VP GEN 5 V8-300 Alarms
Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2023 5:51 am
Just thought I would post a heads up on this one. After starting my engine from cold start I always let it warm to operating temp (160) before dropping the hammer. Last season near fall, put it to bed time, it started giving me a check engine warning with alarm and going to limp mode. I shut it off, restarted and monitored what may be causing it, oil pressure normal, coolant temp did not exceed 162. I hauled it back to dealer 200 miles away, they told me they had found styrofoam in my exhaust manifold and although I did not exceed 165 or overtemp the engine, they said it was a differential temp alarm; one manifold was heating or sensing it was heating quicker than the other. I believe they told me if there was 5 degree difference it would trip the alarm. Big repair bill later, next season comes and same thing. Again oil pressure normal, temp 155 check engine alarm. I have discovered that it only does this on the first start of the day when cold. I have also discovered that If I heat it up quickly , like taking off at 145-150 degrees that there is no problem or alarms. I love the power and efficiency of the new gen power, but sometimes miss the simplicity of the old school.
Also discovered that when I changed my water pump impeller this past winter (genuine VP part, not aftermarket) that the supplied O-ring was not the correct one. I have been getting water in the bilge and found leakage at the impeller housing. I kept the old o-ring and saw that there was a visible difference in thickness so I swapped it out, no more leak. Since I changed it out in the off season I forgot about leak checking it come boat season, lesson learned.
Also discovered that when I changed my water pump impeller this past winter (genuine VP part, not aftermarket) that the supplied O-ring was not the correct one. I have been getting water in the bilge and found leakage at the impeller housing. I kept the old o-ring and saw that there was a visible difference in thickness so I swapped it out, no more leak. Since I changed it out in the off season I forgot about leak checking it come boat season, lesson learned.