Caterpillar Running Temp issues

I did so much maint this weekend, I'm still writing it down.

I changed the oil, after I fixed the groco vane pump, impellers, new filters all around, replaced the snaps on the one side of the SS windshield, replaced some zincs, washed the boat, replaced 2 latches on a door in the cockpit, waxed the cockpit, fixed the funky wiper arm that kept popping off, replaced some snaps on the canvas, then a whole slew of stuff on the dinghy, rewired my anchor light, tightened my throttle levers.

Next i'm changing the impeller on the gen, flushing the freshwater in the gen, replacing duckbills (puke time), replace a couple of vacuflush hoses (more puke time), replace some little TNT hydraulic extension hoses, replace the anchor roller, try and fix those stupid hurley trim tab lights that don't work, install some racor overflow thingy's if i'm able, replace the tachs, recarpet some of the storage areas, replace the curtains on the windows (ugly), install a cell booster antenna in the cabin, replace the cockpit radio, fix a docking light "headlight". It should be about time to haul out for winter by the time i'm done.
 
Turtlesboat said:
This is what mine looked like after about 200 hours.

87383dd1.jpg
Click to expand...

That's ugly...I wouldn't expect impellers to look like that at 400 hours.

Curious- do you guys in the forzen north remove your impellers prior to winter layup?

I think one of the worst things for moving parts on boats- and especially rubber impellers- is non-use where they develop a "set". Just a theory- but I suspect impellers fail faster and more often due to this non-use; and would last much longer under regular usage. I'm always reading threads here about guys griping they only have 25 hours on their generator impeller and they had to replace it. DUH... it's because of non-use that the vanes set and then you're suddenly spinning them at thousands of rpm's and expecting them to get suddenly flexible...

They're gonna crack and tear.

I run the mains and generator no less than every two weeks, year round. Keep the moving parts, moving. I replaced it anyway, but at two years old my genset impeller (w/ 350 hours on it) also looked good as new.

I have no specified interval in the manual for impeller changes; it would be interesting to know if there is for commercial applications.
 
It's a Florida boat. maybe it sat for a awhile, not really sure. the point is... you can't always say 200 hours, you can't always judge by the gauges because mine showed no sign. sometimes you have to dry hump the exhaust pipes and get in there and change out wear items if you're not sure or you hit the manufactures recommended usage. You also get familiar with the engines and notice changes. is it fun? no! but it's better than replacing big white pieces of metal.
 
Turtlesboat said:
It's a Florida boat. maybe it sat for a awhile, not really sure. the point is... you can't always say 200 hours, you can't always judge by the gauges because mine showed no sign. sometimes you have to dry hump the exhaust pipes and get in there and change out wear items if you're not sure or you hit the manufactures recommended usage. You also get familiar with the engines and notice changes. is it fun? no! but it's better than replacing big white pieces of metal.
Click to expand...


Turtle......this quote is a mouthful of wisdom!!!!!

After having read several threads/posts on impellers and how they should last at least 2 year and look new, I decided to go ahead and change mine out after my first 2 seasons (and about 110 hours) on new rubber. The starboard impeller looked exactly as your photo depicts. Frank W. must be spot on as to his comments that CAT overdesigns their cooling systems as my before and after temperatures did not change. Regardless, it made me sick to my stomach to know that I was cruising with that kind of garbage cooling my CAT's :smt009.

Point is, as Turtle put it, don't assume. Check it out and confirm.
 
OK, I went 3 yrs and a little over 300 hours and my impellers looked about the same ( I will not go more then 2 seasons now ).

I had my mechanic pull both heat exchangers & reinstall ( I took to radiator shop $500 there ), change 3 impellers ( gen set included ) and it was less then 10 hours labor total.

$600 mechanic
$500 radiator shop
$250 impellers...

PS: thank you Frank W for your wisdom.....
 
Thanks Bill Collecter,

I have been quoted 1,000 Euros (US$1250) to remove, strip, clean and reinstall Heat Exchangers and fit new Impellors (I have supplied these) and new Cat anti-freeze, so not a long way off your total. A lot less engine room space in my boat as compared to yours, so I guess I am paying for a little more skin to be removed on the mechanics hands!

Running temps still to be investigated, maybe I will fit new thermostats and run at 190 degrees.

Graham
 
If the quote is $1250, call him right now and tell him to get to work! Your whole cooling system has to be disassembled to get the heat exchanger off the boat. You do not have room to pull the coil bundle out with the housing in place on the engines...........Mark does have room on his 450DA above.
 
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Thanks Frank

I gave the go ahead yesterday before leaving Spain to come home, I have quite a lot of faith in these Cat dealers, and it is growing all the time. The technician involved turns up at the boat on time, is always very neat, clean and tidy, and his level in English almost matches my Spanish, so we can almost communicate.

This forum proves invaluable, as it is always a great comfort being told things by the dealer, that match the experience of the Forumites,

Many thanks to you all


Graham
 
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