Servicing Your Boat Engine's Raw Water Pump

If you have a boat with an inboard engine, it's important to understand how to service the raw water pump. Raw water pumps are responsible for circulating water from the lake or ocean through the engine cooling system. Over time, these pump impellers can become damaged and worn out, which can lead to overheating problems with your engine. By understanding how to properly service your raw water pump impeller, you can help keep your engine in good shape and avoid costly repairs. In this blog post, we'll share some tips on how to service your raw water pump and keep it running smoothly. Thanks for reading!

What you'll need:

1. new impeller
2. impeller puller
3. pliers or screwdrivers

Why it's important to service your raw water pump

The raw water pump is an essential component of a cooling system, and it's important to keep it serviced regularly. Ensuring that your raw water pump is functioning properly helps keep the motor from overheating, which can make the entire motor vulnerable to damage. Consistent servicing of your raw water pump is therefore a good preventative maintenance practice to keep your equipment in top condition. Additionally, servicing the pumps makes sure that all components are free of wear and tear. This can keep costly repairs or replacements at bay and ultimately save you time and money in the long run.

How to tell if your raw water pump needs servicing

If you don't regularly service your raw water pump impeller, you will want to service it before you have an overheating issue. A couple of tell-tale signs that service is needed are:

• Visible impellers that are cracked and/or missing blades
• A reduced flow rate and increased engine temperature. 

If one of these signs is present, take the time to inspect the impeller for substantial damage as this could lead to an inefficient performance which will disrupt the cooling system and cause your engine to overheat. Regular inspections of your impeller can extend the life of your raw water pump and help avoid expensive repairs down the road.

What you'll need to service your raw water pump

To service your raw water pump, the most essential component you will need is a new impeller. There are many different types of raw water pump impellers available depending upon your engine type, so it's important to find one that specifically fits your model. Also, if you don't already have one, pick up an impeller puller as well. This tool will make removing and replacing the new impeller a breeze. Additionally, depending on your situation, you may need other tools such as pliers or screwdrivers if you have to remove the pump from the engine entirely. Knowing what tools you'll need beforehand helps make the job convenient and simple!

Reversible Pump	Replacement Impeller
Jabsco Ballast Puppy Pump	Jabsco Ballast Puppy Premium Impeller Green
Jabsco Ballast King Pump	Jabsco Ballast King Premium Purple Replacement Impeller
Johnson Pump Ultra Ballast Pump	Johnson Ultra Ballast Premium Impeller Orange
WakeMAKERS Premium Plug-and-Wake Reversible Ballast Pump	WakeMAKERS Guppy Reversible Pump Impeller

The steps involved in servicing your raw water pump

Servicing your raw water pump is an important part of maintaining it for a longer life, and it does not have to be difficult either. 

• To start, remove the cover plate from the housing and use an impeller puller to remove the old impeller. 
• Then, take your new impeller and apply some vaseline to its circumference before sliding it into place. 
• If the impeller has missing or broken pieces out of it, be sure to go down the line from the pump and pull out any broken pieces from anywhere they can get stuck, specifically the heat exchanger and the transmission oil cooler. 
• To ensure you maintain a proper seal, be sure you install either a new o-ring or gasket before placing the cover plate back on the housing and securely tightening all screws. 

With just these few steps, you can have your raw water pump running like new!

Overall, servicing your raw water pump is an essential task that should not be overlooked. With this guide, you now know why it's important to stay on top of the services, how to check if your raw water pump needs servicing and what to get ready beforehand. As well as the steps involved when servicing impellers. Now that you are familiar with the servicing process, you’ll be able to tackle this job like a seasoned boater. Ultimately, taking care of your raw water pump will ensure maximum protection for your boat’s engine. So, if you haven't yet done so recently, make sure to service your raw water impeller soon! Stay up on the maintenance of the raw water impeller and you'll have a long lasting boat engine running smoothly all year long!