Monsoon 340 running too cool

[hukk]

Went skiing above Willamette Falls early Saturday morning, had fantastic water and few boats. Boat ran fine but temperature was 120 rather than the usual just above 160. I am guessing thermostat went bad or possibly something is stuck in the thermostat.

Is there anything else I should check for, that could cause this problem, when I am removing the thermostat?

Thanks!

[Baddog]

Went skiing above Willamette Falls early Saturday morning, had fantastic water and few boats. Boat ran fine but temperature was 120 rather than the usual just above 160. I am guessing thermostat went bad or possibly something is stuck in the thermostat.

Is there anything else I should check for, that could cause this problem, when I am removing the thermostat?

Thanks!

Any recent glaciers melting up stream due to Obama caused Global Warming?

[Soon2BV]

First thing to check is the thermostat - it may be stuck open and not letting the engine get hot.

[Ryan Gergler]

First thing to check is the thermostat - it may be stuck open and not letting the engine get hot.

Had the same thing happen last year. Took the thermostat out and found a tiny piece of sand stuck holding it open . I put the thermostat in a pan on the stove, heated the water up to 160 and it opened perfectly........Good Luck...

[shade]

Went skiing above Willamette Falls early Saturday morning, had fantastic water and few boats. Boat ran fine but temperature was 120 rather than the usual just above 160. I am guessing thermostat went bad or possibly something is stuck in the thermostat.

Is there anything else I should check for, that could cause this problem, when I am removing the thermostat?

Thanks!

Any recent glaciers melting up stream due to Obama caused Global Warming?

Don't you know George Bush caused Global Warming!

[jojano]

It was actually Bill Clinton. The rumor started when Bills interm spread the word about Bills "GLOW BALLS WARMING".

As soon as the Dem's found out it turned into a catastrophic event.

[Baddog]

Went skiing above Willamette Falls early Saturday morning, had fantastic water and few boats. Boat ran fine but temperature was 120 rather than the usual just above 160. I am guessing thermostat went bad or possibly something is stuck in the thermostat.

Is there anything else I should check for, that could cause this problem, when I am removing the thermostat?

Thanks!

Any recent glaciers melting up stream due to Obama caused Global Warming?

Don't you know George Bush caused Global Warming!

I thought it was aCommunist plot.

[Mr.chip]

I've had the exact same problem now... twice. My first fix was to change out the thermostat (...temp successfully went back to 160f). About a year later, same thing happened again; stuck at 120f. My 2004 VLX lives on a river with all kinds of silt and debris, so sand or something could be the culprit. It's getting to be a pain having to pull the thermostat, scrape off the old gaskets ...etc. Oddly enough this happens in the early fall, right when I begin using my boat heater (which doesn't heat that well with 160f water, must less 120f water). This time I might try placing the thermostat in boiling water to clean and test it. I'll still have to drive the distance to my local Malibu dealer to procure a replacement gasket, so I may as well pick up a new thermostat while I'm out there. The thermostat is housed between two pieces that bolt together onto the engine block. Although you only have to remove the top piece to access the thermostat, both parts are likely to break off the block together, while trying to pull only the top section. Therefore, I suggest purchasing gaskets for both parts when buying a new thermostat. Two long bolts hold both parts to the block, with the thermostat sandwiched in between. A third shorter bolt helps hold the two pieces tighter around the thermostat. You'll need to scrape away the old gasket material; else you may have a leak. There's no need to remove the water hoses that go in and out of each of these two pieces. The top piece can be lifted w/o removing the hoses. Just remove the three bolts, and carefully try to break away only the top piece while holding down the bottom piece by its hoses. Meanwhile, it's probably not a good idea to run a cold engine under heavy demand. At 120f the oil may not be viscous enough to do as thorough a job of lubricating.

[ed obermeier]

I've had the exact same problem now... twice. My first fix was to change out the thermostat (...temp successfully went back to 160f). About a year later, same thing happened again; stuck at 120f. My 2004 VLX lives on a river with all kinds of silt and debris, so sand or something could be the culprit. It's getting to be a pain having to pull the thermostat, scrape off the old gaskets ...etc. Oddly enough this happens in the early fall, right when I begin using my boat heater (which doesn't heat that well with 160f water, must less 120f water). This time I might try placing the thermostat in boiling water to clean and test it. I'll still have to drive the distance to my local Malibu dealer to procure a replacement gasket, so I may as well pick up a new thermostat while I'm out there. The thermostat is housed between two pieces that bolt together onto the engine block. Although you only have to remove the top piece to access the thermostat, both parts are likely to break off the block together, while trying to pull only the top section. Therefore, I suggest purchasing gaskets for both parts when buying a new thermostat. Two long bolts hold both parts to the block, with the thermostat sandwiched in between. A third shorter bolt helps hold the two pieces tighter around the thermostat. You'll need to scrape away the old gasket material; else you may have a leak. There's no need to remove the water hoses that go in and out of each of these two pieces. The top piece can be lifted w/o removing the hoses. Just remove the three bolts, and carefully try to break away only the top piece while holding down the bottom piece by its hoses. Meanwhile, it's probably not a good idea to run a cold engine under heavy demand. At 120f the oil may not be viscous enough to do as thorough a job of lubricating.

Put a sea strainer in line ahead of the impeller, between the intake and the impeller to get the crap out of your raw water and you won't have that problem. I really don't know why these aren't OEM on most boats anyway no more than they cost. Here is a link to the one I got from SkiDim when I bought my RLXI. http://www.skidim.com/prodinfo.asp?number=SHE18016

Ed

[krich999]

Went skiing above Willamette Falls early Saturday morning, had fantastic water and few boats. Boat ran fine but temperature was 120 rather than the usual just above 160. I am guessing thermostat went bad or possibly something is stuck in the thermostat.

Is there anything else I should check for, that could cause this problem, when I am removing the thermostat?

Thanks!

I you look at my thread about running too hot, maybe some of the same issues can result in running too cold. Also, other than bad fuel mileage, my mechanic told me that running without a thermostat is not a big deal (at least around here). Maybe pull it to see what happens. In my case, the boat was never overheating....it was the sensor sending a bad reading. Does the Willamette get some salt in the water from the ocean? The mechanic also told me that the sensors fail more frequently in boats the run in salt (which I do). Just a thought....

Edited November 6, 2009 by krich999