Fuel issues?

H

haliman

New member
Took boat out to lake for the first time yesterday. Went to start motor and was having hard time with both the main and kicker but finally got kicker going and later main. I believe I was having hard time getting fuel to both as the bulbs were not getting hard but finally did. I noticed debri in the clear bowl of the fuel/water separator, drained and pumped bulb again until full but more debri. Ran both motors and mainly main on port tank then switched to starboard tank but after awhile started to sputter and died. Again I think no fuel to motor. Repeated drainage process a few time throughout the day. Bought boat in December, 2008 19’ Angler with 2008 Hondas – 90 and 9.9. Low hours on boat and motors and just had both motors serviced. When purchased both tanks were about a ¼ full and do not know how old gas was but when doing sea trial it ran good. I did fill both tanks but left old gas in. I am a newbie to all of this but now thinking I need to drain both tanks, uninstall them and clean any debri that might be in bottom of tanks. Even though I just replace fuel/water separator I will change the filter again after re-installing tanks and fresh gas. Does this sound like my issue and if so is there something else I should change out a swell?

Thanks
 
Should you have a water separate you should replace that and the in line fuel filter. Make that yearly routine. Ask me how I learned that lesson. :disgust :cry
 
There are two fuel filters index the cowl (at least on the 90). An LP and an HP filter. Debris should not make it that far but.... :? I'm fighting the same thing on my 150 Suzis. You can also have someone come with a portable fuel polishing machine to clean the tanks but that's more for diesel fuel.

Charlie
 
Thanks Charlie - Yes hopefully those are still good as they were just changed out a week ago. I will drain that gas and wash those plastic tanks out with water and let them dry out for a week. Also change the Racor filter. Is there anything else I should change just in case or look at.
 
I would also look at your fuel lines with e-10 gas maybe that could also be a problem .
With a 2000 16ft cruiser I put in a fuel water seperator and put in all new fuel lines then no problem with fuel (non ethanol)
 
There may also be debris at the screened intake tubes for the fuel pick up. Consider using non ethanol gas, adding Stabil, Startron and Ring Free (or Sea Foam--but apparently Marc Grove thinks this is bad for engines--lots of guys use it)....

If you have problems, you may have to do an number of filters. I have polished fuels when there is a similar problem. You may need to pull the tanks to get full access.
 
One addtional thought, if the debris looks like small black flecks, then the fuel lines may have degraded. With the addtional of ethanol to fuel, I would consider that a real possibility as my understanding that is one of the first things that happens when you run ethanol blended fuels through fuel lines not specifically rated to handle it.
 
After you get all the tanks cleaned, lines and filters replaced, consider trying to keep fresher fuel in your tanks. The best way to do this is use your boat!
 
I would also look at your fuel lines with e-10 gas maybe that could also be a problem .
Click to expand...

Yep. Not just boats. That damn stuff rots, corrodes, melts, dissolves etc fuel components in auto parts too. I know there is a new standard for fuel lines that are ethanol approved [by the USCG]. I used to think the stuff was no problem. Not any more. Now I go out of my way to fill w/ only 100% dinosaur gas. Costs more, but...
 
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