Volvo pump leak.....

[LeonF]

I have a raw water leak on my Volvo 2010 which is finding it's way into the engine pan and bilges. Not sink inducing.. yet.. but I would like to find the source. I replaced an intake hose between the seacock and the gear box, which it enters before heading for the engine, and will tighten the clips, but fear it may be more complex, and connected with the pump. A boatowner with an indentical boat has jjust replaced his entire pump due to seal failure, the labour costs for refurbishment and the cost of installing a new pump made the difference minimal. A search on here has revealed this topic has been discussed in detail before, with the suggestion that the seal behind the impeller is easily replaced at minimal cost. The cost of the pump installed is over £400....any advice or comments please ??

 

[alan]

This is possibly nothing more serious than the seal behind the impeller leaking. The salt water drips out of a hole behind the pump and then down under the engine. Wrap some tissue paper around the pump body (tube) behind the impeller housing and see if it gets wet after running the engine for a couple of minutes. This seal is really easy to replace and cost about €7 or less! PM me if you want some instructions on how to replace this seal, or search this site as this subject has come up a number of times. I had a 2020 on my last boat and kept finding salt water under the engine; it took me a while before I relaised where it was coming from ......... at firat I was sure it was the hose from the pump to the heat exchanger as I could see water running down it, but it was actually the seal. There is a hole in the pump body (tube part) behind the impellor housing that is designed to allow any water that leaks past the seal to exit before it gets to the engine (where there is an oil seal).
I would bet two beers /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif that this your problem!!

Alan.

 

[LeonF]

Sent you a PM Alan

 

[LeonF]

Found your previous detailed post Alan.....I am heading down in a while to have a look.. provided the 2010 is the same and I do not need to remove the pump I may have a go....if not....it may be Visa time....

 

[Rick]

I'd establish that leak is from hole in pump body (most likely), then remove pump and repair on the bench. It'll almost certainly be a Johnson or Jabsco pump, held in place by 2 or 3 bolts - remove these and the two water hoses, and pump comes clear.

Pump will probably have 2 seals, one to stop water getting into the tube the shaft runs in, and one to stop oil leaking out of engine. Replace both, and also bearing if it has a cassette style - these aren't expensive, and here in Oz, the two seals and a bearing for a typical old Yanmar pump runs to less than the price as a cheap bottle of spirits or carton of beer. Did seals for a Bukh DV20 a few weeks back (it had a plain bearing so unchanged) and cost was under $7 AUS from a bearing supplier - agent tried to sell owner new pump for over $450!

 

[alan]

Sorry, did not receive your PM ??!!

 

[LeonF]

Don't know which Bermuda triangle my PM disappeared into Alan.
However....Careful observation yesterday revealed that the leak is definitely not from the water pump..no leakage from the gap..and it is an aperture more than a hole..I was looking for something more like a tell tale on an outboard...while engine running and stationary.
In fact it seemed to have vanished. I did notice that one of the thumbscrews on the Speedseal had dropped out, and there was slight spraying at very high revs so will see what happens having replaced the thumbscrew. And at least I have now learnt something else about my engine. Thanks guys.