SUZUKI IMPELLER 17461-95201 CEF500312

Function and technical context

The impeller is the heart of the seawater cooling system in outboard motors: it is a rubber impeller housed in the water pump that generates the flow necessary to keep the engine at a safe working temperature. Its flexible blades, when rotating inside the casing, propel the water from the external intake to the exchanger or the cooling galleries of the block. When the vanes warp, crack or split—common after seasons of use or periods of dry storage—the coolant flow drops drastically, exposing the engine to overheating that can irreversibly damage head gaskets, pistons and liners. This impeller, identified with the Suzuki reference 17461-95201 and number CEF500312, fits a wide range of DT two-stroke engines with powers between 35 and 65 hp, covering decades of production.

When to replace this part?

The most common symptoms of a damaged impeller are the activation of the high temperature warning, the absence or notable reduction of the cooling water jet in the discharge spout and, in advanced cases, smoke or a burning smell coming from the engine. Manufacturers and nautical workshops recommend replacing the impeller every 300-400 hours of operation or at least every two seasons, regardless of the visual appearance of the paddles, since the rubber may have lost elasticity without showing visible cracks. Renewing this component preventively before each season is the most economical measure to avoid a serious breakdown on the high seas or in areas where assistance is difficult.