Bad Gas?

[Brent Crouch]

My 1989 Sea Ray 280

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=66649&l=7f87153605&id=1686613507

I bought this boat at the start of the summer. The engine was replaced the summer before and was brand new. The previous owner told me the gas in the tank was 2 years old.

It ran fine the first couple of times out, then I filled up the gas tank. The next time out, the engine bogged down so bad at times, I didn't think I would make it back to the dock.

This thing has the standard fuel filter, but also a second filter that looks like someone added. I pulled the boat over and dumped both fuel filters into a bucket. Both were filled with trash. Instantly, the boat began to run a lot better.

I ordered two new filters and added 1/2 gallon of Sea Foam to the 100 gallons of fuel in my tank. My results have been crazy ever since.

I can run the boat all day long and it runs perfect. Other times, it sounds like it is starving for gas and just bogging down. Then, it can run perfect again.

I've ran out over half the tank. I went ahead and replaced the fuel filters again on Saturday, filled the tank up, and added another 1/2 gallon of Sea Foam. It ran so bad out of the dock, I nearly turned around and went back home. Then after a few minutes, it ran great for the rest of the day.

What's going on?

Thanks for any suggestions.

Brent Crouch

 

[David Morgan]

Stop adding Sea Foam. Use a fuel stabilizer designed for fuel with alcohol.

Are you certain there is no water in your tank? If your fuel filters have a clear sight dome you can tell. Otherwise you will need to pull your canister type fuel filter and check for water inside.

Here in California we get fuel that can be up to 10% alcohol. The problem with alcohol is that when it evaporates it leaves nasty deposits inside the carburetor. The solution has been to put a quick disconnect on the fuel line and let the engine burn the last of the gasoline out of the carburetor at the end of the day.

I think your carburetor may need a thorough cleaning which means a partial disassembly.

 

[Sundancer]

I second checking for water first. Just dump one of the filters into a glass jar to see if the water and gas separate. Aside from that, I'd go with the carb rebuild. If it sat for two years, it may be gummed up. It's surprising that it works for a while and then stops. I had a similar problem and a rebuild cured it though. It wouldn't accerate without dying. Sometimes it would run just fine for a while and then it would bog down and wouldn't eve idle.

 

[midway]

There is also the possibility of something moving around in the bottom of the tank and at times getting to the pickup tube and the movement of fuel moves it away for awhile. Since the filters were full of trash there could still be some in the tank especially with the old fuel being in there, the new fuel could be disolving the deposits left from the old fuel in the tank and that is where you problem is. If you can get to the tank it is worth checking out, run the tank down low so you can see the bottom.

 

[Brent Crouch]

Thanks guys. I'm going to have the carb checked out this week and I'll stop adding the Sea Foam. Anyone recommend a brand of fuel stabilizer designed for alchohol fuel like David mentioned?

Also, I've dumped the fuel filters both times they have been replaced. I haven't seen any signs of water. The first time there were lots of small black debris. The second time, there was a small bit of trash, but not much. Of course, I guess you could consider it a lot when you consider there was only 50 gallons of fuel run through those filters.

I'll post a follow up and let everyone know what was found.

Thanks,

Brent

PS One thing I haven't changed is the fuel filter inside of the carb. Any chance it could be stopped up? If so, I wouldn't expect it to work fine some time and be stopped up at other times?

 

[Brent Crouch]

Turned out to be the wrong coil. I had a mechanic look at it and recognized it had a 6 volt coil instead of a 12 volt coil. He swapped it out and it has run like a champ ever since.

 

[sprink56]

I would never in life have guessed that one.:huh: Where in the hell did the previous owner get a 6 volt coil ? Why would anybody go to the trouble of putting a new engine in a boat and put a 6 v. coil on it ? I'm surprised it didn't short everything out.:wow:

I guess it takes all kinds of people to spin the globe but this one go's on the top ten wierdo list.:smt101

 

[Brent Crouch]

I'm not sure. I was shocked. I assumed when the new engine was put in the previous owner would have moved the old coil from the old engine and moved it over. I'm not sure how unusual a 6 volt coil is? I'm assuming it was just overheating and crapping out. It explains why it worked perfect sometimes and ran like crap at others.

 

[BillyT0020]

Glad you found your main problem but I would probably still look at your sending unit inside your tank. If you were getting a lot of junk in the fuel filters, the sending unit may have rusted out (especially if it wasn't fully covered with fuel for the two years it sat) and will continue to do so until its replaced.

FYI Techron is a great fuel system cleaner. Ive seen it unseat stuck floats and gives your carb and fuel lines a pretty good cleaning all around. Sea Foam leaves a white film on everything it burns through.