www.iFourWinns.com

No, its clearly gritty. Its not rubbery or metal feeling/looking at all. Its crunchy and like sand.

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1997 Four Winns Vista 278
T - 4.3l EFI
Kohler 4esz Genset
379 hours as of 8/8/21

Ok Guys... I made this thread in hoping to getting to the root of the problem, thinking it was just one thing (sand sucked up somehow). However, after all of the helpful tips, advice and discussion, it has spurred quite the brainstorm.

I called today and ordered 2 new impeller kits. Ill tell you why.

The last owner (who Ive got a call in to right now and am awaiting a return call) only had the boat 1 season. The only maintenance he did was change the engine oil and outdrive lube. I just tuned up the boat and it had ALL original parts, the spark plug wires were quite aged. I mean I only have 106 hours on the engines now BUT Im going to bet you all RIGHT NOW that the impellers are originals from 1997 Im going off a hunch. If the last owner(s) wouldnt do something as easy as change the plugs/wires/cap/rotor, why should I imagine they would contort their bodies to change the impellers?!

Plus although I swear the pieces are larger size granules of sand, what somebody said lit a bulb above my head. I have never taken all the pieces that have come out from the stuck t-stats and rubbed them between my fingers. I manually open the t-stat and flush it out with water in the kitchen sink, into a bowl. Its possible that some of those pieces are rubber. Than again, its possible they arent as well.

Either way, I ordered 2 volvo penta impeller kits today. As soon as they arrive, Im changing them and will update this thread as to the condition of the old impellers and ((maybe)) if that was the cause, or maybe when I take the impeller housing off, I will find sand? I dont know but I will keep you all posted!

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1997 Four Winns Vista 278
T - 4.3l EFI
Kohler 4esz Genset
379 hours as of 8/8/21

Well, replaced the impellers today, no smoking gun there. The impellers were definitely old, not the originals, and were well set and had a few cracks in the blades but no missing rubber.

I did pull out a chunk of old impeller from the housing though. It was about 1/8" and jammed in the back of the housing. Didnt match up to the impeller at all, the impellers were missing nothing.

The impellers I bought did not come with glycerin (Sierra brand) so I lubed the impeller with a tiny bit of dish soap.

Im going to drive out to the bay (~10 miles) and overnight tonight. Tomorrow before we leave, Im going to reinstall the thermostats. Hopefully after having them out for 2 weekends, all of whatever grit or crap in the hoses/engine is blown out by now!

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1997 Four Winns Vista 278
T - 4.3l EFI
Kohler 4esz Genset
379 hours as of 8/8/21

Well some good news (and maybe) bad news!

After leaving the thermostats out for 2 weekends and reinstalling them last weekend, I was getting some temperature- 150 degrees at idle but once I got on plane the port engine would go back to 0 degrees

Prepared to find stuck open thermostats again today, I disassembled to find the thermostat completely NOT stuck open, there wasnt any grit or anything. I removed the thermostat and flushed out the housing. Some granules came out. Took a flashlight & peered into the bypass passage of the thermostat housing and look what I ended up plucking out!!



Picked it out, started the engine and up to 150 degrees it quickly went and stayed!! I had never used a flashlight to look into the bypass passage before - just glanced. Go figure!!!

Next problem - First off, DOES IT EVER END??? As Im running the motor and marveling at it 'finally' getting to temperature and cussing at the little pieces of old impeller Im plucking out, I notice the circulating pump on the front of the engine is leaking

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1997 Four Winns Vista 278
T - 4.3l EFI
Kohler 4esz Genset
379 hours as of 8/8/21

Sounds like a new water pump is needed....it will end just need to get all the debris from the failed impeller out. Have you drained block and manifolds? If not I would and use a wire probe while draining to see if u can get anymore out. You may want to do this a couple times..I also would pull all hoses loose one at a time and make sure clear....o. you may have already gotten it allnly a couple more than u have to. removed for water pump swap

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http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o71 ... wqm355.jpg


08' H210SS
VP 5.7Gi

So today the thermostats stuck open again...I did get to enjoy a few days of normal engine temps

Today I pulled out little pieces of impeller in the bypass passage of the thermostat housings. Will it ever end?!?

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1997 Four Winns Vista 278
T - 4.3l EFI
Kohler 4esz Genset
379 hours as of 8/8/21