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Article: Outboard water pump maintenance.(Column)
- Article from:
- Motorboating
- Article date:
- September 1, 2003
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 Bonnier Corporation. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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One of the most common causes of outboard engine breakdowns is overheating. When your temperature gauge indicates that your engine is running too hot, or if the high temperature alarm goes off, your cruise or outing is suddenly in jeopardy. Excessive heat can actually melt pump housings and can cause piston damage. The first thing to do is to stop and check for an obstruction--usually a plastic bag that's clogging the water intake on the lower unit. It will often float away as soon as you stop, and you'll never even see it.
Sometimes, however, the problem is not that simple. The cause of the overheating may be that your engine's water pump has failed. Outboard ...