vovlo penta 3.0L temp

[Logan]

I have a 2006 VP 3.0 L. When driving hard or pulling a skier the temp guage will often read one notch above 175degrees. The confusing part for me is that the gauge on my boat is not very well marked. for instance the next temperature number on the gauge is 200. If the marks are in fact evenly spaced the boat temperature would be approaching 190 degrees. Once it gets there it will hover there for a short while and then go down to aprox 180ish (I cant really tell because the gauge marks are far apart) It seems to run fine, the alarm dose'nt sound and it cools down right away when you slow down

My questions are:
How accurate are these gauges?
If it was running hot what other symptoms might there be
The gauges are Faria, is it common for them to be marked so poorly?


Thanks

 

[95yj]

Re: vovlo penta 3.0L temp

All the gauges in just about every boat are about as accurate as a two dollar watch. When was the last time you had your impeller changed? If you want to know how hot you are running, get a laser temperature meter from sears or an auto parts store and point it at different spots on the motor. Then you'll know right where you are.

The problem with running a raw water cooled boat hot is that it developes "hot spots" that aren't as present in a closed cooling on a boat or in a car due to the pressurized system. When you run the motor hot, these hot spots are worse and aren't good for the motor. Plus the extremely hot exhaust and cooling water on exit can do bad things to your drive.

 

[Logan]

Re: vovlo penta 3.0L temp

I have never changed the impeller but the boat probably has less than 50 hrs on it.

 

[95yj]

Re: vovlo penta 3.0L temp

Ahh 2006. Missed that, sorry it's late. Unless it's been sitting in the sun for two years cooking or it's been run without a water source it should be fine.

Has the temp always done this?

 

[Logan]

Re: vovlo penta 3.0L temp

I think so. To be honest I didnt notice until I read on this forum about some others having temperature problems. It has for sure been doing it all summer and as far as I can tell it runs fine. I was hoping to get some more experienced advice on if I should follow up on it or if this is normal and nothing to worry about. I did call the dealer and he didnt seem overly concerned. He suggested that it has a 180degree thermostat installed in it? I wondered about that as the manual says the upper end of the operating temperature is below that?

 

[95yj]

Re: vovlo penta 3.0L temp

On raw water cooling the thermostat is usually 160 degrees or 140 degrees. The 180 degree thermostats are usually only used for closed cooling systems.

Best to find out what the actual temp is running at. If you are running hot, the motor probably won't suffer as much as the outdrive over time.

 

[Don S]

Re: vovlo penta 3.0L temp

You obviously just got the boat, and don't want to take it back till you are sure if you have a problem or not.
First, are you sure you have a 2006 VP engine and drive? Just because it's a 2006 boat, don't expect the engine and drive package to be the same.
That means you could also have an older impeller than you thing, and it could have been started many times without being in the water or with the muffs on.
Replace the impeller, see what happens. Even a plastic bag on your first run could kill the impeller.

 

[Logan]

Re: vovlo penta 3.0L temp

I'm sure that it is a2006, the boat was ordered new last year from seaswirl and the serial number matches up with the 2006 model year.

I am also 100% sure that it has never been started out of the water unless the dealer did it before they delivered it last year.

Are there any other symptoms of running hot aside from the temp gauge?

I would be happy to take it in if there is a need but the lake and the dealer are a bit remote from each other so it is a hassle I would prefer to avoid if all that is wrong is the gauge is inaccurate.

I dont understand why they install a gauge that has no identifying marks between 175 degrees and 225 degrees?

 

[95yj]

Re: vovlo penta 3.0L temp

Once again, the numbers that are painted on guages, especially oil pressure and temperature mean very little. This is just as true in your car as in your boat. Besides that, using a rehostat isn't a very accurate way to tell your temperature or oil pressure, but it is very simiple and you don't have an oil line running up to your dash to run your mechanical gauge. The electric gauges are really just voltmeters and tell you how much voltage you are receving from your sending unit. Just cause the needle is pointing directly at 175 doesn't mean that is the temperature at the sending unit. The thing that is important is that if the gauge normally sits at 40 psi and today it's at 80, you know something is wrong. If you want to know what temp your boat is running at, you will have to use something other than the console gauges. Easiest is to use something like this: http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/prod...Automotive+Specialty+Tools&BV_UseBVCookie=Yes

 

[95yj]

Re: vovlo penta 3.0L temp

To answer your questions on symptoms, pretty much no until there is a problem. Just like you can't tell if your car is running at 140 degrees or 220 degrees until steam starts coming from the radiator, the engine starts knocking, and the idiot light comes on, your boat will run pretty good when it's too cold and also when it's too hot. Just because it's not complaining that it's hot doesn't mean you aren't hurting it. As stated before, the biggest sufferer would be your outdrive. They run hot anyways and that excessive heat makes the oil foam, degrades lubrication and takes years off the life of the outdrive. That's why some folks install a drive shower.

 

[Logan]

Re: vovlo penta 3.0L temp

Thanks I am both chagrined that the temperature seems high and relieved that it may not be accurate. I will measure with the device you mentioned.

Thanks for the help

 

[Logan]

Re: vovlo penta 3.0L temp

Well I used the laser temp thingy and temperature got up to 187degrees. I think that is to hot? So the boat is now at the dealer. Thanks for the advice.

 

[getinmerry]

Re: vovlo penta 3.0L temp

I have the exact same motor in my 07 Glastron, and I get exactly the same numbers as you're indicating. It's a brand new boat with about 30 hours on it, I questioned the dealer about running at 180, they told me it's a 180 thermostat. Under load I'll see 185 for brief periods. They claim it's all good. I have 2 years worth of warranty on it, and plan to use it if they're wrong.

Chuck

 

[Logan]

Re: vovlo penta 3.0L temp

I have the exact same motor in my 07 Glastron, and I get exactly the same numbers as you're indicating. It's a brand new boat with about 30 hours on it, I questioned the dealer about running at 180, they told me it's a 180 thermostat. Under load I'll see 185 for brief periods. They claim it's all good. I have 2 years worth of warranty on it, and plan to use it if they're wrong.

Chuck

I got exactly the same story from my dealer right down to the 180 thermostat? I say to him why would they put a 180 thermostat when the max temperature is 178? I used a laser temp gauge and got a max reading of 187.

I have between 50-70 hrs on my boat. I just spoke with the dealer who now has my boat and he says that the impeller was damaged and even though it is a maintenance item he thinks it was defective and is replacing it under warranty. He is also checking for any damage that may have been done.

From all the reading that I have done 185 is to hot and may decrease the life of your outdrive even if there is no immediate damage.

Let us know what happens if anything