What Does A Water Pump Impeller Do?

Author : Efrain E. Silva

So if you’ve been following me for a while now ( following my blog, silly, not following me like a crazy creeper, he he heh, or I might have to use my taser gun on you ) , you have likely seen my other blog in which I basically introduce you to a water pump impeller and tell you what it physically looks like, in the best and most clear language I can think to describe, all while giving you a hint of interest and value, showing you why you ought to care, basically. But if you have not read that other piece of mine yet, then how can we be friends? I feel betrayed. Kidding. Kidding….did I get ya?

Anyways, all full jokes aside, I talked just a little bit, in that other blog, about some of what the impeller can do, in a nutshell, but I have some more to cover here and I hope that you will like. Read on. Much insight is to be found.

So first of all, the impeller, to recap, basically just takes water right out of the intake and puts it in the outtake. Or in other words, it goes from the inlet to the outlet ( as some prefer to call it that, but tomato or potato, it’s all the very same ) . He heh. Now, in this process, its very aim is to properly pump a fresh blast of cold water ( yes, cold, as that is the whole idea of it here ) into the engine. Why? Well, to cool it down, silly goose!

It all works by a whole multitude of rubber vanes, coming together to each do their own part in the process, to make this work. These vanes have been molded when they were made and take the round form they need to properly spin and make the impeller work. The central hub in the middle of them is of no less value and is central to keeping the whole thing running well, but there can be problems, just like there can be with any motor boat part, from time to time….which is why you can not put a dollar value on regular maintenance checks. For an impeller, check it about every 200 - 300 hours logged, time you’ve had the boat on and in the water, even time you’ve had it sitting and charging its motor. Just remember that, and I may say it again in case you need a refresher : It is super, super important, no less.

If your impeller should happen to one day fail and NOT do what it does, normally, then you have a big problem that needs not wait til tomorrow — the sooner you look into it, the better for all. You might experience over - heat. That is the biggest and most common concern. It happens because the impeller has broken or failed and thus can’t pump cool water to the motor. Simple science.