Power/Fuel Issues on '02 240 SunDeck 5.0mpi/BIII-

[LPGG]

:smt100I just purchased an '02 SeaRay 240 SunDeck two months ago. We had the boat surveyed and several things were discovered. The motor only had 110 hours on it and was stored in a high-n-dry in Longboat key, FL since new. I think the previous owner used the boat a lot during its first 18-24 months then fell "out of love" with it and ran it very seldom afterwards. The motor was removed, pulleys redone, fluids changed, new OEM exhaust/risers, bilge pump, trim, oil pressure warning horn, and a few other things i can't recall right now. The marine mechanic said the boat would be "good as new" and the motor would be as new. NOT! When we did the sea trial(s) before and after the motor was removed, the boat performed great. However, when we took it out for the first time after that, we noticed that the boat was "lunging" after it planed off and would continue to do so until I backed off the throttle. We can cruise at about 3200rpm/32-34mph but as soon as I throttle up, it starts bucking violently as if its fuel/air supply was being interrupted until I back the throttle down. I just replaced the fuel filter and cleaned the air filter last week and it did not help at all. The air cleaner was really filthy and the intake had a lot of grime in it, which i cleaned out. The only thing I can think of next is that the fuel injectors may be clogged or there is an issue with the fuel pump, sending unit, IAC or just old gas problems. Any advise or help with this would be greatly appreciated, especially if you have had this problem. I am a do-it-yourselfer and need to find an economical way to fix this, since i just sold the farm to buy this boat for my family. Thanks in advance!
Phillip Collie
Tampa, FL :huh:

 

[gerryb]

The most common cause to what you describe as 'lunging' at higher RPM has to do with fuel starvation. There are sometimes multiple gas filters in-line - check that you have replaced them all. Is the gas itself 'clean' - dirty gas ie with water is another common way to starve the engine of the fuel it needs at higher RPMs. Fuel pump needs to be checked - I would have replaced it with all the other mechanical things that were done with the boat. Then look to a possible blockage in the lines and fuel rail. Last would be the injectors being clogged-up from lack of use but this usually shows itself when you start the engine (won't even idle correctly) as fuel delivery is interrupted from the clogged injector at all RPMs.

 

[bartlett]

Try the contaminated fuel angle first. Find a starbrite or other reputable additive. I had a similar problem and the additive did the trick.

 

[LPGG]

Thanks. I've read a few posts where old fuel seems to be the culprit. The boat had 3/4 tank of marina fuel when i bought it and i am on my second tank of gas-station fuel now. I have been told the cleaning component (ethanol?) in gas-station fuel possibly freed up years of gunk that was possibly caked on the inside of the tank and could have fouled injectors and/or sending unit. SOmeone even suggested the plugs might be fouled also. Where to begin . . . ?

 

[Lazy Daze]

Fuel/Water separator/filter should catch the junk.

All good advice above. I'll add one more as I had exactly the same problem... at exactly the same RPM's. In my case, it wouldn't happen until the engine bay heated up. I could go WOT for a bit, but it would eventually hesitate and generally start acting unruly. If I backed off, it was fine. Advance throttle back up over 3200 and and started throwing a tantrum again.

In my case, it was the ignition module - inside the distributor cap. I replaced mine. But, you might want to try cleaning and re-applying some heat transfer compound.

 

[tcason]

I know this is old post but did LPGG ever find the problem?

I am having same issues...............