Raw Water Pump Seal Leaking - Easy Fix

[billk2632]

Thought I would post this as info for others. End of last season I noticed a small leak around my raw water pump (VP300 V8) - thought it was a hose leaking and decided I would address it in the spring. Out for my first trip and the small leak is now spraying water all over the place - definitely not a hose. Turns out there is a seal on the shaft - you can see it when you pull the impeller out. My marina (VP / Cobalt dealer) sold me a new seal and I replaced it myself - very easy - no more leak. In googling the issue there are several videos etc all about rebuilding and replacing these these pumps. My parts guy said this seal is a common thing, catch it early and your just replacing a $20 seal - ignore it and the bearings get damaged and then it's rebuilding or replacing the pump. I am afraid there are probably plenty of deals out there who just replace the pump ($500) instead of the seal ($20). So don't ignore a small leak around your raw water pump.

Contrary to what I initially thought, I find this VP engine much easier to work on than my old MerCruiser's - especially things like the water pump.

[AsLan7]

Nice. Thanks for posting this, bk...

[stifflkd]

Interesting. Do you happen to have a p/n for the seal. The VP website does not have a breakdown of the seawater pump. My front cover was scored from sand and luckily I came across a guy on eBay selling them for $25.

[billk2632]

Part # VP827247 $23 at my dealer.

[stifflkd]

Thanks. I put the p/n in the Volvo Shop site and it pulled up the complete breakdown of the pump. Looks like there are two. One on the impeller side and the other on the back end.

[billk2632]

Yes, the only one you can replace easily is the front seal and apparently it is the one that tends to fail - from the looks of mine I think it was original - 2014 with 350hrs. Once the outer seal start leaking, water drips out of a weep hole similar to a circulating water pump leaking. Ignore that and the bearing will get damaged, then you are rebuilding the pump which would include replacing the inner seal and bearing.

[jhnmdahl]

It's part number 12 in this diagram (part number 827247), which gives a pretty good idea how to service it:

https://www.volvopenta.com/shop/0/part- ... s/54155056

[JTinMO]

Good timing for seeing this post.

I just spent yesterday afternoon rebuilding the raw water pump for our 8.1 Gi. It was dripping water from the weep hole this spring. The whole rebuild was not hard, but you need to have the tools to pull a blind bearing. I spent more time looking for tools that actually doing the work.

3 hours later I had it all reinstalled, with new serpentine belt and new impeller, and she was running like new with no leaks. I think the whole rebuild kit was around $75. Much better than buying a new one or rebuilt one for $500+.

[IA_SD220S]

I had to replace the entire pump. It failed after I replaced the impeller, hard to explain to the dealership but they came and got my boat and towed it 90 miles to their shop. It was really disconcerting as my check engine alarm would go on leaving the marina. It would run for three minutes and then the alarm would go on. About a $1000 repair but I’m not mechanically inclined enough to troubleshoot and fix myself. The inside metal diaphragm had burn marks on it where it must have been moving air through it. My dealership asked if I boat in really sandy water and I don’t think my lake is too abrasive, but it is part of the Missouri River which has is more muddy than sandy. The previous owner had it at a much sandier lake.