Change Impeller Yearly?

[mf01]

Currently I've been changing my impeller every year. I'm wondering if this is overkill. When I pull the old one out, I don't see any chunks or problems with it. I know that most will say it's only $30, just do it. My thing is the longevity of the raw water pump. I'm pulling it in and out every year and cranking on the bolts. It's 19 years old and don't really want to buy a new one in the future. Should I just continue to change it every year? (I do carry a spare onboard)

[RideButter]

My point of view is the risk you are willing to take.

When I was a kid, dad would have to tow the boat every time we wanted to ski. Missing an evening of skiing for an easily preventable problem wasn't worth it to him. Also, since we skied on the Illinois/Kankakee/DesPlains rivers and there wasn't many marinas or a traffic to tow you in during the week, losing an impeller could really ruin your day.

When I am coaching, time is money, so I replace it every year.

I could see if my boat was on a lift on a small lake and every time out wasn't so crucial....I might just leave it. Dry cold weather is hard on them in the winter though.

[Rick]

I've run impellers up to 5 years without a problem. Having said that it depends on how often you use the boat. Every time you start the boat the impeller spins for several seconds dry. This causes wear and can tear the vanes. As far as the bolts go if you don't strip or over tighten the bolts the pump housing should last for 50 years or more. It only takes one torn vane to block something in the engine and require you tear the whole cooling system apart. I think $30.00 per year is not bad insurance. Now I replace my impeller every 50 hours (about 2 years) and keep the old one as the spare unless it is badly worn.

[TX-Foilhead]

I've gone 2 without a change although I have a spare just incase. If you stay off the beach at City Park your probably good, here on LBJ those who frequent the beaches seem to get less use out of the impeller. You don't want to wait until it starts to come apart, then you have to pull hoses and find the pieces.

[mf01]

Unfortunately, I'm only putting 20-25 hours a year on the boat. I do have a backup and tools to change on the boat.

[Zach@n3]

I think mine has been in my boat for 4 or 5 years and probably 300+- hours. I am throwing in a new one this spring just for good measure. 86 351. Now I would not reccomend a customer to do that. I am never far from my cabin or on water alone so I have tow boats at a moments notice. I was getting a little warm after hard runs at the end of this season but when I winterized I found my seawater strainer had let weeds by and my transmission cooler was packed full on the inlet side(probably why it was getting a little warm). Some guys take the impeller out every winter so it doesnt set smashed in the pump housing. Probably buys lots more life.

General rule for normal hours is 2 seasons on the older Chevy and Ford. Every season on the 04- Chevy.

[RogueOne]

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[robertsmcfarland]

I feel it has to do with where you ride, I have never changed mine in any of our boats,but keep a spare and tools just in case. with that said, now I'm will have problems !!

[Nautiquehunter]

I remove the impellers as part of the winterizing process. I cant see letting the fins on the impeller stay bent over for months in the off season. It also lets me inspect them . When I lived in the north I averaged 35 hours a year on my 89 351
the impeller would last for years. Now we average 200 plus hours on my 08 350 the impeller shows wear after every season.

[RogueOne]

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What happened to my original post? That was not what I had posted.......sigh

[migs]

i change mine every 100hrs - which is once a year.
every time they come out looking brand new. Still just piece of mind for me.

[Zach@n3]

That is really cheap piece of mind.

[CradGen2]

Every spring. Piece of mind. I buy 10 at a time.

[swankster]

I went 180 hours on the first one...just trying save a little but decided it is not worth it. I'm going to do it every spring and keep the old one as a spare. I agree, one bad day on the lake is not worth the savings.

[east tx skier]

I remove the impellers as part of the winterizing process. I cant see letting the fins on the impeller stay bent over for months in the off season. It also lets me inspect them . When I lived in the north I averaged 35 hours a year on my 89 351
the impeller would last for years. Now we average 200 plus hours on my 08 350 the impeller shows wear after every season.

This! ^

If you don't change your impeller in the spring, you want to remove it when you winterize. As you all have probably noticed, the housing isn't a perfect circle. As a result, the impeller blades/vanes become formed to the shape of the housing. When the impeller stays in one position over the course of several months, it becomes formed to that shaped and becomes a less efficient water mover.

I'm in the new impeller every year group. Cheap insurance and an easy install. I think it's great they some folks can push the limits with the impellers. More power to them. But on my boat, it gets $30 worth of love each spring.