Mercruiser 170 Problems
 

I have this old fresh water cooled 170HP Mercruiser inboard, that runs
great.

I replaced the impeller, and still no water circulates into the heat
exchanger. I looked for clogs, with no luck. I removed the old stator
charging circuit, which I had replaced with a standard alternator this
past summer.

So my question is can I install a radiator with an electric fan to
eliminate the salt water altogether? If so, any tips?

Thank you

Jim Rojas

Mercruiser 170 Problems
 

On Sat, 05 Apr 2008 15:27:13 GMT, Jim Rojas
wrote:

So my question is can I install a radiator with an electric fan to
eliminate the salt water altogether? If so, any tips?

Not if you want to be in compliance with USCG and ABYC standards.
It's really not a good idea - check with your insurance company.

It really shouldn't be that difficuly to get your FWC working. My
guess is that the problem is in the leg. There is a procedure that
must be followed when replacing the impeller to make sure that the
water passage stays open.

Mercruiser 170 Problems
 

Ok. What if I just used a continuous duty electric water pump instead?

I have seen some that are self priming, and wont burn out if ran dry. I
guess this would be a cheaper alternative. I may also install a seperate
water pickup under the engine area to reduce lift issues. I am also
thinking that installing a weep hole to insure the damn thing is pumping
as it should.

Jim Rojas



Wayne.B wrote:
On Sat, 05 Apr 2008 15:27:13 GMT, Jim Rojas
wrote:

So my question is can I install a radiator with an electric fan to
eliminate the salt water altogether? If so, any tips?

Not if you want to be in compliance with USCG and ABYC standards.
It's really not a good idea - check with your insurance company.

It really shouldn't be that difficuly to get your FWC working. My
guess is that the problem is in the leg. There is a procedure that
must be followed when replacing the impeller to make sure that the
water passage stays open.

Mercruiser 170 Problems
 

"Jim Rojas" wrote in message
news:lTMJj.615$4Q1.344@trnddc06...
I have this old fresh water cooled 170HP Mercruiser inboard, that runs
great.

I replaced the impeller, and still no water circulates into the heat
exchanger. I looked for clogs, with no luck. I removed the old stator
charging circuit, which I had replaced with a standard alternator this
past summer.

So my question is can I install a radiator with an electric fan to
eliminate the salt water altogether? If so, any tips?

Thank you

Jim Rojas


To your question the answer is no.
Does water pump to the heat exchanger? You need to undo a hose to know.

Mercruiser 170 Problems
 

Jim wrote:

"Jim Rojas" wrote in message
news:lTMJj.615$4Q1.344@trnddc06...
I have this old fresh water cooled 170HP Mercruiser inboard, that runs
great.

I replaced the impeller, and still no water circulates into the heat
exchanger. I looked for clogs, with no luck. I removed the old stator
charging circuit, which I had replaced with a standard alternator this
past summer.

So my question is can I install a radiator with an electric fan to
eliminate the salt water altogether? If so, any tips?

Thank you

Jim Rojas


To your question the answer is no.
Does water pump to the heat exchanger? You need to undo a hose to know.

Yes, I have done that. I took it apart and ran water through the heat
exchanger. The engine stays cool. I also ran water downwards to the
intake, and it flows. If I use the muffs and try to pump water up, there
is no continuous flow at all.

Jim Rojas

Mercruiser 170 Problems
 

On Apr 5, 11:07*am, Jim Rojas wrote:
Jim wrote:

"Jim Rojas" wrote in message
news:lTMJj.615$4Q1.344@trnddc06...
I have this old fresh water cooled 170HP Mercruiser inboard, that runs
great.

I replaced the impeller, and still no water circulates into the heat
exchanger. I looked for clogs, with no luck. I removed the old stator
charging circuit, which I had replaced with a standard alternator this
past summer.

So my question is can I install a radiator with an electric fan to
eliminate the salt water altogether? If so, any tips?

Thank you

Jim Rojas

To your question the answer is no.
Does water pump to the heat exchanger? You need to undo a hose to know.

Yes, I have done that. I took it apart and ran water through the heat
exchanger. The engine stays cool. I also ran water downwards to the
intake, and it flows. If I use the muffs and try to pump water up, there
is no continuous flow at all.

Jim Rojas- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Mercruiser 170 Problems
 

On Apr 5, 11:20*am, Tim wrote:
On Apr 5, 11:07*am, Jim Rojas wrote:



Jim wrote:

"Jim Rojas" wrote in message
news:lTMJj.615$4Q1.344@trnddc06...
I have this old fresh water cooled 170HP Mercruiser inboard, that runs
great.

I replaced the impeller, and still no water circulates into the heat
exchanger. I looked for clogs, with no luck. I removed the old stator
charging circuit, which I had replaced with a standard alternator this
past summer.

So my question is can I install a radiator with an electric fan to
eliminate the salt water altogether? If so, any tips?

Thank you

Jim Rojas

To your question the answer is no.
Does water pump to the heat exchanger? You need to undo a hose to know..

Yes, I have done that. I took it apart and ran water through the heat
exchanger. The engine stays cool. I also ran water downwards to the
intake, and it flows. If I use the muffs and try to pump water up, there
is no continuous flow at all.

Jim Rojas- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I don't know what happened. Sorry.

But with a hose, you're actually injecting water into the block. have
you tested the engines water pump? I was going to say with salt it
could have eroded the inside impeller. Also possible to have a bad
thermostat.

Mercruiser 170 Problems
 

Jim Rojas wrote:
I have this old fresh water cooled 170HP Mercruiser inboard, that runs
great.

I replaced the impeller, and still no water circulates into the heat
exchanger. I looked for clogs, with no luck. I removed the old stator
charging circuit, which I had replaced with a standard alternator this
past summer.

So my question is can I install a radiator with an electric fan to
eliminate the salt water altogether? If so, any tips?

Thank you

Jim Rojas



It wouldn't be practical. There are, though, completely closed cooling
systems that do not require the usual sort of heat exchanger.
_


http://tiny.cc/0jZfP



The exchanger is mounted outside the boat, on or along or adjacent to
the keel. No outside water enters the system anywhere.

But then you have to accommodate the exhaust. There are "dry" ways to do
that, too.

Mercruiser 170 Problems
 

On Sat, 05 Apr 2008 17:07:40 GMT, Jim Rojas
wrote:

Yes, I have done that. I took it apart and ran water through the heat
exchanger. The engine stays cool. I also ran water downwards to the
intake, and it flows. If I use the muffs and try to pump water up, there
is no continuous flow at all.

It sounds like you have an obstruction in your leg. Have a qualified
Mercruiser guy take a look at it, might be a simple fix if it was
assembled incorrectly after the impeller change. There is an insert
that has to be positioned properly as you re-attach the leg.

Mercruiser 170 Problems
 

"Jim Rojas" wrote
I took it apart and ran water through the heat exchanger. The engine stays
cool. I also ran water downwards to the intake, and it flows. If I use the
muffs and try to pump water up, there is no continuous flow at all.

There aren't a whole lot of things that can go wrong with that type of pump.
If it isn't pumping water and there's no obstruction in the line, the base
gasket could be installed incorrectly or the key that locks the impeller to
the shaft could be missing. It may also be possible for the cylinder liner
that the impeller rotates in to spin inside the housing, but I've never seen
that happen.