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Hey everyone I need your help. I have a volvo 5.0 gl and was de-winterizing it today when I noticed water coming from my drain plug. After further inspection I traced the leak back behind the pulley, that is what I believe to be the "waterpump", as the main hose that feeds water to the manifolds plugs in adjacent to this pulley. When i squeeze the hose I can hear the water and air escaping behind that pulley and as far as I see, it seem as though the leak is coming from where the pulley is attached. Is this just a seal that has failed or has something gone terribly wrong? I apologize for the poor discription and appreciate any and all feedback.
Thanks Ben

If its the pump in the middle of the engine looking at the front of it. Thats its the engine's water pump. If it is the one at 6 o'clock, than its the raw water pump.

The raw one easier to replace! Sounds like you need a close look at it to see if it is creaked, from water over the winter. Or a seal that has gone bad.

When you say "from where the pulley is attached" is that the engine block? Or the pully that the crank it attached too?

QUESTION TO VOLVO PENTA OWNERS.

Do they (Volvo Penta ) have a engine drain facility where water is drained from the block to reduce corrosion when not in use? Mine (a Mercruiser) has that ability. What are your thoughts on the idea?

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2006 Four Winns, Horizon 180. Alpha 1 Gen2 leg with Solas SS 4 Blade Prop
135 HP Mercruiser. Clarion Stereo System. Swim Platform made in Colorado and Imported to Sydney.

I have never heard ot that. I have owned Mercs for the past 12 years and there closed system has a way of draining it from the raw water side. They give you a air pump.

The other thing too is, now you are letting air in. If you boating in salt water, well I am not sure which would be better, but I would lean on the water. In fresh water, I would rather have the water than the air in the block!! What is rust, but oxidation to the metal. Thats way a closed system is better for the engine. Less work too, but more $$.

I agree with that. Air in will bring on oxidation re- rust. Not sure why they made them. Will put some pics up soon. This is for a 3.0 litre Mercruiser though. I am not sure if they are fittd to other sizes.......

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2006 Four Winns, Horizon 180. Alpha 1 Gen2 leg with Solas SS 4 Blade Prop
135 HP Mercruiser. Clarion Stereo System. Swim Platform made in Colorado and Imported to Sydney.

Here is the video for water drain system

http://tinypic.com/player.php?v=vhvo85&s=7

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2006 Four Winns, Horizon 180. Alpha 1 Gen2 leg with Solas SS 4 Blade Prop
135 HP Mercruiser. Clarion Stereo System. Swim Platform made in Colorado and Imported to Sydney.

I see!! Is that only for that engine? On a V6 & V8, I don't thing all the water would drain out if the intake manifold. I could be wrong, I have always had a closed system, but thats what I have heard.

Yeah I imagine it is. Still wonder about its full purpose besides removing water. I agree with air/water moisture causing rust. Maybe its only used when storing and you spay or put something else through the system.

Interesting!

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2006 Four Winns, Horizon 180. Alpha 1 Gen2 leg with Solas SS 4 Blade Prop
135 HP Mercruiser. Clarion Stereo System. Swim Platform made in Colorado and Imported to Sydney.

You could use AF though the system, most boaters do anyways. Even myself with a closed system. Its better to have AF in the E. manafolds & the heat exchanger than air.

The leak that I am speaking of seems to be coming from behind the pulley where the shaft attaches the engine to the pulley. For this reason I do not believe it is cracked, as I am unable see or feel any and can with 75% accuracy trace the leak to that shaft as it enters the pump/motor. Also the leak is pretty prevalent, it is not merely a drip or slight trickle. The boat is a 2000, but I purchased it in 2010 with only 32 original hours on the boat, and currently have approx 65hrs. I dont know if that helps, but i was hoping that it is something that is bound to go over time and not,as I stated earlier a larger problem. I also feel it makes sense that if it is a bad seal or something of the sort, that it went bad after being run for the first time in 6 months.

One last thing, I just looked over the engine diagram for the 5.0 gl and the pulley in question is the one in the center, not the water pump and impeller. the odd thing is, that pulley is not labeled, but the power steering pump, alternator and water pump are?

Sounds like the seal has gone on your water pump. A common problem after a while - they seem to go brittle.

There are two options listed in my order of preference!:
1) buy a new water pump - make sure it is a marine one though and not a car one (marine one has stanless impeller, car one is pressed tin). Or
2) buy a rebuild kit and rebuild your existing pump. Not hard to rebuild at all, so if the housing, shaft, impeller etc look OK it may save quite a few bucks.

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Alec

2006 Horizon 190
VP 4.3GL/SX, Sunsport

I believe the pulley in question is the circulating pump pulley and not the water pump pulley

If it's the circ pump they are not a big deal to change, I put one in my 88 4.3 after 23 years of use, what usually happens is that the bearing wears out and then the seal fails causing the water leak. Often you will hear the bearing staring to make rumbling noises before the leak starts. Mine never actually leaked.
Make sure you use a marine pump, an automotive pump will not last unless you have a closed cooling system with antifreeze in the block. You will most likely have to remove the pulley off of the old pump and install it on the new one. I was able to do it without a puller but you might need to use one. I used some OMC gasket sealer on the gaskets and no leaks, easy job. I like to take a digital pic of how things attach before I start taking things apart. Helps because sometimes it can be a little confusing, esp if you don't have a manual or the manual you do have doesn't have good pix.

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

Thank you so much for the replies! One last thing though, Would that have stopped water from entering the manifolds and circulating back out the exhaust of the drive? the reason i ask is because i filled a tub up in my driveway and the water line was approx an inch above the intake ports, but no water ever came out the exhaust of my sx drive. I did not run it for too long as i got nervous about it. I just assume the water was leaking out the discussed location before it ever was able to reach the manifold.