The last thing you want to hear when you’re zipping around the water on your boat is the sound of the alarm indicating that your engine is overheating. For one thing, you have to figure out how to bring your boat back to shore without spending your engine. Then, once you’ve finally made it safely to land, you’ll have to get to the bottom of whatever is going on with your boat. Unfortunately, this is much easier said than done. When it comes to troubleshooting and repairing an overheating boat, it’s best to leave the work to professionals who specialize in boat motor repair in Fenton, MI.
Why overheating happens and what you can do about it
Unlike car engines, boats utilize a water intake rather than an air intake to cool the engine. While this feature is beneficial since it prevents air intakes from becoming compromised in the event that they are exposed to water, it can be problematic. If the water intakes become blocked or any portion of the system is compromised, your engine may start overheating:
- Rubber impeller: Inside of a boat’s intake pump is a rubber impeller that brings water into the engine. Since they’re made of rubber, these impellers can become misshapen as they age or as a result or because of a blockage in the intake port. When rubber impellers are misshapen, they won’t be able to draw in water as effectively, which will reduce the rate at which your engine is cooled.
- Exhaust manifold: The exhaust manifold consists of a pipe enclosed in a metal casing that serves an essential role when it comes to temperature regulation for your boat engine. The hot gases that are emitted from the engine are collected by the exhaust manifold and are cooled by the water that’s brought in through the intake port. Boat exhaust manifolds are often damaged by corrosion and must be inspected regularly to ensure they stay intact.
- Intake pump: As your intake pump brings in water from around your boat, it may start to draw in some debris like floating vegetation or other debris in the water. This can cause a block in your pump that must be cleared out before it can work properly again. There are some other issues that can arise with your intake pump, but they usually require more in-depth repairs.
Get boat motor repair in Fenton, MI
If you’re having trouble with your engine overheating, get in touch with the professional team at Lake Ponemah Marina right away. For 25 years, our team has offered outstanding repair and maintenance services to keep our customers’ boats performing as reliably as possible, and for as long as possible. In addition to repair and maintenance, we also sell new and used boats and offer a number of boat storage options, including indoor storage and shrink-wrapping. We have an extensive inventory of boats and accessories, and we are here to help you find exactly what you’re looking for. Give us a call today to find out more about what we can do for you.