mark guthrie
Member
This is a 280, with twin mercruisers. The port engine is having the problem, the starboard is fine.
Here are the symptoms of the port engine:
- Starts fine
- Running up to 1,500/2,000 rpm, fine
- Accelerating to get on plane, around 3K - will run fine for about 20 to 30 seconds - then the RPM starts to oscillate, dropping 200, then up 100, then down/up, getting slower each time - this is repeatable, every time
- Left to continue, it will die. Alternatively, pulling back to around 1k when it starts to happen, it will not die
- Does not immediately want to restart, but given 30 seconds or so, it will start fine
Seems like a classic fuel starvation issue, but where to start?
I am thinking the best action is to swap parts with the starboard? The difficultiy is that both engines have to have a load, 3K plus to reproduce the problem.
Suspects:
- Fuel filter/water seperator
- Low-pressure fuel pump
- High-pressure fuel pump
- Fuel pick-up, but I am thinking there is one pick up for both engines, but I need to check
Btw, the problem came on fast. For the first 10 minutes of the ride, both engines were running great. Then the problem started and as first it was hardly dedectible, for several minutes (one of those things where you think it might be your imagination), then the RPM started oscillating a lot.
Any input is appreciated.
Thanks, Mark in St. Pete, FL
Here are the symptoms of the port engine:
- Starts fine
- Running up to 1,500/2,000 rpm, fine
- Accelerating to get on plane, around 3K - will run fine for about 20 to 30 seconds - then the RPM starts to oscillate, dropping 200, then up 100, then down/up, getting slower each time - this is repeatable, every time
- Left to continue, it will die. Alternatively, pulling back to around 1k when it starts to happen, it will not die
- Does not immediately want to restart, but given 30 seconds or so, it will start fine
Seems like a classic fuel starvation issue, but where to start?
I am thinking the best action is to swap parts with the starboard? The difficultiy is that both engines have to have a load, 3K plus to reproduce the problem.
Suspects:
- Fuel filter/water seperator
- Low-pressure fuel pump
- High-pressure fuel pump
- Fuel pick-up, but I am thinking there is one pick up for both engines, but I need to check
Btw, the problem came on fast. For the first 10 minutes of the ride, both engines were running great. Then the problem started and as first it was hardly dedectible, for several minutes (one of those things where you think it might be your imagination), then the RPM started oscillating a lot.
Any input is appreciated.
Thanks, Mark in St. Pete, FL