Engine failure - fuel pump?

[FourGone]

Great day on the water wasted. here's the short story with some pertinent details. Ran to the fishing ground 45 minutes at 3400 rpm. Hooked up down riggers and trolled at idle for about 90 minutes, engine sputters, 10 to 15 minutes more at idle engine sputters and dies. restart and it runs for very short time. engine rested then restarted, ran for few minutes then dies. wait and check more below decks. make a run to nearest marina. engine runs, then dies, rest for time, runs then dies. :huh: figure water separator fuel filter. finally get to marina, find and replace fuel filter. Engine starts and runs like normal. head for home 30 minute run. half way engine dies. wait, restart, runs a bit, then dies. figure bad fuel, pull filter and punch holes to bypass the inner and outer sections (don't ask if you don't understand) engine runs OK for longer, then dies! :smt100Get a tow to the marina. Thanks Neighbour.

So, if the punched out fuel filter didn't solve the issue, then I'm thinking fuel pump is failing.
Have others experienced this? and what was the fix?

 

[ardeprint]

Sorry about your day...

I am sure you checked this, but worth asking; how was the temperature? Are you sure overheating is not a factor? Maybe you have a bad alarm and did not notice.

 

[FourGone]

Nope, engine temp ran at about 175 (when it ran!) oil pressure good at about 40psi, no other drive system issues. Just think its a fuel delivery problem 'cause I had the same issue after I bypassed the filter.

 

[ardeprint]

Have you tested the fuel pressure?

 

[FourGone]

haven't checked the fuel pressure - yet. Conversation with the shop last week, and they say check the venting system in the tank, and also there is a check ball in the fuel line from the tank that they tell me can gum up. Will be checking that as I move towards the winterizing tasks later this month. But I won't have as much confidence unless I find something positive.

 

[Adzam]

I had a similar issue with a 5.0. Could your oil pressure switch be faulty and turning off the fuel pump? On some motors the pressure switch is directly wired to the fuel pump? This pressure switch is different than the pressure sender.

 

[300SR]

I had a similar issue with a 5.0. Could your oil pressure switch be faulty and turning off the fuel pump? On some motors the pressure switch is directly wired to the fuel pump? This pressure switch is different than the pressure sender.

X2 on mine 2