New to boating, last summer I bought a 2004 runabout with 3.0L Merc with Alpha 1 gen 2 sterndrive. This year, knowing a little bit more, I decided to proactively replace my impeller during summerization (I know, I should have done this during winterization -- long story...).
Well this afternoon, I removed the lower unit and was surprised to see that the water pump face seal that should have been on the drive shaft above the pump body wasn't there! The service manuals I've looked at as well as the instructions that came with the Quicksilver water pump kit clearly show a face seal on the drive shaft (this is the seal that needs to be assembled with the water pump face seal setting tool...).
Anyway, last summer the boat ran great and it never came close to overheating. Also, the old impeller looks to be in great shape with no signs of wear or melting/burning.
So does anyone know what to make of this? Was the missing seal not a big deal? Was I pumping additional water into the lower unit through the unsealed gap between the drive shaft and the pump body and does that mean anything?
Thanks
Well this afternoon, I removed the lower unit and was surprised to see that the water pump face seal that should have been on the drive shaft above the pump body wasn't there! The service manuals I've looked at as well as the instructions that came with the Quicksilver water pump kit clearly show a face seal on the drive shaft (this is the seal that needs to be assembled with the water pump face seal setting tool...).
Anyway, last summer the boat ran great and it never came close to overheating. Also, the old impeller looks to be in great shape with no signs of wear or melting/burning.
So does anyone know what to make of this? Was the missing seal not a big deal? Was I pumping additional water into the lower unit through the unsealed gap between the drive shaft and the pump body and does that mean anything?
Thanks