Engine wont start after refueling (ran it dry)

Pilot

Pilot

Active Member
May 7, 2009
294
Chesapeake Bay
Boat Info
2009 370 Searay DA
V Drives
Engines
Twin 8.1's
Any one have any suggestions here? I ran my fuel tank dry on the starboard engine. They're 8.1's. After refueling it wont start. Acts like it might, but just sputters a bit. Had the filters replaced this winter.

Thanks
 
Keep going, it will eventually start. But, instead of cranking the engine, just keep doing the key on/key off thing to let the fuel pump fill the lines/filter with fuel again. Turn the key on until you hear the pump stop, then turn the key off and repeat. Do that a few times and you should be good to go.
 
I would pull of the the fuel filter and pour gas in it (fill it) and it will start right up...
 
Lazy Daze said:
Keep going, it will eventually start. But, instead of cranking the engine, just keep doing the key on/key off thing to let the fuel pump fill the lines/filter with fuel again. Turn the key on until you hear the pump stop, then turn the key off and repeat. Do that a few times and you should be good to go.
Click to expand...

The only thing I can add is to NOT use a starting aid such as either. It will only wash down the cylinder walls and decrease compression.
 
rcknecht said:
I would pull of the the fuel filter and pour gas in it (fill it) and it will start right up...
Click to expand...

It's a good way to get it started, just remember your pouring unfiltered gas into the filtered side of the filter. Take care that the gas and the top of the filter are spotless. Pouring into the filter will end up with whatever went in going straight to the injectors/carb.
 
It is difficult to give you the correct advice without knowing more about your boat. It would be helpfull if you would show more information in your profile such as the year of your boat (so we know whether you have EFI, MPI, or Carburetors) Also SD stands for Sundeck and DA stands for Sundancer so I assume 350SD is the wrong connotation and it should be 350DA. Show your engines and also whether you have V-drives or outdrives in the profile as well. I'll take a stab at this and will assume it is a new 350DA...............If it isn't then ignore my reply below.

The 8.1s have a fuel cool unit containing both the fuel pumps as well as the filter which are all immersed in the unit itself (They do not have a spin on fuel filter so you can't do as some are suggesting and pour fuel in the filter). If the boat won't start then do as Dennis suggested and keep on trying. Open the engine hatch a bit and listen for the fuel pumps as you turn on the ignition. Can you hear them start up and then stop as they pressurize the fuel system? If so then the EFI fuel rails are also pressurized. There may still be air trapped in there but eventually it will clear.

Dave
 
Last edited:
Dave S said:
It is difficult to give you the correct advice without knowing more about your boat. It would be helpfull if you would show more information in your profile such as the year of your boat (so we know whether you have EFI, MPI, or Carburetors) Also SD stands for Sundeck and DA stands for Sundancer so I assume 350SD is the wrong connotation and it should be 350DA. Show your engines and also whether you have V-drives or outdrives in the profile as well. I'll take a stab at this and will assume it is a new 350DA...............If it isn't then ignore my reply below.

The 8.1s have a fuel cool unit containing both the fuel pumps as well as the filter which are all immersed in the unit itself (They do not have a spin on fuel filter so you can't do as some are suggesting and pour fuel in the filter). If the boat won't start then do as Dennis suggested and keep on trying. Open the engine hatch a bit and listen for the fuel pumps as you turn on the ignition. Can you hear them start up and then stop as they pressurize the fuel system? If so then the EFI fuel rails are also pressurized. There may still be air trapped in there but eventually it will clear.

Dave
Click to expand...

Dave, Thanks for your clearification. More info on the boat would be helpful.
 
Thanks all:

Yes, I agree and apologize for my profile needing more info, I will do that. Thanks for the info and yes, it is much appreciated. I cannot see where the fuel pumps are, so am hoping maybe as suggested the on/off key will eventually fill the line.

In the interim my additional info is:

2008 350 DA
Twin 8.1's
Vdrives
 
As stated thats what I do too. When I change the filters I shut the valves and let the engines run out to avoid spilling a ton of gas which works great. When re starting I cycle the pumps about 10-20 times. It still will sputter and occasionally stall but eventually smooth out.
Now is my method of running the gas a bad idea that may actually be sucking the water out of the filters and into the lines? I've often wondered that.
 
Well, the on off key thing has not been successful so far, I did it @ 40 times, still nothing. It acted like it was going to start a couple times, but again just sputtered out.

Any other suggestions? Should I just keep trying the same?

Thanks
 
Pilot said:
Well, the on off key thing has not been successful so far, I did it @ 40 times, still nothing. It acted like it was going to start a couple times, but again just sputtered out.

Any other suggestions? Should I just keep trying the same?

Thanks
Click to expand...

When you're doing the on/off thingy, are you doing it quickly - as in "on, then off right away"? You should be letting it stay on until you hear the fuel pump stop running, then off for a second or two, then on again until the pump stops, etc.
 
Hey Lazy Days:

Yeah, I'm turning on the starboard key. There is a long beep, then after a couple seconds a click which I assume means that the pump has stopped, then I turn off for a few seconds, then back on.

Again, a couple times it made an effort, then after doing it a few more times, just would do a short turnover without really doing much.
 
OK, just to be sure, open your hatch (if didn't already) and listen for any sounds at all (keep your blower off). When you hear nothing, turn it off and then back on.

Your boat doesn't, by chance, have any type of "kill switch" does it?
 
Lazy Days:

OK, I'll make sure I do that, problem is the ignition keys are down in the cabin on the fuse panel, so I need a helper.

There's a kill switch under the dash, but the Port engine is fine.
 
Your fuel pumps and filters will be inside the Cool Fuel unit on the lower starboard side of your engine. This is what the Cool Fuel unit looks like on my 350MAG and your 8.1s should be similar.

DSC07928.jpg



When the ignition switch is first turned on you should be able to hear the fuel pumps cycle for a few seconds until they pressurize the system. I suggest you listen to your "good" engine first so you know what they sound like (just have someone turn the key on without starting the engine while you are listening to the fuel pump pressurize.) Then try the other engine the same way to see if the pump comes on and pressurizes the sytem as well. If that seems OK then do as Dennis suggests and turn the key on allowing enough time for the system to pressurize before turning the key back off Repeat this cycle a number of times before trying to start the engine. I would also try advancing the throttle a bit as well.

Dave
 
Hey Lazy Days:

Yeah, I'm turning on the starboard key. There is a long beep, then after a couple seconds a click which I assume means that the pump has stopped, then I turn off for a few seconds, then back on.

Again, a couple times it made an effort, then after doing it a few more times, just would do a short turnover without really doing much.
 
Thanks Dave:

I'll give it a shot and insure its pressurizing, then do it several times.

I will be a while.
 
On mine, I turn the key on, turn the ignition switch on on the electrical panel, and then hit the "Start" rocker 1/2 way so you don't engage the starter, but do energize the electric fuel pump. That's when I hear the pump run for a few seconds. So, I would hit the rocker 1/2 way, wait, then off, then 1/2 way, wait, then off...
 
Guys:

I finally got it to start. Thanks a bunch for your time and patience in helping me out here. There are no mechanics @ my area, so I was basically stuck figuring this out on my own.

The key thing worked, but there must have been a lot of air in the line as it took me @ 60 intervals of turning the key off & on for 6 or 7 times, then hitting the starter. Also, letting it set for several hours in between and giving it some gas in neutral before hitting the starter made a big difference.

I will certainly never let the tank(s) run dry again.
 
You might want to change the fuel filters again on that engine now everything appears fine. You probably filled them with junk when you "Ran Dry". In others words you didnt actually run "dry" you more than likely ran out of fuel and just sucked up water.
 
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