The Fastest-Wearing Marine Engine Parts to Watch

Many boat owners adopt a relaxed attitude toward maintaining their boats. They perform a quick visual “once-over” before and after a day on the water, and let it go at that. These owners may not be aware that a more thorough inspection could save them thousands of dollars and disappointment. Wholesale Marine understands the enjoyment that boating excursions and fishing trips can provide. We’re boating enthusiasts ourselves. Here we alert boat owners to the engine parts that may fail more quickly and how a little preventative maintenance can avoid costly repairs or replacements.

Use Your Nose to Detect Worn Marine Engine Parts

When an engine is running well, it has a distinctive smell. Learn to recognize it as any change in the smell coming from your engine likely indicates trouble. For example, the acrid odor or burning rubber could mean that all-important water flow is no longer reaching the water pump’s impeller. Flushing the water pump and checking its impeller function is important. For those who troll in salt, brackish, or shallow water, the pump could easily clog. Also the veins of the impeller can stiffen. If left unchecked and stored in dry dock, for example, the veins will likely freeze, creating the need for an expensive repair before the new boating season begins. The water pump impeller is the most vulnerable engine part. When trailering, boat owners often ignore the caveat not to run their engines when dry. Those that do are usually rewarded with a damaged or failed impeller and an expensive repair bill.

Smell burning rubber from your engine compartment? Check for a clogged water intake immediately. That same burnt smell could also mean that an insufficient supply of cooling water is not reaching the exhaust manifold, it could also mean that a V-belt has slipped, or a coupler in the stern drive has failed. A strong oil smell signals the possibility of an oil leak dripping on the hot engine. Check and replace worn gaskets first. An intensely sweet aroma usually means an antifreeze leak, and that burnt hair smell could mean an electrical short.

These are the most vulnerable marine engine parts and their service life can be extended by performing the required maintenance before and after every voyage, and being aware of any changes in smells coming from the engine. For everything boaters need, you can rely on Wholesale Marine. If you have a question regarding marine engine parts or wish to place an order, call us at (877) 388-2628, Monday through Friday, from 9:00 AM until 6:00 PM, EST.