Do i need to lube my impeller?

[GrahamHR]

Agreed, same as my link above: http://amzn.to/1BWNi6t



Glycerine? Why would you want it soluble? The last VP kit I bought, and the SpeedSeal kits, contain silicone grease.

The impellor vanes are designed to run in water, a very effective lubricant for metal to rubber sufaces; (that's why punctures in car rubber tyres are more common in wet weather, it's not just "sods law"! ). The glycerine is used to assist assembly and to lubricate prior to water getting there. Once the water is there, any additional lubricant is not required.

 

[ghostlymoron]

Vaseline is one of the most versatile substances known to man. You can lubricate with it, rub it on wounds, light fires with it, smear it on your cock (gas cock obviously), I've just read a book about single handers where someone ate it when he ran out of provisions (he doesn't comment on the taste). I always keep some in my toolkit but didn't know it rotted rubber. Is that natural or synthetic?

You mean Vaseline? The stuff known to rot rubber?

Vaseline has no uses whatsoever on a boat, there is always something more appropriate to use. Even for that

 

[KellysEye]

I used to put a bit of silicone grease on the impellor just to lubricate it before the water is sucked up.

 

[awol]

In the unlikely event that the impeller cover-plate is a bit worn, a smear of grease, vaseline, butter, what-have-you not only eases that first rubber/metal friction but can encourage the pump to actually suck up water.
As for vaseline and rubber - inflate what the septics refer to as a "prophylactic" or even a common or garden balloon, apply a smear of vaseline and wait. The neoprene of an impeller should be okay though.