Boat won't run after replacing fuel filter (didn't fill with gas!), high pitch noise....

C

catfishjon123

New Member
Mar 16, 2024
15
Boat Info
2001 Sea Ray 190 Bow Rider
Engines
Mercruiser 5.0 EFI
My boat wouldn't start at the ramp. It started for about 10 seconds, then died, and wouldn't stay running. Hard starting, too, but would catch, and then just die. I tried some throttle on the last one, but died before I could even throttle up. Anyway, After 4-6 tries, I started to hear a high pitch, very unhappy sound, like a small spinning turbine almost at high revs. Wish I had recorded it. Not wanting to kill the battery, I pulled it back on the trailer and dropper her at the marina.

I realized that I didn't put fuel in the fuel filter when I recently replaced it. (Spin off type filter for a 2001 5.0 EFI Mercruiser)

My question is - could I have fried the fuel pump? Is that what the sound could have been? This is a new-to-me boat so who knows what other gremlins there might be (like an old fuel pump that is begging to be done in!)

I've had the motor running just fine for 5 minutes on two previous occasions recently, on the trailer with muffs - both times to warm up for 5 min to do an oil change on this new-to-me boat. (I didn't like the way the oil looked milky in the filter so I changed it again.)

After the second change was when I replaced the filter. I did turn the key on and off a few times, and could hear the pump running each time before I started it this morning.

Thanks for any thoughts on this.
 
I never fill my fuel filters when putting them on new and have never had an issue.

I can't offer much on the fuel pump/noise but the fact that you had milky oil would be quite concerning. You may want to mention that to your marina, it could also be a reason she's not starting up/staying running.
 
I (almost) never fill fuel filters, either. A couple key on-key off cycles is all it takes. I don't think this is your issue - but just unscrew the filter and check to be sure.

The unsafe sound... possibly the starter motor isn't engaging the flywheel.

As noted, milky oil is a concern. Monitor that.
 
Thanks! I appreciate the feedback. The manual says to fill it 2/3rds but glad to hear it is far from a “fatal” mistake. Will report back.
 
I fill mine , maybe you are hearing a bad pump spin faster now
 
Marina called. Changed the starter - good call. Also, they said it was air locked because of not filling the fuel, and they damaged the filter so had to replace it. It’s running now but misfiring, and they called to ask if they would like me to have them keep digging. I told them to go ahead. Not sure how hard that is to diagnose, but wondering if this will be a rabbit hole. They didn’t say how bad the misfiring was, and not sure it matters. Hopefully something small but we will see. On the bright side, they said the oil still looks good. Will update when I have more. Thanks for everyone’s help!
 
Hopefully something small
 
Maybe the fuel vent was clogged. Distributor cap is easily replaced and not worth the labor time to clean. I’m a little confused by “cleaned the cap”. Especially in context of changing spark plugs.
 
Maybe it was mechanic speak/shorthand for the flux capacitor. That's a more expensive item than the distributor cap and it would make more sense to clean and reuse the flux cap than the dist cap.
 
Skybolt said:
LOL, "cap" as in distributor cap, it's where all of the spark plug wires go to. You replaced a fuel filter and didn't know that? dam...

May help a bit:
Click to expand...
LOL - I actually wondered if I would get a comment like this! I figured it might be distributor cap, but for some reason, I thought that my EFI meant it was fuel injected, and wouldn't have a distributor cap. In my reading, and a watching a video, I'm thinking it may not have been the kind of fuel injection I'm thinking of with a more modern car engine? Are there not 8 injectors? I thought I saw a video of 2 injectors sort of feeding a bowl. Anyway, my apologies, I haven't made my way through all the material someone was kind enough to share on my first post - the operation manuals, etc. I did find what I think is a good online service manual thought and am working through that. That's how I knew you were supposed to fill the new filter 2/3rds. (and in retrospect, it should have been common sense! I remember not wanting to spill gas everywhere. *shrug*) So, I still clearly have a lot to learn :) Would be great to see a video of one of these engines being broken down.
 
Cat, your engine uses a Throttle Body Injection system (TBI). It's two injectors that sit on top of the throttle body. You'll see them when you remove (and clean) the flame arrestor.

Newer versions of your engine are Multi Port Injected - meaning 8 individual injectors. However that fact has nothing to do with having/not a dist cap. These MPI engines still have a dist cap.

From what you've written, it sounds like you're confusing the spark system (dist cap is part of that) with the fuel system (injectors). They are separate systems - but together help to make the engine go boom.

The terms I mentioned above are some things you can google and learn more about if you want to.
 
I've just watched plenty of videos on the TBI. That's what I had seen before with the 2 injectors.

As far as 'they cleaned the cap' (as far as I remember from the phone call) and this line on the invoice, I'd say Lazy Daze is on to something with the flame arrestor.
"CLEAN CAP REMOVE AND REPLACE SPARK
PLUGS."

Some good vids on TBI / EFI


Thanks!
 
catfishjon123 said:
I've just watched plenty of videos on the TBI. That's what I had seen before with the 2 injectors.

As far as 'they cleaned the cap' (as far as I remember from the phone call) and this line on the invoice, I'd say Lazy Daze is on to something with the flame arrestor.
"CLEAN CAP REMOVE AND REPLACE SPARK
PLUGS."

Some good vids on TBI / EFI


Thanks!
Click to expand...

"CLEAN CAP REMOVE AND REPLACE SPARK PLUGS."

If that is what was said, then it totally means distributor cap.

It seems you are still confusing the fuel delivery system with the ignition system, what delivers the spark. Those two systems for this conversation, have nothing to do with each other.
 
catfishjon123 said:
LOL - I actually wondered if I would get a comment like this! I figured it might be distributor cap, but for some reason, I thought that my EFI meant it was fuel injected, and wouldn't have a distributor cap. In my reading, and a watching a video, I'm thinking it may not have been the kind of fuel injection I'm thinking of with a more modern car engine? Are there not 8 injectors? I thought I saw a video of 2 injectors sort of feeding a bowl. Anyway, my apologies, I haven't made my way through all the material someone was kind enough to share on my first post - the operation manuals, etc. I did find what I think is a good online service manual thought and am working through that. That's how I knew you were supposed to fill the new filter 2/3rds. (and in retrospect, it should have been common sense! I remember not wanting to spill gas everywhere. *shrug*) So, I still clearly have a lot to learn :) Would be great to see a video of one of these engines being broken down.
Click to expand...

Don't take it personally. Some of these guys have been boating since the days steam was the preferred power source :):)

1713014008144.png
 
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