www.iFourWinns.com

My boat stays in the water year round. During the winter, I go down to the slip every weekend, start it up and let it run to operating temp.

I pulled the hatch a couple of weeks ago and noticed that there were water "sprinkles" directly below the fresh water pump and a few more to starboard.

The following weekend, I pulled the hatch and then started it up while watching to identify for sure where the leak is coming from. Sure enough, it is the fresh water pump. The drops to starboard are there because a few of the drops hit the pulley / belt and get slung.

It does NOT leak after the engine warms up.

I talked to my mechanic. I was hoping at was a bad seal between the impeller housing and the pump. He seems to think that it is a rear seal in the pump based on past experiences with this engine. He suggests replacing the pump. Not sure how much that jewel costs, but I'm sure it's not cheap.

Anyone else had experience with this?

Craig C.

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2003 Vista 248, VP 5.0 GXi-C, DP

If the housing bolts/o-ring or hose isnt loose the seal is bad and I'm 99% sure you have to replace the whole pump since the seal isnt serviced separate. At least thats what i was told a couple years ago on a 5.7Gi.

I changed the pump myself in my old boat, rear seal was bad and was leaking a couple gallons after a few hours running time, it wasnt bad to do at all but the front of the engine was way easier to reach on my old boat. It wasnt easy for me just to swap impellers when I bought this 248 (long reach down) but it should be a piece of cake for someone who does it for a living and a little more limber than myself. There is just 3 allen bolts on the damper that hold it on plus the bracket on the engine that keeps it from turning, thats all there is too it.

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2006 Vista 248 5.7DP - SOLD
2011 Crownline E6 - SOLD
2007 Sea Ray 260 Sundancer

I had a similar problem at the beginning of the last boating season. Initially the mechanic said that it was a leak in the belt driven
circulating pump so he changed that. $280.00 later no fix. It was still leaking under the crankshaft driven "raw water pump". Like you it would drip until it heated up then would stop, but I would add that I was concerned that it was a constant drip even when the
engine was off. With the boat in the water he changed the raw water pump and all was well at about an additional $600.00 later.
He said that this was a common problem for volvo/chevy engines after 9-10 yrs. Since your boat is an 03 your probably due. I wouldn't even mess with seals I would just get a new pump and sleep well. Good luck

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2011 Bennington 2075 GLi
2012 Key West 211 DC
2005 Four winns 180 Horizon LE
1997 Horizon QXsold
2000 248 Vistasold
2002 Key West 2020WA sold

I have replaced the pump on my 298 vista, not a bad job. When removing the pump be careful not to crack the brass screws holding the pump in place. I believe there are 3 of them and I did crack the heads and had to drill them out. Also if you are raw water cooled and changing the pump while in the water make sure the intake hosse is secure above the water line or water will flow into your bilge.


Good Luck

Update (well, sort of):

Went to the slip to do my weekly check ... weather in north Texas was much warmer, although I'm not sure how much warmer the water was. Fired it up, no leak. Let it run for a few minutes at idle ... no leak. Kicked the RPMs up to 1200 and a single drop fell. That's it.

I know the cold weather makes the seals shrink, but I didn't expect the problem to all but go away. I think I might wait until the issue becomes a little worse (than one drop) before replacing the pump.

Craig C.

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2003 Vista 248, VP 5.0 GXi-C, DP