Water flow

Lakerider

Seaman
Joined
Apr 24, 2011
Messages
69
I have a 1997 Volvo/Penta 4.3L V6. Does anyone have a diagram of how the water circulates thru this engine. It has a raw water cooling system. Also it has a thermostat built into the thermostat housing on top of the intake manifold appears to control the flow the the exhaust system. What temp would that open at I took the housing off and put it into a pan and heated the water and it opened at 175. That is the temp the engine is running at now. It has run much cooler before , in the neighborhood of 140 to 150 at cruise and 175 at higher than 3000 rpm, It started overheating so I changed the impeller. That didn't help so I took the thermostat housing off and found the raw water neck full of old impeller pieces. And now the temp goes to 175 with no engine thermostat and sits no matter what rpm I am running Thinking maybe the exhaust thermostat was stuck open with some of the old impeller and now I actually have it working correctly. I have checked all other areas for blockage by pulling the water pump off te engine and running water from every direction All flows great. Didnt open the exhaust manifold and check them because when engine is running at idle on the muffs. They are as cool as is the engine wasn't even running but the engine warms up to about 160 or so. Does all this sound normal. I have never allowed the engine to get hotter than about 190. Even when it was what I called Overheating. It runs great just leary of the 175 constant temp. All help is appreciated.
 

Don S

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Aug 31, 2004
Messages
62,321
Re: Water flow

What is the full model number of your engine? Or the Volvo serial number.
 

Lakerider

Seaman
Joined
Apr 24, 2011
Messages
69
Re: Water flow

I will be able to look later today. To are refering to the number on the valve cover for the engine # correct. Other wise it is a Larson 186sei 1997. That may not help.
 

Lakerider

Seaman
Joined
Apr 24, 2011
Messages
69
Re: Water flow

Ok here are the numbers. 4.3GL PLKD
4110152461
3868618
I think I answered my own question of is the thermostat inside the housing. After searching the web for a replacement thermostat housing I have found diaghrams of the housing showing the thermostat inside of it. Not in top of the intake manifold as a automotive type but rather up inside the housing containing water flow from the engine to the exhaust. I believe when I bought the boat that the thermostat had a piece of old impeller stuck in it holding it slightly open. So the engine never heated up until finally a piece of the old impeller clogged the input line from the raw water pump inside the housing. In my fumbling with the housing I moved the thermostat to see if it was stuck and it moved I don't know for sure if it was either blocked open or just stuck. But once I got it to moving is when my temp went to 175 and would stay there at idle all the way to WOT. So I am thinking all my problems are solve . I actually still have just one question Is the 175 temp spot on for my engine or should I change te thermostat to a cooler temp? I think it is held in with a retainer clip Otherwise I believe I am good to go
Oh the reason I believe it was stuck open is that i blocked it open with a heavy duty zip tie and got the same results as when I first bought the boat last summer. Temp never gets above 125 or so at idle. Haven't run it on lake that is just on muffs. Plan to unblock it if 175 temp is right. Not worried about it coming out I have it rigged so the zip tie can't fall out and go rambling around inside the water ways. Lol. I know that's what your gonna warn me about. Any advice will help
Thanks in advance
 
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