
Posts: 3491
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | Hiya,
Most outboards that are a larger run a thermostat in them which is mounted on the outside of the engine head (at least that is where mine is located on my 90 yamaha 2 stroke).
The motor is still getting water but the thermostat works very much like a thermostat on your cooling system in your automobile. When the engine is warm enough, the thermostat opens and allows cooling water in to regulate engine temperature.
So...the dripping and then peeing is a good thing.
As for changing it out, so long as the engine is put in a vertical position, the system should be self draining. I have found that when mine is drained and I am fogging the engine, I keep the engine in gear and turn the prop to coat the combustion chamber. I can hear the squeaking of the impeller as it turns in the housing.... So...when you choose to change the impeller in spring vs fall is more or less 6 of one, half dozen of the other...
If the system has been allowed to be drained, any little bit of water that remains has room to expand, thus should not do any damage to your system, so it should be good to go.
It is a good thing, though to change that impeller every three years, though.
Steve
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