Check if the impeller is installed correctly
To check if the impeller is installed correctly, you should first check the wet exhaust on your transom for the proper flow of cooling water each time you start the engine. If your engine has open cooling, water goes into the engine, and then leaves the engine through the exhaust system. If the engine has closed cooling, water goes into the heat exchanger, and then leaves the engine through the exhaust system. If the engine is not overheating, then it's clearly pumping water.
If the engine is overheating, then you should start with a new impeller and thermostat, and retest. You should also check the impeller’s condition during Spring Commissioning and every 200 hours of operation. Correctly installed impellers may last for several years, but you should stick to a schedule of preventative instead of emergency maintenance. An impeller will eventually fail while in operation, and usually at an inconvenient time. You should carry a spare onboard, since the impeller is one of the vital components of your engine’s cooling system.
If you are unsure about the impeller's rotation, you can put a new impeller in and make sure its rotation is to the right. If the engine is still not working, it could be a sign that your raw water pump isn't working.
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Frequently asked questions
If your engine has open cooling, water goes into the engine, and then leaves the engine through the exhaust system. If the engine has closed cooling, water goes into the heat exchanger, and then leaves the engine through the exhaust system. If the engine is overheating, it could be a sign that your impeller isn't working.
You should check the impeller's condition during Spring Commissioning and every 200 hours of operation.
You should carry a spare onboard. If your impeller is not working, replace it and make sure its rotation is to the right.
Correctly installed impellers may last for several years, but you should stick to a schedule of preventative instead of emergency maintenance.
If the engine is overheating, this could be a sign that your impeller is not working. Also, if nothing comes out of the port next to the stern, this could be a sign that your impeller is not working.











































