2020 290 SDX OB Fueling Issue

T

TBrown

New Member
Aug 26, 2018
7
Lake Erie
Boat Info
2020 290 SDX OB
Engines
Twin 200 OB Mercs
Our 1 year old 2020 290 SDX OB wont let us put fuel in it. This is crazy, a $200,000 boat that wont drink gas. Unbelievable. Dealer says it is a flaw in the emission control vapor capture canister. I've never owned a boat that wouldn't let me add fuel. This has rendered our new boat out of service in the middle of our short boating season.
Has this happened to anyone else, and does anybody know of a work around to get the darn thing to drink fuel?
Dealer is aware of the issue and supposedly ordering a new Carbon Canister, but no promise on when it may arrive or how long after that it might take them to make the "not so easy repair." Completely disappointed here in Lake Erie.
 
Sounds like a bit of a bummer of a dealer you're working with. I'm sure parts are hard to find right now but I'd expect a bit more effort for something under warranty.

Have you considered bypassing the canister yourself, directing the vent directly to the thru-hull, until the repair can be made? Can you access the fuel vent lines?
 
Take a breath, TB. I get it that you're frustrated, but you can still fill up - you just have to go slower. Yes, it will take much longer, but at least you can go boating. In case you didn't know, this is an EPA thing, not a Sea Ray thing.

Personally, I would look to bypass it like Stee mentioned. Given that it's an EPA thing, I'm not sure your dealer can help you with it. But there are other ways...

Just a side note... if you fill up by "topping off", there's a possibility that you can saturate the carbon canister. Best practice is to never top off a boat's fuel tank - but especially important with evap systems.
 
Here is the diagram and parts list. My guess is part 18 or 19 is the culprit. If you are handy and have access, bypass for now.
9135DA88-6884-4278-9F47-BC33C5C12418.png
51C56E9D-B37C-49A5-A36F-89B8A306C928.png
 
Last edited:
Thanks all for your helpful replies. The 2020 parts diagram is not available yet online, and the evap canister/system looks slightly different from the 2019 diagram. Lazy Daze, you are incorrect, I cannot go boating in Lake Erie with a boat that is low on fuel. It will not let me put gas in the filler tube. I got 3 gallons in in about 25 minutes, extremely frustrating. I disagree with you that it is not a Sea Ray issue. I build homes for a living, and you can bet we have a ton of codes and requirements to comply with. I cannot tell a new homeowner sorry your Arc Fault Breaker keeps tripping, its the codes fault. You can bet your bottom dollar that they look to me to fix the problem. Also, if topping off the fuel tank is a no no, it should have been brought to my attention long before now by both the dealer and in the owners manual. The boat is still under warranty, and I am hesitant to modify the fuel system myself, but I appreciate the thoughts and ideas. Again, thanks to all of you who have responded, I really appreciate it, and I will keep everyone informed as to the dealers response. I was told by the maintenance Manager that they will also reroute the vent line to the canister so it shouldn't happen again. Sounds like If this proposed reverse trap in the line from the tank to the canister had been done at the factory I probably wouldn't be having this unfortunate conversation. Thanks again to everyone. TB
 
I have a 2013 370 and have the same slow fueling issue that I believe is related to the charcoal canisters on teh vent line. My approach has been to not run the tanks down past 1/2 as I have to fuel slowly. At the lowest setting at my fuel dock I can tolerate a fill up, but it's annoying to say the least. Any more than the slowest the pump will go results in a "burp" and shutoff of the pump. Addressing these is on my list of things to do in storage this winter.
 
TBrown said:
Thanks all for your helpful replies. The 2020 parts diagram is not available yet online, and the evap canister/system looks slightly different from the 2019 diagram. Lazy Daze, you are incorrect, I cannot go boating in Lake Erie with a boat that is low on fuel. It will not let me put gas in the filler tube. I got 3 gallons in in about 25 minutes, extremely frustrating. I disagree with you that it is not a Sea Ray issue. I build homes for a living, and you can bet we have a ton of codes and requirements to comply with. I cannot tell a new homeowner sorry your Arc Fault Breaker keeps tripping, its the codes fault. You can bet your bottom dollar that they look to me to fix the problem. Also, if topping off the fuel tank is a no no, it should have been brought to my attention long before now by both the dealer and in the owners manual. The boat is still under warranty, and I am hesitant to modify the fuel system myself, but I appreciate the thoughts and ideas. Again, thanks to all of you who have responded, I really appreciate it, and I will keep everyone informed as to the dealers response. I was told by the maintenance Manager that they will also reroute the vent line to the canister so it shouldn't happen again. Sounds like If this proposed reverse trap in the line from the tank to the canister had been done at the factory I probably wouldn't be having this unfortunate conversation. Thanks again to everyone. TB
Click to expand...

That's funny....I think you would see this in your owners manual:

upload_2021-7-8_12-11-35.png


Of course it doesn't say it's going to ruin your canister but it does say "do not"...in caps...which seems like they really mean it :)
 
stg099 said:
I have a 2013 370 and have the same slow fueling issue that I believe is related to the charcoal canisters on teh vent line. My approach has been to not run the tanks down past 1/2 as I have to fuel slowly. At the lowest setting at my fuel dock I can tolerate a fill up, but it's annoying to say the least. Any more than the slowest the pump will go results in a "burp" and shutoff of the pump. Addressing these is on my list of things to do in storage this winter.
Click to expand...

For as easy as it should be to bypass I'm surprised you guys live with the slow fill? The manual says the canisters are accessible in the bilge...get in there and cut 'em out! Or at least go-around them. I can't imagine what part of a warranty could be impacted by an emissions device not connected to the engine...
 
TBrown said:
Thanks all for your helpful replies. The 2020 parts diagram is not available yet online, and the evap canister/system looks slightly different from the 2019 diagram. Lazy Daze, you are incorrect, I cannot go boating in Lake Erie with a boat that is low on fuel. It will not let me put gas in the filler tube. I got 3 gallons in in about 25 minutes, extremely frustrating. I disagree with you that it is not a Sea Ray issue. I build homes for a living, and you can bet we have a ton of codes and requirements to comply with. I cannot tell a new homeowner sorry your Arc Fault Breaker keeps tripping, its the codes fault. You can bet your bottom dollar that they look to me to fix the problem. Also, if topping off the fuel tank is a no no, it should have been brought to my attention long before now by both the dealer and in the owners manual. The boat is still under warranty, and I am hesitant to modify the fuel system myself, but I appreciate the thoughts and ideas. Again, thanks to all of you who have responded, I really appreciate it, and I will keep everyone informed as to the dealers response. I was told by the maintenance Manager that they will also reroute the vent line to the canister so it shouldn't happen again. Sounds like If this proposed reverse trap in the line from the tank to the canister had been done at the factory I probably wouldn't be having this unfortunate conversation. Thanks again to everyone. TB
Click to expand...
Now I know y’all gonna call BS, but i swear this is true, swear. My fill is on side, vertical, not on a horizontal walkway. If i hold the nozzle so the handle is below the fill, it gives me a fit, cutting off, slow fill. But. If i turn the handle upside down so the handle is above the fill, that tank sucks fuel like a street hooker with a line of customers. Honest to god.
 
TBrown said:
Thanks all for your helpful replies. The 2020 parts diagram is not available yet online, and the evap canister/system looks slightly different from the 2019 diagram. Lazy Daze, you are incorrect, I cannot go boating in Lake Erie with a boat that is low on fuel. It will not let me put gas in the filler tube. I got 3 gallons in in about 25 minutes, extremely frustrating. I disagree with you that it is not a Sea Ray issue. I build homes for a living, and you can bet we have a ton of codes and requirements to comply with. I cannot tell a new homeowner sorry your Arc Fault Breaker keeps tripping, its the codes fault. You can bet your bottom dollar that they look to me to fix the problem. Also, if topping off the fuel tank is a no no, it should have been brought to my attention long before now by both the dealer and in the owners manual. The boat is still under warranty, and I am hesitant to modify the fuel system myself, but I appreciate the thoughts and ideas. Again, thanks to all of you who have responded, I really appreciate it, and I will keep everyone informed as to the dealers response. I was told by the maintenance Manager that they will also reroute the vent line to the canister so it shouldn't happen again. Sounds like If this proposed reverse trap in the line from the tank to the canister had been done at the factory I probably wouldn't be having this unfortunate conversation. Thanks again to everyone. TB
Click to expand...
“still under warranty” Don’t modify a thing. But you already know that.
 
TB, I am not incorrect. I never said to go boating with "low fuel". You completely misread what I wrote about still being able to go boating. I was suggesting an idea to still allow you to be able to go boating. I said to fill "slower" - meaning, don't keep the trigger on full force. Yes, it will take longer, but you already know the alternative. Now, if you've tried that already, so be it - but it wasn't mentioned so I thought it might have been something helpful to get you by, for now. The idea is to let the fill hose do double duty as the fill and the vent.

Also, in regards to it being a "SR" thing - yes, they will be the ones to fix it. All I meant, is that the actual issue is with the evap contraption, not with the builder. Just like in your example, the issue is with the AFCI, not the installer - even though the installer is the one to fix it for the customer. You don't want to burn any bridges with your dealer over something that was out of their (and Sea Ray's) control.

Now, if the system was installed incorrectly or a low spot in the vent line was allowed somewhere along the way - or recently appeared due to lack of support - yes, that would be 100% on the person doing the installing. This COULD be the issue and you may want to check into it, just in case. Follow the vent line from tank to thru-hull.

Yes, there are MANY things that one needs to know about boating, but there's really no way that ALL of these little things can be told to a customer. As boaters, we tend to figure these things out as we go.
 
TBrown said:
Our 1 year old 2020 290 SDX OB wont let us put fuel in it. This is crazy, a $200,000 boat that wont drink gas. Unbelievable. Dealer says it is a flaw in the emission control vapor capture canister. I've never owned a boat that wouldn't let me add fuel. This has rendered our new boat out of service in the middle of our short boating season.
Has this happened to anyone else, and does anybody know of a work around to get the darn thing to drink fuel?
Dealer is aware of the issue and supposedly ordering a new Carbon Canister, but no promise on when it may arrive or how long after that it might take them to make the "not so easy repair." Completely disappointed here in Lake Erie.
Click to expand...
 
Update- dealer said part(new carbon canister) is in stock and on its way, should see it next week. I tried for hours to find where the canister is on the boat and I could not find it. Hopefully it is accessible from somewhere on the boat, for the technicians sake.
I also finally got an email back from Sea Ray. They said I shouldn't spray off the hull anywhere near the vents...that I probably sprayed water into the vent which got into the canister...told me to put tape over vents when washing down the hull. So...not only do I have a 1 yr old boat that won't take fuel, its also gonna remain dirty. Cant make this stuff up.
 
TBrown said:
Update- dealer said part(new carbon canister) is in stock and on its way, should see it next week. I tried for hours to find where the canister is on the boat and I could not find it. Hopefully it is accessible from somewhere on the boat, for the technicians sake.
I also finally got an email back from Sea Ray. They said I shouldn't spray off the hull anywhere near the vents...that I probably sprayed water into the vent which got into the canister...told me to put tape over vents when washing down the hull. So...not only do I have a 1 yr old boat that won't take fuel, its also gonna remain dirty. Cant make this stuff up.
Click to expand...
I would expect it is behind a panel in the storage compartment behind the captains seat, against the gunnel, or accessible by removing the rear walkway in floor storage/cooler.
As far as spraying it, maybe if you aimed a jet of water at it directly you could maybe get water up and through the trap that is part of the vent, but I would think you would have to be trying to get water in there, not accidental.
 
Update #2- one week after reporting my fueling issue to the dealer, they showed up today and replaced the carbon vapor canister. That is pretty darn good service I must admit. Dealer just received new canister yesterday. Their quick response is greatly appreciated. Tech told me there was fuel in the canister, and that they see water in most of them, and unfortunately this is a common issue. Moral of the story....I intend to never fuel up past 80% and never spray the hose near the vent when spraying the hull. I also intend to install a clamshell shield/cover over the vent. While I still feel this is a design flaw in the vapor capture/vent system, if I can modify my behavior slightly and help keep the canister dry, I'm all in. I should also add the canister was almost inaccessible...it is under the aft edge of the refrigerator....this servicable canister should have an access door IMHO.
Safe Boating..and I hope this post can save others from soaking their vapor canisters!
 
Glad to hear that it turned out well with a quick response - especially considering how busy every place is and often problems with parts availability.

Double check that there is an "upward" loop at the vent fitting. As long as that is there, you're fine to wash the boat - just don't aim the hose directly at the vent. But spraying at a downward angle will be totally fine. That's pretty typical with any vent setup.

Tip for fueling... listen for the "gurgle" through the vent and stop when you start to hear it. That means the fuel level is approaching the top. You could install a "whistler" in the vent line - this serves the same purpose as the gurgle, but is much, MUCH easier to hear. When the whistling begins to stop, you stop.
 
Lazy, can you provide me with any product direction on this whistle setup? Haven’t heard of it before and sounds interesting.
 
Thank you. Appreciate that.
 
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